Chapter 4 - The Woman Who Shouldn't Have Known
Vincent Moretti entered the room as if he owned it.
Maybe he did.
From the way everyone straightened, I could tell he was accustomed to being obeyed.
He was in his late fifties.
Perfectly groomed.
Calm.
Elegant.
And his smile never reached his eyes.
“Rico,” he said, opening his arms. “I came as soon as I heard about Leo.”
Rico didn't move.
“How did you hear?”
Vincent paused.
“Marco called my office.”
I glanced toward the door.
The restaurant manager wasn't there.
“Marco doesn't usually call you,” Rico said.
“Perhaps tonight isn't usual.”
Vincent turned to me.
“And this must be the young woman everyone's talking about.”
“Clara Vance.”
His smile returned.
“Vance?”
Something flickered in his eyes.
Just for a second.
Then it was gone.
“Interesting.”
Frank Bell lowered his head.
Vincent glanced at him.
“Who's this?”
“A man with information about Elena,” Rico replied.
“About Elena?”
Vincent's voice softened perfectly.
“My poor niece. What a tragedy.”
Rico watched his uncle carefully.
“Frank says Elena called Clara's mother before she died.”
Vincent turned toward me.
“Your mother?”
I nodded reluctantly.
“Rose Vance.”
He held my gaze.
Then he smiled.
“I don't believe I know her.”
But I noticed something.
His right hand had curled into a fist.
Frank saw it too.
“Clara,” he said urgently. “Ask your mother about the blue box.”
Vincent moved.
Not toward Frank.
Toward me.
“I'm afraid this is getting unnecessarily confusing.”
Rico blocked his path.
“Sit down, Uncle.”
Vincent's eyebrows lifted.
“Excuse me?”
“Sit.”
The order was quiet.
But everyone heard it.
For one long moment, the two men faced each other.
Then Vincent laughed.
“Of course.”
He took a chair.
I looked at Frank.
“What blue box?”
He opened his mouth.
Vincent spoke first.
“Rico, your wife was under tremendous stress before the shooting.”
Rico's face tightened.
“Don't.”
“She was frightened. Emotional. She may have been speaking to all sorts of people.”
“Don't talk about my wife like that.”
Vincent raised both hands.
“I'm only trying to help.”
Frank shook his head.
“He's lying.”
Every bodyguard in the room stiffened.
Vincent's smile faded.
“Careful.”
Frank looked directly at Rico.
“Elena was investigating stolen money.”
Rico frowned.
“What money?”
“Money moving through the Moretti businesses. Millions. She found accounts in the names of people who never existed.”
Vincent laughed.
“Absurd.”
Frank continued.
“She believed somebody was using your restaurants and construction companies to move money without your knowledge.”
Rico looked at his uncle.
Vincent calmly adjusted his cuff.
“You're going to believe some stranger over family?”
I watched Rico.
This was the first time I'd seen him hesitate.
Frank's voice grew desperate.
“Elena had documents. Bank records. A recording. She was going to show you everything that night.”
Rico shook his head.
“She told me she was meeting a friend.”
“She was protecting you.”
Vincent stood.
“Enough.”
Leo startled awake.
He looked toward the voices.
His eyes found Vincent.
The reaction was immediate.
His body stiffened.
His breath caught.
He pushed against me.
“No.”
I gently held him.
“It's okay, sweetheart.”
Vincent stared at him.
Leo's mouth opened.
A terrible, frightened sound came out.
“No, Vinnie!”
Every adult in the room froze.
Rico turned slowly.
“What did he say?”
Leo began sobbing.
“No, Vinnie! No car!”
Vincent's face drained.
And in that moment, I knew.
Whatever happened to Elena six months ago, this little boy had seen more than anyone understood.
Vincent took a step toward us.
“Come here, Leo.”
The child screamed.
Rico stepped between them.
“Don't touch my son.”
Vincent stopped.
“Rico, he's confused.”
Rico's voice dropped to a whisper.
“Then why does he remember your name?”
Nobody answered.
Then my phone rang.
The screen showed my mother's number.
I answered immediately.
“Mom?”
All I heard was breathing.
Fast.
Frightened.
Then my mother's voice.
“Clara, listen carefully.”
“Mom, what's wrong?”
“Don't go home.”
My blood turned cold.
“Why?”
A crash sounded behind her.
May you like
Then she whispered words I would never forget.
“The men who killed Elena just found me.”
