Everything suddenly made sense.
Rafe wasn’t trying to kill him.
He was trying to make the world believe Emilio couldn’t make his own decisions.
Then the hidden door opened.
Rafe stood there.
He wasn’t smiling anymore.
Two men stood behind him.
“I think you’ve heard enough.”
Emilio stepped forward.
“You should have killed me when you had the chance.”
Rafe shook his head.
“I couldn’t.”
“Why?”
Rafe looked at me.
“Because she had to be here.”
I felt my blood turn cold.
“Me?”
Rafe nodded.
“Your mother left something behind.”
“What?”
He smiled.
“The one thing Emilio has been searching for nineteen years.”
Then he pointed toward my pocket.
“The key.”
I reached inside.
My fingers touched something cold.
A small brass key.
I had carried it for years.
My mother had told me never to lose it.
I had never known what it opened.
Emilio stared at it.
Then whispered:
“The second key.”
PART 5 — WILL YOU STAY?
Rafe stepped forward.
“Give it to me.”
I tightened my hand around the key.
“No.”
His expression changed.
“You don’t understand what you’re holding.”
“I understand enough.”
Rafe laughed.
“You’re a cleaner.”
I looked at him.
“And you’re still afraid of a cleaner holding a key.”
