Chapter 7: The Widow
Maria Pike lived in a small white house behind a church.
The porch light was on when they arrived.
Nobody spoke as they approached the door.
Razor knocked.
A woman opened it.
She was in her sixties, with silver hair and tired eyes.
Her gaze went immediately to Emily.
Then to the jacket.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Oh, Daniel.””
Emily felt her chest tighten.
“Did you know my dad?””
Maria nodded.
“Your father saved my husband’s life.””
She stepped aside.
“Come in.””
The house smelled like cinnamon and old paper.
Maria brought tea.
Emily didn't touch it.
“Tell me about Samuel.””
Maria lowered her eyes.
“My husband was not dead.””
“We know.””
“He disappeared.””
“From everyone?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Maria took a breath.
“Because he was afraid of Victor.””
Razor leaned forward.
“What did Samuel know?””
Maria looked at him.
“He knew Bishop was involved.””
Everyone went silent.
Emily asked, “Involved in what?””
“Your father’s murder.””
Razor stood so quickly his chair nearly tipped.
“Careful.””
Maria shook her head.
“I don't know who planned it.””
“But you know Bishop was involved?””
“I know Bishop met Victor.””
“When?””
“The night Daniel died.””
Emily stared.
“How do you know?””
Maria pointed toward an old cabinet.
“Because Samuel recorded it.””
She opened the cabinet.
Inside was a stack of cassette tapes.
She pulled out one.
“Listen.””
Caruso inserted the tape.
Static.
Then voices.
Bishop.
Victor.
Daniel.
Emily closed her eyes.
Victor said, “The girl is the problem.””
Bishop replied, “She's not involved.””
Victor laughed.
“She is his daughter.””
Daniel’s voice came next.
“Leave her out of this.””
Victor answered:
“You should have handed over the ledger.””
Daniel said nothing.
Victor continued.
“You had one job.””
Bishop’s voice sounded strained.
“I did what you asked.””
Emily looked at Razor.
Razor looked sick.
“What did he ask?””
The tape continued.
Daniel said:
“You sold us out.””
Bishop responded:
“I protected the club.””
“You protected yourself.””
A crash.
Then gunfire.
The tape ended.
Emily stared at Bishop.
“Was that real?””
He didn't answer.
Razor turned.
“Answer her.””
Bishop finally spoke.
“I was working both sides.””
Emily's voice cracked.
“You helped Victor.””
“I thought I could control him.””
“You got my father killed!””
Bishop closed his eyes.
“I never ordered it.””
“That doesn't matter.””
Her voice rose.
“You knew.””
“Yes.””
“You knew he was going to kill him.””
“Yes.””
“And you did nothing.””
Bishop looked at her.
“I was a coward.””
The admission stunned everyone.
Emily stood.
“Why should I trust any of you?””
Nobody answered.
Maria came toward her.
“Because your father did.””
Emily shook her head.
“My father trusted too many people.””
Maria took her hand.
“No.””
She placed something in her palm.
A tiny silver medal.
Emily stared.
“What is this?””
“Daniel gave it to Samuel the night before he died.””
“What does it do?””
“Open the safe.””
“What safe?””
Maria pointed to the jacket.
“Inside the shoulder.””
Emily searched.
Under the leather was another hidden compartment.
A tiny magnetic strip.
Razor stared.
“Your father planned this.””
Emily looked at him.
“What’s in the safe?””
Maria answered.
“Names.””
“Whose names?””
“Everyone.””
Maria paused.
“Everyone who paid Victor.””
Emily felt the world tilt.
“If we get those names, they can go to the police.””
Razor nodded.
“Maybe.””
“Maybe?””
“Some of those people can make evidence disappear.””
Emily stared at him.
“Then what do we do?””
Razor looked at the others.
“We finish what Ghost started.””
A car passed outside.
Maria looked through the curtain.
Her face changed.
“They found us.””
Everyone went still.
Headlights appeared.
Then another set.
Then another.
Victor had arrived.
Razor grabbed Emily.
“Basement.””
They rushed downstairs.
Maria locked the door.
Gunshots shattered the windows.
Emily crouched behind a wooden crate.
Cole appeared beside her.
“You okay?””
“No.””
He smiled faintly.
“Still fair.””
The front door crashed open.
Men poured inside.
Razor fought them upstairs.
The basement door shook.
Emily looked around.
A narrow tunnel ran behind the furnace.
“What's that?””
Maria whispered, “Daniel dug it.””
“Why?””
“To get me out if they ever came.””
Emily crawled inside.
The others followed.
Halfway through the tunnel, Emily found an old metal box.
Inside was a single envelope.
Her father’s handwriting.
She opened it.
*If you reached this point, then they came for you.*
*Good.*
Emily blinked.
Good?
She kept reading.
*It means the evidence survived.*
*But there is one more thing you must know.*
*Victor did not kill me alone.*
Below that was a name.
Emily’s hands went numb.
She read it twice.
Then a third time.
The name was not Bishop.
Not Samuel.
Not Caruso.
It was someone Emily had been trusting since the diner.
*Razor.*
Emily stared at the page.
Behind her, Razor whispered:
“Emily?””
She turned.
May you like
He saw the paper.
And his face collapsed.
