Chapter 4 - The Ghost in the House
Mave reached into her right pocket with a severely trembling hand.
She pulled out the cloth handkerchief and unfolded it slowly on the leather seat.
The heavy gold cufflink gleamed brightly in the dim ambient light of the car.
Ronan stared directly at the letter T engraved deeply into the metal.
His jaw tightened momentarily, but his expression remained completely frozen like carved stone.
He recognized his best friend’s custom jewelry instantly.
"Where did you find this?" he asked, his voice barely louder than a breath.
"It was kicked under the chair in Madam's private bedroom," Mave answered honestly.
Ronan closed his eyes for a fraction of a second to absorb the ultimate betrayal.
A lesser man would have screamed in rage or violently broken the car window.
Ronan Castellano simply picked up the cufflink and placed it into his own pocket.
"They think you are gone forever," he said quietly, looking out into the rain.
"I need you to become a ghost in my house tonight."
He calmly explained the hidden network of secret passageways built behind the mansion's walls.
Only he knew about the old rum-runner tunnels left over from the Prohibition era.
Mave bravely agreed to sneak back inside and help him gather the final proof of treason.
An hour later, she was standing silently behind the walls of the main parlor.
She peered carefully through a tiny air vent heavily concealed by an oil painting.
Inside the room, Adriana was happily pouring two large glasses of expensive Scotch.
Tomas walked in, locked the door, and wrapped his arms possessively around her waist.
"Is the nosy maid finally dealt with?" Tomas asked, kissing her neck greedily.
"She is gone, and my foolish husband suspects absolutely nothing," Adriana laughed wickedly.
Mave felt physically sick to her stomach watching them celebrate their vile deception.
"Good," Tomas smiled, pulling a small, dark glass vial from his suit jacket.
"Because tonight, the king of Chicago takes his final, glorious drink."
He unstoppered the vial and poured a clear, odorless liquid directly into one of the crystal glasses.
May you like
Mave gasped in horror, realizing they were not just cheating on him.
They were actively planning to murder Ronan Castellano tonight.
