Chapter 2 - Lorenzo Follows Nora Into The Basement
Nora descended the stone stairs one hand at a time along the iron
railing.
Every step pulled across her lower back.
She reached cold storage and stared at the potato sacks.
Fifty pounds each.
Mrs. Gable had ordered two.
Nora bent toward the first.
“Don’t.”
The voice behind her nearly made her scream.
Lorenzo Moretti stood in the doorway.
No jacket.
No audience.
No softness in his expression.
Nora straightened too quickly and winced.
“Mr. Moretti.”
“Who told you to carry those?”
She froze.
He already knew.
That frightened her more than ignorance.
“The kitchen needs them.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Nora looked toward the stairs.
“Mrs. Gable.”
Lorenzo stepped closer.
“And Room 4B?”
Her face emptied.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He had heard Mrs. Gable threaten her.
But Lorenzo did not reveal how much.
Instead he said:
“You had spotting yesterday.”
Nora’s eyes filled with panic.
“Please don’t fire me.”
“Why would I fire you?”
“Because I can’t work as fast.”
Lorenzo stared at her.
Someone in his house had taught a pregnant employee that bleeding meant
unemployment.
He called his physician and ordered a car prepared.
Nora resisted.
“My shift—”
“Is over.”
She started crying.
Not from gratitude.
From terror.
“If I leave, Mrs. Gable will go into 4B.”
Lorenzo’s voice lowered.
“What is in that room?”
Nora looked toward the ceiling as if the walls themselves could report
her.
Then she whispered:
“Not what.”
May you like
She swallowed.
“Who.”
Related Stories
