Chapter 7 - THE HOLLOW BRASS
They worked through the night.
With Frankie standing guard outside, Rocco climbed the scaffolding Evelyn used for high restorations. He reached the massive brass canopy of the old chandelier.
“There’s a seam here,” Rocco called down. “It’s sealed shut.”
“Use the blowtorch,” Evelyn instructed, handing up the tools. “Heat the joint. It’s an old friction lock.”
As Rocco worked, Evelyn sat with Mia, who had woken up from the noise of the broken window.
“Are the bad men coming?” Mia asked quietly, clutching the lapels of Rocco’s jacket.
Evelyn smoothed the little girl’s curls. “No, sweetheart. Your uncle Rocco and I are going to fix everything. I promise.” She realized in that moment that she would do anything to protect this child.
Above them, there was a loud metallic crack.
Rocco lowered a heavy, dust-covered cylindrical lockbox. He climbed down the scaffolding and set it on the workbench.
The lockbox had a dial.
“A combination,” Rocco cursed. “We don’t have time to crack this. I’ll break it open.”
“No!” Evelyn stopped him. “It’s a kinetic lock. If you smash it, the glass vial of acid inside will shatter and destroy whatever is in there. My father built these.”
Rocco stepped back. “Then how do we open it?”
Evelyn thought of her father. The watch. The map.
“The Waltham watch,” Evelyn said. “What time was it stopped at?”
“Four-twelve,” Rocco said instantly.
Evelyn spun the dial. Four. One. Two.
Click.
She opened the lid. Inside was a thick leather ledger, and a stack of notarized legal documents.
Rocco pulled them out. His hands were shaking. He flipped through the pages. “This is it. The irrevocable trust. My father transferred every legitimate asset to Mia’s name before he died. Carmine has no legal right to the businesses, the warehouses, or the money. Without the money, his associates will abandon him.”
Relief washed over Evelyn so strongly her knees weakened. Rocco caught her, pulling her flush against him. He kissed her forehead, then her cheek, his breathing ragged.
“You saved us,” he whispered.
Suddenly, the front door of the shop was kicked open.
Carmine stood in the doorway, flanked by four massive men. It was 8:00 AM.
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“Well, well,” Carmine smiled, pulling a heavy crowbar from his coat. “Looks like you found something that belongs to me. Hand over the ledger, Rocco. Or my boys are going to smash every piece of glass in this beautiful little shop. And then, I’m taking the girl.”
Mia screamed and hid behind Evelyn’s legs.
