Chapter 6 - THE MATCHES ON THE STAIRCASE
Luca stared at Vanessa.
"A box of matches?"
She nodded once.
"Anthony had asked me to burn some papers."
For several seconds, Luca said nothing.
Then he pulled out a chair.
"Sit down. Tell me everything you did."
Vanessa sat, trembling.
"The papers were in a metal wastebasket near the back stairs. Anthony said they were duplicate financial records. He told me Kessler had made a mistake, and the copies needed to be destroyed."
"And you believed him?"
"I wanted to."
"Why?"
"Because my father's money was tied up in the deal."
Vanessa stared at her hands.
"My father was facing bankruptcy. He had spent his whole life building that company. Anthony promised he could save it."
"So you burned the papers."
"Yes."
"Inside a wooden house?"
"The wastebasket was metal. I thought it would be safe."
Luca looked toward Marco.
"Did the original investigation identify the starting point?"
"The utility hallway beside the back staircase."
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"I didn't know there were cleaning supplies in the cabinet nearby."
Luca's expression hardened.
"But you knew Sophie was locked upstairs."
Vanessa began crying.
"I thought I had time to let her out. Anthony told me to leave the papers burning and meet him outside."
"Instead?"
"I went back toward her room. There was already smoke in the hallway."
Luca leaned forward.
"Did you try to open the door?"
"Yes."
"Then why did Sophie hear you arguing with Helen?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"Because Helen came upstairs and saw what I'd done."
A terrible silence followed.
"She knew you'd started the fire," Luca said.
Vanessa nodded.
"She wanted to call the police. I told her she couldn't."
"Because of your father?"
"Because Anthony said we'd all be arrested."
Luca stood.
"My daughter could have died."
"I know."
"No. You knew there was a child behind a locked door, and you were more concerned about protecting a financial arrangement."
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
"I was frightened."
"So was Sophie."
Those three words ended her defense.
Marco examined the property records again.
"Mr. Moretti, there's a problem."
Luca turned.
"The original fire report identifies an electrical fault as the probable cause."
Vanessa looked surprised.
"That's what Anthony told me afterward."
Marco shook his head.
"Someone submitted an amended statement two weeks after the incident."
"Who?"
"Helen Price."
Luca frowned.
"The housekeeper?"
"Her signature appears on the document."
Vanessa looked away.
Luca remembered Sophie's account of Vanessa threatening Helen's son.
"Was Helen paid to lie?"
Vanessa whispered, "Anthony arranged it."
"How much?"
"I don't know."
Marco continued scrolling.
"According to the records, Helen received no direct payment. But her son's scholarship began a month later."
Luca turned toward the window.
A woman had apparently been forced to choose between telling the truth and protecting her son's future.
He knew what desperation could make people do.
But understanding it did not make the truth easier.
"Tomorrow," he said, "we hear Helen's side."
Vanessa looked up.
"Are you calling the police?"
"Yes. We're preserving the records and arranging for investigators to review them."
"You can't do that without destroying your brother."
Luca faced her.
"My brother made his choices."
He removed the engagement ring box from the mantelpiece, where it had been displayed during dinner.
He placed it before Vanessa.
"The wedding is canceled."
She stared at the box.
"Luca..."
"You will have a chance to give a truthful statement. You won't have another chance to control my daughter."
For the first time, Vanessa did not argue.
Upstairs, Emily sat beside Sophie until the girl fell asleep.
Then she returned to the hallway and found Luca standing outside his daughter's room.
"Is she asleep?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Thank you."
Emily nodded.
He looked at her scarred arm.
"Did the fire leave you with medical expenses?"
"Quite a few."
"Why didn't you tell anyone what happened?"
"I did. The hospital took my statement."
Luca frowned.
"The report I received never mentioned a young woman rescuing Sophie."
Emily shook her head.
"That isn't possible. I gave the police my name and address."
Luca looked toward Marco, who had joined them.
"Find Emily's original statement."
Marco examined the records.
Several minutes passed.
Then his expression changed.
"Mr. Moretti, the statement is here."
"Then why wasn't it included?"
"Someone removed it from the final case file."
"Who?"
Marco showed him the authorization field.
The name was clearly visible.
ANTHONY MORETTI.
But beneath it was another signature.
A witness.
Someone who had personally certified that Emily Carter's testimony was unreliable.
Luca stared at the name.
May you like
It belonged to his own mother.
ELEANOR MORETTI.
