There wasn’t a lot of information in the newspaper articles, but I did learn that the Santoro brothers killed thirteen people in total. The heads of the family were executed. The women and children had been rounded up and locked in the root cellar while parts of the family’s farm were burned to the ground. It was a sign to all that the brothers had been there. After that, they started plucking off anyone with the last name Rosario. It was said that the city was still stained with their blood.
By the time I found my way to the road, I had dictated the outline and the first part of my writeup.
“Hello, there.” A man who was waiting by his car in Elio’s driveway came over to greet me. “Lovely day for a stroll through the fields.”
“I thought so.” I shaded my eyes to see him better. He was dressed well and looked like he belonged here.
“I couldn’t help but notice you have a laptop.”
“I do.” I looked down at my hands, thinking of how much of my heart was poured into the document that was stored in there under a password.
“Do you always carry a laptop when you go for a walk? Would you care to share what’s in there? I’m a sucker for a mystery.”
I laughed at him, trying to see into my notes. I held the laptop close like it was a masterful secret.
“As a matter of fact, I do often carry it, and some secrets are not meant to be shared.”
“Who are you here with?” He stepped closer. “I’ve never seen you here before.”
“Who are you?” I knew better than to open my mouth until I knew who I was talking to.
“The boss doesn’t like people on his property, let alone with a camera,” he pointed to my phone, “and a laptop.”
“What?” I laughed, thinking how absurd he sounded. “Do I look like a spy?”
“Let me see your laptop, and I’ll let you go on your way.”
“No.” I stepped back, and he reached for my arm and yanked it hard. “Ouch.”
“Hey!” Elio boomed from the doorway and marched up to the two of us. “You touch her again, and I will drive my fist through your forehead.”
Porca merda.
The guy let me go and held his hands up as he leaned back against his car like the threat didn’t faze him.
“Sorry, boss,” he muttered.
Elio had his hands on my shoulders as he leaned down to see my face. I saw many emotions flicker across his, and all looked haunted.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” He waited a beat, as if trying to read my mind.
“Okay.”
“Didn’t know she was with you,” the guy muttered.
“Do I look like a threat?” I challenged and grew angrier.
“You think she would be here if she was?” Elio snapped then took a deep breath to calm his nerves. “Everything is fine. We’re good here.”
“Understood. I’ll wait down the road until you are ready to talk.” The man disappeared behind the blacked-out windows and drove off, leaving the two of us alone.
“Who is he?” I tried to figure out what had rattled Elio so hard.
“He works for me.”
“He seems, ah, nice.” I tried to lighten the mood with a little sarcasm, but when he didn’t relax even a little, I reached up and cupped his face, slipping back into old habits. “Hey, I’m all right. I’m not that fragile.”