Chapter 12 - The Key Leonardo Never Knew He Had
Clara called Leonardo before leaving the tunnel.
He answered on the first ring.
"Where are you?"
"You first."
A pause.
"At Sofia's apartment."
"Dante told you?"
"He found your empty room."
Clara ignored the irritation in his voice.
"Gabriel says you have the second key."
Silence.
"I have what?"
"The second key."
"He called again."
Leonardo's breathing changed.
"Was he alone?"
"No."
"Could you hear who was with him?"
"No."
"He said the key is with you."
"I don't have any key."
Elias leaned toward the phone.
"Ask him about the watch."
Clara looked at him.
"What watch?"
"His father's watch."
Leonardo heard.
"Who is with you?"
"Elias Bennett."
Another pause.
"Elias is alive?"
Elias rolled his eyes.
"Good to hear you too, cousin."
Clara pressed the phone closer.
"What watch?"
Leonardo answered slowly.
"My father's pocket watch."
"Gabriel gave it to me the night before Palermo."
"He said Father would have wanted me to keep it."
Elias nodded.
"That's the key."
"How do you know?"
"Because Gabe asked me to repair it before he gave it to you."
"I thought I was replacing a broken spring."
"He installed a coded insert inside the back plate."
Leonardo swore softly.
"Where is it now?"
"In my office safe."
Dante's voice came through the background.
"Not anymore."
Leonardo went silent.
Clara's stomach dropped.
"What happened?"
Dante took the phone.
"The office was accessed forty minutes ago."
"No forced entry."
"The watch is gone."
Sofia closed her eyes.
Elias whispered, "Victor."
Clara thought of the men entering the warehouse.
"It was a diversion."
"They expected us to go there."
"While everyone was looking for me, someone went into Leonardo's office."
Leonardo's voice hardened.
"Only six people know the safe code."
Dante answered from the background.
"Five."
"You changed it after Palermo."
"Who are the five?" Clara asked.
Leonardo listed them.
Himself.
Dante.
Victor.
The family accountant, Martin Vale.
And Simon, the maître d' at Gene & Georgetti, who handled Leonardo's private reservations and occasionally stored documents for him.
Clara stared into the dark tunnel.
"Simon."
Sofia heard the shift in her voice.
"What?"
"Simon knew when Leonardo arrived."
"He knew I was serving Table 8."
"He handed me the phone when the first caller asked for the ring."
Elias frowned.
"Could he have placed the call himself?"
Clara remembered Simon's trembling hand.
Fear could be real.
Or performed.
"He also had access to the security footage."
Leonardo said nothing.
Dante did.
"I'm going to the restaurant."
Clara immediately replied, "So am I."
Leonardo objected.
She ended the call.
They met at Gene & Georgetti thirty minutes later.
The restaurant was closed.
Only the kitchen lights remained on.
Simon stood near the bar with his coat over one arm.
He looked surprised to see Clara.
Then he saw Elias and went white.
"You."
Elias stopped.
"Do I know you?"
Simon backed into the bar.
Leonardo entered from the rear hallway.
"Where is the watch?"
Simon looked between them.
"What watch?"
Dante closed the front door.
Clara hated how quickly the room became intimidating.
She stepped forward.
"Simon, I don't care about Leonardo's business."
"I care that someone used me to get to a ring Gabriel left behind."
"If you know something, tell me now."
Simon looked at her with genuine sadness.
"I tried to keep you away from that table."
Clara remembered his warning.
Do exactly what they say.
Do not make eye contact.
Do not spill anything.
At the time, it had sounded like fear of Leonardo.
Now it sounded different.
"You knew Leonardo would recognize the ring."
Simon nodded.
"Yes."
Leonardo moved closer.
"How?"
Simon reached into his coat slowly.
Dante tensed.
Simon removed a folded photograph.
It showed Gabriel sitting at the restaurant bar six months earlier.
Alive.
Clara took the image with shaking fingers.
"He was here."
Simon nodded.
"After closing."
"He told me to watch you."
"He said if Leonardo ever came in while you were wearing the ring, I should get you out before he saw it."
Leonardo's face hardened.
"Why?"
Simon looked at him.
"Because he still didn't trust you."
Leonardo absorbed the blow.
Clara asked, "Did you steal the watch?"
Simon shook his head.
"No."
"Then who did?"
Before he could answer, the kitchen door opened.
Martin Vale, Leonardo's longtime accountant, stepped into the dining room.
May you like
He held the antique pocket watch in one hand.
"Looking for this?"
