Chapter 12 - The Message Behind the Stars
Luca returned to the lake house the next morning.
This time, the police had secured the property.
Rebecca had obtained permission for a controlled search.
An investigator accompanied them.
And Luca went straight to the nursery.
The room was painted pale yellow.
A white crib stood near the window.
Stuffed animals lined the shelves.
Above the bed, dozens of faded stars dotted the ceiling.
Luca remembered Elena standing on a ladder, laughing because she'd placed several crookedly.
He'd offered to help.
She'd refused.
“Your stars would be too perfect,” she'd told him.
Now he looked at the largest one.
It was positioned directly above the crib.
He climbed a stepladder.
The star was made of thin plastic.
He gently peeled it away.
Beneath it was a small circular opening in the ceiling panel.
Rebecca held her breath.
Luca reached inside.
His fingers touched metal.
He pulled out a narrow cylindrical container.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
And a tiny recording device.
The paper contained six words.
PLAY THIS BEFORE YOU TRUST ANYONE.
Luca stared.
He recognized Elena's handwriting.
Rebecca brought over a small speaker.
The investigator documented the device.
Then they played the recording.
Elena's voice filled the room.
“Luca, if you're hearing this, then something has happened to me.”
Luca closed his eyes.
“I need you to know I never stopped trusting you.”
His breath shook.
“I was angry. I was scared. But I loved you.”
He pressed his hand against the wall.
“I found out Charles had altered Sophia's records.”
A pause.
“Dante knew.”
Luca opened his eyes.
Elena continued.
“But there's something I didn't understand until yesterday.”
The recording crackled.
“The money isn't just being stolen.”
Rebecca leaned forward.
“Dante is using the foundation to purchase influence over medical licensing boards, research reviewers, and hospital administrators.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“He's buying people who can bury complaints.”
Rebecca exchanged a look with the investigator.
Elena continued.
“I have copies of the payments. They're on the drive.”
A rustling sound followed.
Then Elena lowered her voice.
“I also found something in the vehicle records.”
Luca went still.
“Dante ordered a replacement part for my car.”
His chest tightened.
“The service request came from a company he owns.”
A pause.
“I don't know what he planned. Maybe nothing. I hope I'm wrong.”
Luca could barely breathe.
“But if anything happens to me, please have the car examined again.”
The recording crackled.
Then Elena's voice softened.
“And Luca…”
He covered his mouth.
“Please don't punish yourself for not seeing it sooner.”
Tears blurred his vision.
“You always wanted to protect us.”
A long pause.
“But love isn't just protecting people from danger.”
Her voice broke.
“Sometimes it's believing them when they're trying to tell you something is wrong.”
Luca sank into a chair.
Elena continued.
“Please listen to our daughter.”
Then the recording ended.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Rebecca finally placed a hand on his shoulder.
“We have enough to ask investigators to reopen the crash case.”
Luca nodded.
He couldn't find words.
The investigator took the device for evidence.
Rebecca stepped into the hallway to call the district attorney's office.
Luca remained in the nursery.
He looked at the faded yellow stars.
He remembered the night Elena had finished decorating the room.
She'd stood beneath them with Sophia in her arms.
“Look,” she'd whispered.
“Our little sky.”
He had wrapped his arms around both of them.
For one brief moment, he'd believed he could keep that happiness forever.
Now he understood something painful.
He hadn't failed because he loved them too little.
He'd failed to notice the danger hiding behind the people he trusted.
He stood.
And this time, he knew exactly what he needed to do.
Dante could no longer be allowed to control the story.
The truth needed to become public.
But before Luca could call Rebecca back, his phone rang.
Hannah.
He answered immediately.
“Hey.”
Her voice was shaking.
“Luca, don't come back to St. Agnes.”
His stomach dropped.
“What happened?”
“They found us.”
“Who?”
“Dante's people.”
Luca gripped the phone.
“Where's Sophia?”
There was a loud crash.
Hannah gasped.
Then Sophia's voice came through the speaker.
“Daddy!”
Luca stood.
“Princess?”
“Daddy, I'm scared.”
He felt the world tilt.
“Where are you?”
Sophia began crying.
“Uncle Dante says we have to go.”
A man's voice sounded in the background.
“Give me the phone.”
Sophia screamed.
“No!”
Then the line went dead.
Luca stared at the screen.
For a second, everything around him disappeared.
May you like
Then he shouted:
“REBECCA!”
