Chapter 19 - Nine in the Morning
At 8:55 a.m., Gabriel stood on the courthouse steps.
No black convoy.
No armed men.
Only his lawyer, his mother, Chloe, and a wall of cameras.
Reporters shouted questions.
"Mr. Costello, did you order acts of violence?"
"Are you cooperating against your own organization?"
"Did your cousin murder your father?"
Gabriel ignored them.
He turned to Beatrice.
Then, slowly, he signed.
I will call you.
She corrected him.
Video call.
He smiled.
Video call.
Beatrice touched his cheek.
Chloe looked away to give them privacy.
Gabriel spoke behind her.
"Chloe."
She turned.
"Thank you."
"For translating?"
"For not being afraid enough to stay quiet."
She folded her arms. "I was terrified."
"You hid it well."
"No, I complained constantly."
That made him laugh.
Then his expression grew serious.
"There is money in a legal victims' fund my father created years ago. Dana has frozen it until the court reviews it. If it is released, I want part of it to go to Leo's family."
Chloe's face hardened. "I do not want Costello money for my brother."
"Then do not take it. Use it for deaf kids who need interpreters. Or do nothing. It is your choice."
She studied him.
"Choice matters."
"I am learning that."
The courthouse doors opened.
Gabriel walked inside.
Beatrice watched until he disappeared.
Then she signed to Chloe.
Come have lunch with me.
Chloe smiled. "Only if you pick the restaurant."
Beatrice grinned.
Anywhere except Il Canto.
Chloe's phone buzzed.
A message from Dana.
They had found one last file in Carlo's hidden server.
May you like
It was addressed to Beatrice.
And it had been recorded the day before he died.
