The Man Who Came Back from the Dead
Chapter 08 - The Man Who Came Back from the Dead
Daniel Hayes returned to Norah’s life on a television screen.
The federal building would not let her see him.
Not yet.
Instead, at 7:30 that evening, a news alert appeared on every phone in the room.
FORMER ROSSI ACCOUNTANT RESURFACES AFTER SEVENTEEN YEARS.
The article used an old photograph.
Norah hated that photograph.
It showed her father at thirty-eight, smiling at some company banquet, his tie crooked. A stranger who looked more like the man she remembered than the living man did.
Gabriel stood at the window of his office.
They had returned to Rossi Holdings because federal agents were already gathering outside his home.
Ezra read from his phone.
“Daniel alleges corporate violence, bribery and obstruction involving Vittorio, Marco and Gabriel.”
Norah looked at Gabriel.
He did not turn.
“Does he have evidence?”
“He says he does.”
“Of you?”
“Yes.”
“What evidence?”
Gabriel looked back at her.
“I don’t know.”
There it was again.
This time she believed him.
Perhaps because she was learning the difference between Gabriel withholding something and Gabriel being genuinely blindsided.
Ezra set down the phone.
“Agents have a warrant for records from 2014 to 2021.”
Gabriel nodded.
“Give them everything.”
Ezra stared.
“Everything?”
“If we hide one page, they will assume the missing page matters most.”
“You have privileged files.”
“Have counsel separate them.”
“And the other files?”
“Open.”
Norah watched him.
“You’re not going to fight the warrant?”
“No.”
“That seems unlike a criminal mastermind.”
Gabriel looked tired.
“I’m beginning to dislike your sense of humor.”
“You’ve paid it for six years.”
“Not enough, apparently.”
For a moment, they were simply employer and assistant again.
It nearly broke her heart.
A knock came.
Federal agents entered.
For four hours, boxes left the executive floor.
Norah sat at her desk while strangers photographed filing cabinets she had organized herself.
Near midnight, one of the agents approached.
“Ms. Hayes?”
“Yes.”
“Your father has asked to speak with you.”
The room disappeared around her.
Gabriel stepped forward.
“Where?”
The agent ignored him.
“He asked for her.”
Norah stood.
Gabriel’s eyes met hers.
She expected an instruction.
Instead, he said, “Go.”
The meeting took place in a conference room three floors below.
Daniel sat behind glass.
He looked smaller in person than in the photograph.
Norah picked up the phone.
He did the same.
For several seconds neither spoke.
Then he smiled.
It was her father’s smile.
Not older.
Not different.
The same.
Her breath left her.
“Hi, Nori.”
Nobody had called her that since she was fourteen.
Her eyes filled instantly.
She hated him for knowing exactly which door to open.
“Don’t.”
His smile disappeared.
“I’m sorry.”
“Everybody keeps saying that.”
“I suppose we deserve to.”
“Are you alive?”
A strange question.
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
“Were you alive when I graduated high school?”
“Yes.”
“When I got married?”
“Yes.”
“When I got divorced?”
His eyes lowered.
“Yes.”
“Did you know?”
“I knew most things.”
“How?”
“Your mother.”
Norah swallowed.
“I waited for you at my graduation.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I was there.”
She froze.
“What?”
“Across the street. In a car.”
Something in Norah’s face made him look away.
“I wanted to come in.”
“But?”
“It wasn’t safe.”
“For seventeen years?”
“No.”
“When did it become safe?”
He did not answer.
Norah leaned closer to the glass.
“When did it become safe enough that you could have called?”
Daniel’s fingers tightened around the phone.
“About seven years ago.”
She let the silence sit.
Seven years.
One year before she started working for Gabriel.
“You could have called.”
“Yes.”
“But you wanted me in Rossi’s office.”
Daniel’s eyes sharpened.
“Your mother told you.”
“She told me enough.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“No. You were using me.”
“I never asked you to steal anything.”
“You watched me.”
“To keep you alive.”
“You let me think you were dead.”
His face crumpled slightly.
Norah felt nothing.
That frightened her.
“Why are you accusing Gabriel of murder?”
Daniel looked toward the camera mounted in the corner.
“Because he did it.”
“He says he didn’t.”
“He lies.”
“So do you.”
Daniel flinched.
“Norah—”
“Show me.”
He stared.
“The evidence.”
“I gave it to the government.”
“Then tell me what it is.”
He hesitated.
“A recording.”
“Of Gabriel?”
“Yes.”
“Saying what?”
Daniel’s gaze shifted again.
“Ordering Victor Lyle to be dealt with.”
“That phrase can mean anything.”
“In the Rossi family, it means one thing.”
Norah thought of Gabriel admitting three killings without excuses.
“If he did it, why would he admit other deaths and deny this one?”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Because those deaths were defensible.”
“So you think he calculated which murders I would forgive?”
“I think men like Gabriel calculate everything.”
“Men like you?”
The words hit.
Daniel’s face changed.
Norah continued.
“Mom told me you laundered money for Vittorio.”
“I was an accountant.”
“You built the accounts.”
“I didn’t hurt anyone.”
“You moved the money that paid people who did.”
“I tried to fix it.”
“So did Gabriel.”
“No.”
The speed of his answer bothered her.
“You hate him.”
“I know him.”
“You knew him at twenty-five.”
“I know what he became.”
“How?”
Daniel did not answer.
Norah understood.
“You kept watching.”
“Yes.”
“Through me.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
His silence was enough.
Norah leaned back.
“You have someone inside Rossi Holdings.”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“You need to leave that building tonight.”
“Who?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Who has been feeding you information?”
“If I tell you, you will warn him.”
“Gabriel?”
“Yes.”
Norah stared at her father.
He reached one hand toward the glass.
“Nori, please. He is not a man you can save.”
She looked at his palm.
The same broad hand that used to hold hers crossing streets.
She did not lift her own.
“I’m not trying to save Gabriel.”
Daniel looked relieved too soon.
“I’m trying to decide whether he is telling me the truth.”
She stood.
Daniel’s voice sharpened.
“Norah.”
She turned.
“There is one thing you should know.”
She waited.
“The night Victor Lyle died, Gabriel was not in Chicago.”
Norah frowned.
“Then how could he have killed him?”
“He didn’t have to.”
“What are you saying?”
Daniel’s eyes were wet now.
“He called someone from Paris at 2:13 in the morning. Twelve minutes later, Victor left his hotel.”
“Who did he call?”
Daniel looked toward the door as if afraid someone might hear.
Then he said a name.
“Ezra Bell.”
Norah went still.
May you like
Behind her, through the narrow window in the conference-room door, Ezra was waiting.
And he was looking directly at her.
