Chapter 5: The Price of Silence
“Inspector, give the child a minute,” I said.
Mercer studied Mia, then lowered the restraints.
“One minute.”
Elena knelt and held her daughter.
“I’ll come back, sweetheart.”
“You didn’t do bad.”
“No, darling.”
“Then why do you have to go?”
Elena had no answer.
Vivien touched my arm.
“Let the police do their work.”
I pulled away.
“You called them before we opened the safe.”
“I called them this afternoon.”
“The warrant names the emeralds.
Isabella wore them yesterday.”
Vivien’s face remained still.
“Perhaps Elena took them last night.”
Inspector Mercer looked down at the warrant.
“What time was your report filed?” I asked.
“Three forty-two.”
“My mother wore those emeralds at dinner until seven.”
Mercer turned to Vivien.
“How did you report stolen property four hours before it disappeared?”
Vivien’s expression hardened.
“I may have confused the time.”
“You were very precise on the form,” Mercer said.
She signaled to the officer.
“Take Ms.
Elena in for a statement, not under arrest.
Keep the restraints off.”
Elena kissed Mia’s hair.
“Stay with Isabella.”
“I’ll stay with her,” I said.
When the officers left, Vivien walked into my study without being invited.
“You can end this,” she said.
I closed the door.
“By doing what?”
“Marry me on Saturday.”
I stared at her.
“The complaint disappears.
Elena comes home.
Your mother’s condition remains private.”
“You planted evidence in a mother’s room and now you’re bargaining with her child.”
“Careful, Lorenzo.
Anger isn’t evidence.”
“What do you gain from marriage?”
“Security.”
“You transferred nearly three hundred thousand dollars.”
“That is nothing compared with what your name opens.”
I stepped closer.
“You never wanted me.”
“I wanted the life beside you.
Don’t pretend you proposed for love alone.
I looked suitable, your mother expected an heir, and you wanted a beautiful wife who asked no questions.”
“You asked plenty.
I was the fool who answered them.”
Vivien smiled.
“Saturday.
Or Elena learns how expensive innocence can be.”
She left before I could reply.
Mrs.
Keane, the senior housekeeper, stood outside the study.
She had never hidden her dislike of Elena.
“You heard us,” I said.
“Every word.”
“Then speak.”
She held out her phone.
“I owe Elena an apology.”
The screen showed a photograph of Vivien entering Elena’s room with the velvet box beneath her coat.
“When was this taken?”
“Three twenty-eight.
I thought she was giving Elena another gift.”
“Another?”
Mrs.
Keane’s eyes lowered.
“Vivien gave me two hundred dollars to report which staff members spoke to Isabella.”
“You accepted it?”
“Yes.”
Mia stood behind me, listening.
Mrs.
Keane knelt and placed the money in Mia’s small hand.
“This belonged to your mother’s peace.
I had no right to sell it.”
Mia pushed it back.
“Tell the police.”
Mrs.
Keane swallowed.
“I will.”
My phone rang.
Inspector Mercer’s name appeared.
“Lorenzo,” she said, “Elena’s old phone just received a scheduled message.”
“From whom?”
“We don’t know.
It contains a video recorded inside your garage.”
A man’s frightened voice played over the line.
Vivien appeared on-screen beside a black car.
“Once Lorenzo signs the marriage register,” she said, “Isabella won’t be a problem.
And Elena will take the blame for everything.”
May you like
Then the camera turned, revealing the person who had recorded her.
It was Rocco.
