25. Chapter Twenty-Five #2
“That much, you need not worry about,” says Romano, smiling.
“The press is about to hear the very credible testimony of two institute instructors now living in South America who have come forward despite being sworn to secrecy. Their stories are extremely compelling. Both have testified that all Knights were slain. One even has video evidence of bodies being brought out from the gymnasium. But I do have a question for you, Gabriel, if I may?”
Strange, it’s unlike Romano to seek permission to ask me questions.
“Go ahead.”
“I have been told by my superiors that I need to ask this without influencing you in any way. What you have lived through is unspeakable. You have your own life to live now, and I imagine you feel like you have a lot of catching up to do. My question is whether you would still consider being an official part of our team—”
Despite my tiredness, I sit up at that remark. “Yes! Of course. I already am a part of the team.”
“This would be your choice, not an order. And you know there will be dangerous situations—?”
“Dr Romano, why are you asking? You know my answer. I consider you and the team family. And I am never more alive than when we’re working together.”
Romano’s smile seems to combine happiness with relief. He reaches into his pocket, pulls out his phone again, and swipes his thumb across the display. Somebody else has been listening in.
“Good. In which case, we need to get you back on your feet. Lorenzo has convinced me that you should have at least a month to recuperate. And I believe he already has plans to help you do this. I will wait until I have all members of my team in place before I set your next assignment.”
Lorenzo is serious, nodding repeatedly, but I know him well enough to recognise the joy in his eyes.
“Lorenzo is a tough negotiator,” says Romano. “I would never normally agree to a whole month. You should remember that in case—”
“Can you never stay out of trouble?” comes a familiar voice.
A grinning Josh strides into my bedroom, trailed by Nishan, indifferent to our private conversation.
Mrs Bellacci stands behind them in the doorway.
She must have escorted them to my room. “And tell me. Is it my lot in life to constantly bail you out? If so, we need to seriously review this friendship contract.”
“How are you, Josh?” I ask, matching his grin.
“Darn sight better than you, by the looks of things.”
He is about to launch himself onto the bed and throw his arms around me when Lorenzo lunges from his seat and restrains him.
“Whoa, calm down, buddy,” says Josh. “I’m not the enemy. What’s with this guy, Gabe?”
“He can be a little overprotective,” I say, and can’t help smiling. “Lorenzo, it’s okay. This is Josh, my old friend.”
“You must be careful with him,” says Lorenzo, gently pushing Josh away. “He is still recovering.”
“That is correct,” says Romano.
Josh steps back, hands held aloft in surrender. Nishan chuckles and approaches him, placing an arm around his shoulder.
“Sorry, everyone,” says Nishan. “We haven’t seen or heard from Gabe in a while. My boyfriend can be a little over-exuberant sometimes.”
I point a finger at Lorenzo, then at Josh, largely for Nishan’s benefit.
“Pot, meet kettle.”
Nishan laughs, and Josh thumps him on the arm. Lorenzo moves out of the way and allows them to sit at my bedside. Mrs Bellacci comes over, fusses with my pillow, and smooths creases from the bedsheet before checking my temperature with a palm to my forehead like a worried mother.
“You eat the soup? Better than medicine.”
“I’ve missed your cooking, Mrs B.”
“Yes, well. You get better now. Okay? We have much work to do.”
After a brief final inspection, she steps away from the bed. She smooths her hands down her apron, seeming almost embarrassed at her display of affection, but I notice Lorenzo grinning in the background.
Josh quickly fills the silence, telling me about him and Nishan.
His voice is calming when he tells me about their regular lives and everyday problems. When he breaks the news that Callico House has been sold to a property developer, I look at Romano, who nods his endorsement.
On cue, Coleman strolls into the room to join the crowd and the conversation.
He confirms what Josh said and explains how Romano got him involved.
“I felt way out of my depth, but if you think Sylvie and Romano are persuasive individually, together they are impossible to refuse. You know I truly have never have—”
“Fired a gun before. I know. Maybe Mrs Bellacci could give you a few lessons while you’re here.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so. I’ll stick to my little honey. That baby managed to immobilise the guard without doing any permanent damage. I’d already had that idea, by the way, before you called me honey.”
We laugh together while the others look baffled.
“Coleman, do we share what you told me in the car? About the reason for the attack on Eagle House?”
I don’t want to speak the word adoption out loud in case there’s no foundation to Coleman’s claim.
“Mr Washington and I have already spoken,” says Romano. “We’ve found no official paperwork, but knowing Dr Callico, he’d have hidden it for us to find.”
I nod. Even if we do find the paperwork and proof that Albert adopted me, nothing changes as far as I am concerned.
“Callico House has a new owner,” says Coleman. “I got the call yesterday morning.”
“So they found their legal loophole,” I say.
“Not exactly. But they did find a charitable trust willing to take over the property and deposit a nominal fee into Edward’s bank account, so to speak.
A fraction of the marketable price, but what option did he have?
Based on what we spoke about, Gabriel, would you consider challenging this transaction? ”
“No, Coleman. I want nothing more to do with that place or the family.”
“The trustees will be very happy to hear that.”
Coleman grins broadly, and he appears far too smug.
“What aren’t you telling me?” I ask.
“The buyer is Noble Heritage Developments. The lawyer my wife’s been seeing performed due diligence on the trust and, after following standard procedures, gave the green light. Shame he didn’t dig a little deeper before getting them to sign any contracts.”
Coleman looks very pleased with himself. Too pleased.
“You’re one of the trustees?”
“Buddy, I’m the goddamn Chief Executive.
And I know you, of all people, will approve of the next part.
Once my lawyer confirms completion, we’ll start negotiations with the local authority to turn that oversized and underutilised mansion into something useful, like a YMCA or a homeless shelter.
I’m sure Albert would have approved. No doubt Edward will try to make money from selling off the chattels, and, knowing the man as I do, there is no guarantee he will share any profit with Victoria.
Not my problem. After the dust has settled, I’ll begin divorce proceedings.
The property may cost me a little, but with the prenup and solid evidence I have on my cheating wife, I expect to walk away from this marriage and the family with a clear conscience and, more importantly, without spending a dime more than I need to. ”
Coleman’s revenge.
I find myself matching his smile and wonder what Albert would have made of the news. I hope Alice will be okay, but I know she has always been resilient.
“What happens now?” I ask, mainly to Romano.
“How about some breakfast?” suggests Josh, jumping up and clapping his hands together. “I’m starving.”
“That, young man, is an excellent idea,” says Romano. “And we should let Gabriel rest. Let’s see if he feels strong enough to join us for dinner later.”
“I would like that,” I say, and although I genuinely do feel tired, I am determined to sit at the table among my friends by the evening.
I can feel my eyelids getting heavy as I watch figures trickle out of the room.
Romano stands at the doorway, ushering them through.
Lorenzo appears intent on remaining behind, but Romano waves him over, a silent communication passing between them.
Coleman and Mrs Bellacci follow, and as Josh and Nishan draw level, Romano stops them to have words I cannot hear.
But I know Josh’s distinctive laugh, and when his and Romano’s voices fade, I notice Nishan heading back into the bedroom.
“I won’t keep you long. Now that you’re Gabriel again, you might like your old smartphone back,” Nishan says, pulling the device from his pocket.
“I thought someone had stolen it.”
“They had. Petty thieves, turns out. Let’s just say we managed to steal the device back.
And lucky for you, this tech wizard made a full backup.
Did you know that when you save notes on your tablet, they replicate onto your smartphone?
Not many people know that. Things like reminders, shopping lists…
” Nishan smiles as he hands over the item. “Pigpen cyphers.”
As I take the phone, my eyes flash to his.
“That was you? The one who sent the messages?”
Nishan turns to check the doorway before lowering his voice.
“With you all the way, Gabe. Remember that watch I gave you? Well, that crappy old timepiece has a state-of-the-art, undetectable tracking device installed, which has been piggybacking onto your phone and local networks, giving me access to security feeds and allowing me to keep tabs on you.”
“You’ve been tracking me?”
“All the way. Oh, and can I suggest you retire that bloody tattoo now? Old man Leblanc had mine vanish the moment we escaped Hartfield’s concentration camp.”
My tiredness evaporates as the truth sinks in.
“You’re Seven?”