Chapter 2 - THE SECOND NAME ON THE LIST
“Get away from my son.”
Dominic Romano's voice was so quiet that I almost didn't hear it.
But the two unfamiliar men standing behind Vanessa stopped moving.
Oliver pressed himself against his grandmother's wheelchair.
Vanessa remained in the library doorway, holding a cream-colored envelope against her evening gown.
“Dominic, please don't make this difficult.”
“Who are these men?”
“Medical transport specialists. They're here under a court-authorized protective arrangement.”
Dominic stepped between them and Oliver.
“Then they can explain why my nine-year-old son is listed on a medical transfer form.”
Vanessa looked toward me.
“Hannah, take Oliver upstairs.”
I didn't move.
She narrowed her eyes.
“Did you hear me?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Then do it.”
“No.”
For eleven months, I had obeyed almost every instruction given to me inside the Romano mansion.
I had endured Vanessa's insults because my younger brother, Daniel, depended on the salary that paid for his rehabilitation.
But Oliver's small fingers were gripping Margaret's sleeve.
And the little boy looked frightened.
I couldn't leave him.
Vanessa turned to Dominic.
“Your housekeeper is becoming a problem.”
“She's exactly where I asked her to be,” Dominic answered.
He held out his hand.
“The order.”
One of the transport men, a tall fellow with thinning brown hair, passed him the paperwork.
Dominic read silently.
Then his expression changed.
“Temporary protective placement,” he said.
He continued reading.
“Margaret Romano, age eighty-two. Oliver Romano, age nine.”
Oliver looked up.
“Daddy, am I going somewhere?”
“No, buddy.”
“But she said—”
Dominic crouched beside him.
“Look at me. You're staying with me.”
Vanessa sighed.
“Dominic, your mother has been experiencing confusion, and Oliver has become emotionally dependent on her. Dr. Elias Mercer recommended a temporary separation from the household until the situation could be evaluated.”
“Separation from whom?”
Vanessa hesitated.
“From the instability surrounding your business.”
Dominic stood.
“My business?”
She finally looked uncomfortable.
“Someone filed a report regarding threats against your household.”
The words seemed to change the temperature of the room.
Dominic's security chief, Marco Bellini, entered from the adjoining study.
“Boss, I checked the authorization number.”
“And?”
“It's a real emergency court order. Issued this afternoon.”
Vanessa's shoulders relaxed.
“See? I'm trying to protect your family.”
Marco continued.
“But the court's file contains a sworn statement attributed to your mother.”
Margaret lifted her head.
“I signed nothing.”
“There's more,” Marco said.
He glanced at Oliver.
“The statement claims the boy witnessed threatening behavior by his father.”
Dominic went perfectly still.
Oliver looked confused.
“Daddy doesn't scare me.”
Vanessa crouched beside him.
“Sweetheart, sometimes children don't understand what they've seen.”
Oliver backed away.
“Don't call me sweetheart.”
The room fell silent.
I had never heard him speak to Vanessa that way.
She straightened.
“Dominic, this is exactly the emotional distress the doctor described.”
Margaret suddenly seized my wrist.
“Hannah. My cardigan.”
I looked down.
There was a small opening in the lining near her left pocket.
I carefully slipped two fingers inside.
Something hard and cold touched my hand.
A silver pocket watch.
Its glass was cracked.
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
“Give that to Dominic.”
He stared when he saw it.
“Mother?”
“It belonged to your father.”
Dominic opened the watch.
Inside was a faded photograph of a younger Margaret standing beside her late husband, Anthony Romano.
And beneath the photograph was a tiny folded strip of paper.
Dominic unfolded it.
His expression darkened.
Written in Anthony's unmistakable handwriting were six words.
IF THEY CLAIM I'M CONFUSED, CHECK THE DATES.
Dominic looked at his mother.
“When did Dad write this?”
“Before he died.”
“That was twelve years ago.”
Margaret nodded.
“He was afraid someone would use the same trick again.”
Vanessa gave a short, nervous laugh.
“An old man's handwriting proves nothing.”
Margaret turned toward her.
“No, Vanessa. But the date inside the watch might.”
Dominic examined the back.
November 14.
The same date printed on Margaret's supposed admission bracelet.
Marco spoke.
“Boss, there's something you should see.”
He placed his tablet on the desk.
On the screen was the sworn statement supporting the emergency order.
It described Oliver witnessing an incident inside the Romano mansion.
The incident supposedly occurred at 10:30 that morning.
Oliver suddenly shook his head.
“That didn't happen.”
Dominic looked at him.
“How do you know?”
“Because I wasn't here.”
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Oliver pointed at her.
“You took me to that building with the blue doors.”
My stomach tightened.
Briarwood House.
Vanessa's face turned pale.
Oliver continued.
“And the lady there gave me something to sign.”
Dominic crouched again.
“What did she ask you to sign?”
Oliver looked at his grandmother.
“I didn't sign it, Daddy.”
“Why not?”
“Because Grandma told me never to write my name on something I didn't understand.”
He reached into the pocket of his little black suit.
Then he pulled out a folded sheet of paper.
“I brought it home.”
Dominic opened it.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then he looked directly at Vanessa.
At the bottom of the page were three typed words.
MOTHER: DECEASED.
Underneath was a blank line labeled:
CHILD'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SUBSTITUTE MATERNAL GUARDIAN.
The name printed beside it was Vanessa Caldwell.
But someone had crossed out that name in blue ink.
May you like
And written another one.
HANNAH BROOKS.
