Chapter 7 - THE LETTER FROM A DEAD WOMAN
“Margaret Bellini was declared dead?”
I stared at Arthur.
The old butler nodded slowly.
“That's what Victor Bellini told everyone.”
“But Vanessa said her mother is alive in a care facility.”
Arthur looked at the letter.
“Then Victor has been lying for nearly three decades.”
Daniel sat beside the music box, listening to the melody.
He was too young to understand the significance of the letter.
But he understood that something was wrong.
“Emma?”
I turned.
“Yes, sweetheart?”
“Is the lady okay?”
I sat beside him.
“We're trying to find out.”
He considered that.
Then he pushed the silver bell toward me.
“You can use this.”
My throat tightened.
“Thank you.”
Arthur looked at the boy.
“Your grandfather would be very proud of you.”
Daniel smiled.
“Grandpa said I was his best helper.”
Luca returned from the hospital shortly before sunset.
He looked exhausted.
But when he saw Daniel waiting in the hallway, he knelt and opened his arms.
Daniel ran straight into them.
“Daddy!”
Luca held him tightly.
“Hey, buddy.”
“Did you find the bad medicine?”
Luca hesitated.
“We found some answers.”
Daniel nodded.
“Good.”
Then he whispered:
“Can we eat dinner together?”
Luca closed his eyes.
For months, dinner had meant guests, business calls, and Vanessa's carefully planned events.
Now his son was asking for something simple.
Time.
“Yes,” Luca said. “Every night I'm home.”
Daniel smiled.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
After Arthur took Daniel to wash his hands, I showed Luca the letter.
He read it twice.
Then he looked at the bracelet.
“My mother kept this?”
Arthur nodded.
“Apparently.”
Luca sat down.
“Catherine told us something at the hospital.”
I waited.
“She said my father discovered that Cross was altering his medication schedule. But she couldn't prove who ordered it.”
“What about the records?”
“Some were falsified. The police are comparing them with pharmacy records.”
Arthur frowned.
“And Catherine?”
Luca's expression darkened.
“She said Cross brought her to the basement after she confronted him.”
I felt cold.
“Was Vanessa there?”
“Yes.”
Arthur closed his eyes.
Luca continued.
“Catherine says Vanessa initially helped hide her from Cross. She thought the lower medical suite would be a safe place until Catherine could contact an investigator.”
“Then what happened?”
“Cross took control of the suite. He told Vanessa Catherine had been moved to another facility. When Catherine tried to escape, he had the access corridor sealed.”
I stared.
“Vanessa knew someone was still there.”
Luca nodded.
“She heard noises. She knew the story about Catherine leaving didn't make sense.”
“Then why didn't she help?”
Luca looked down.
“Because Cross threatened to expose her father's financial crimes and cut off her mother's medical care.”
I thought of Vanessa in the red gown.
Her cruel words.
Her threats.
Her insistence that Daniel stop ringing the bell.
She had been afraid.
But she'd also made choices that left an innocent woman suffering.
Both things could be true.
Luca rubbed his forehead.
“Catherine said something else.”
“What?”
“She recognized Adrian Moretti.”
Arthur stiffened.
“Adrian?”
“He visited the lower medical suite two days before my father died.”
I stared.
“Why?”
“Catherine heard him arguing with Cross.”
“About what?”
Luca's voice hardened.
“About a shipment of medication and an old recording from 1998.”
The cassette tape from Locker 17.
I looked toward the music box.
“Could that be connected to Isabella?”
“I believe so.”
Arthur slowly rose.
“Then you need to know something.”
Luca turned.
“What?”
“Your mother was investigating financial records before the boating accident.”
Luca frowned.
“Financial records?”
“Adrian was using family shipping accounts to move unauthorized medical supplies.”
Luca stared at him.
“And my mother discovered it?”
Arthur nodded.
“She wanted to go to the authorities.”
“Did my father know?”
“Not until the day she died.”
Luca stood abruptly.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Arthur's eyes filled.
“Because your father asked me not to.”
“Why?”
“He was afraid the truth would put you in danger.”
Luca turned away.
For several seconds, no one spoke.
Then he looked at Arthur again.
“My father made a terrible mistake.”
Arthur nodded.
“Yes.”
“He thought silence would protect me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And it nearly destroyed my son.”
Arthur began crying.
“I know.”
Luca's voice softened.
“Arthur, I'm angry. But I need you to help me put this right.”
The old man wiped his eyes.
“I will.”
That evening, Detective Monroe arrived with new information.
She had located Margaret Bellini at a private care facility under the name Margaret Vale.
Margaret was alive.
She had significant mobility problems after an old injury.
Her medical records showed years of heavy sedation.
And Victor Bellini had controlled nearly every aspect of her care.
Vanessa had been allowed to visit only occasionally.
“She thought her mother had a severe neurological condition,” Monroe explained.
“Does she?” Luca asked.
“There's evidence of physical injuries, but independent doctors are reviewing whether all her medication was necessary.”
“Has Margaret spoken?”
“Briefly.”
Luca leaned forward.
“What did she say?”
Monroe opened her notebook.
“She asked for Isabella.”
Luca went pale.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her Isabella died?”
Monroe hesitated.
“Not yet. We wanted a physician present.”
Luca looked toward the family portrait above the fireplace.
For twenty-eight years, a woman had been waiting for his mother.
And nobody had told her the truth.
Then Monroe placed a photograph on the table.
It showed Margaret in her care facility.
Older.
Thin.
Her dark hair streaked with silver.
But her eyes were unmistakably alert.
Vanessa sat beside her.
For the first time, Luca saw that his fiancée's desperation had roots far deeper than ambition.
He looked at Monroe.
“Can Margaret identify Adrian?”
“We believe so.”
“What about the cassette?”
“The lab is examining it.”
Luca nodded.
Then Monroe continued.
“There's one complication.”
“What?”
“Margaret became very upset when we mentioned Vittorio.”
Arthur frowned.
“Why?”
Monroe studied her notes.
“She said Vittorio promised to bring Isabella back.”
Luca stared.
“That makes no sense.”
“Perhaps not.”
Monroe turned another page.
“Then she said something else.”
“What?”
The detective looked directly at Luca.
“Margaret claims she saw the boating accident.”
Luca gripped the edge of the table.
“And?”
Monroe's expression became grave.
“SHE SAID ISABELLA DIDN'T FALL OVERBOARD.”
Luca went completely still.
May you like
The detective finished:
“SHE SAID SOMEONE PUSHED HER—AND VITTORIO KNEW WHO IT WAS.”
