Chapter 6 - The Trap is Set
By 8:00 p.m., the sun had dipped below the horizon, leaving Federal Hill wrapped in a cold, misty twilight.
In the grand study, I sat across from Marco and two of my most loyal lieutenants, Leo and Dominic. On the desk lay a blueprint of the Romano estate and a recorded phone wiretap device.
“Salvatore is expecting a call from Isabella tonight at 9:00 p.m.,” I told my men. “She was supposed to report that I had fallen ill with severe stomach cramps after breakfast.”
“If she makes that call, Salvatore will move his men into position near the harbor,” Marco analyzed, pointing at the blueprint. “He’ll want to be close when the news breaks so he can claim the leadership before the other families react.”
“Exactly,” I said. “So we give him what he wants.”
I brought Isabella into the study. She was shaking uncontrollably, her eyes red from crying.
“Here is the script,” I said, handing her a piece of paper. “You call Salvatore. You tell him the poison worked. You tell him I’m unconscious in my bedroom, and that my personal guards have taken me to the private clinic in East Greenwich.”
Isabella looked at the paper, her hands trembling. “And if he asks why I’m calling from the landline?”
“Tell him the cell service in the house is down because of the storm,” I commanded. “If you stumble, if you trip over your words, or if you try to signal him… Marco will end your life before you hang up the phone.”
“I understand,” she whispered.
At 9:00 p.m. sharp, the phone was dialled.
The line clicked.
“Is it done?” Salvatore’s rough, aging voice came through the speakerphone.
Isabella took a deep breath, forcing her voice into a breathless, panicked tone.
“Uncle Salvatore… it’s happened! Gabriel collapsed at dinner! He’s throwing up blood… the doctors say it’s acute organ failure!”
A long pause on the other end of the line.
“Is he conscious?” Salvatore asked, his tone laced with suppressed excitement.
“No! They’ve rushed him to the East Greenwich clinic in an unmarked van!” Isabella cried, following the script perfectly. “The house is completely empty except for two guards! What should I do?”
“Stay where you are, Isabella,” Salvatore ordered, his voice growing cold and triumphant. “I am coming to the estate now to secure Gabriel’s private safe before the federal agents arrive. You did well, girl. Your money will be in Zurich by morning.”
The line went dead.
I looked at Marco, a dark, lethal smile spreading across my lips.
May you like
“He’s coming here himself,” Marco said, racking the slide of his automatic pistol with a metallic snap. “He wants the ledger in your desk safe.”
“Let him come,” I said, standing up and adjusting my cuffs. “And make sure the estate gates are unlocked.”
