Chapter 4: The Key That Had a Twin
No one moved.
Luca crouched and held out his hand.
“Drop it, Bruno.”
Bruno released the scarf but kept his body between Isabella and me.
Marco examined the sewn corner.
“This has been altered.”
Isabella reached for it.
“Give it to me.”
Luca lifted it beyond her grasp.
“Why are there two keys?”
“There aren’t.
The one in Emma’s pocket is mine.”
Marco untied the thread and compared them.
“They are identical in shape, but this one has a manufacturer’s mark.
The other doesn’t.”
“A copy,” I said.
Elena turned on Marco.
“You work in security, not locksmithing.”
“I ordered every lock in this house.”
Luca held up the copied key.
“Someone planted this on Emma.”
Isabella shook her head.
“Or she had a copy made.”
“With what original?” I asked.
“The scarf was in your room until Bruno took it.”
“You had time.”
“I was walking your dog, serving breakfast, and cleaning the east hall.
Ask anyone.”
Elena stepped closer to Luca.
“You are allowing an employee to interrogate your fiancée.”
“I’m allowing Emma to defend herself.”
“Then you have already chosen her.”
Isabella’s eyes filled, but no tears fell.
“After everything I’ve done for you, you believe a dog walker?”
“I believe evidence.”
“She’s turning you against me!”
“You accused her before anyone searched her coat.”
Isabella’s face changed.
Marco slid both keys into separate pouches.
“Mr.
Moretti, there’s something else.
The greenhouse recording was edited using an administrator account.”
Elena gave a dismissive laugh.
“Half the senior staff have access.”
“Only three people used the system today,” Marco said.
“You, me, and Mr.
Moretti.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It does if someone used your password.”
Elena looked at Isabella.
Isabella stepped back.
“Don’t look at me.”
“Did you use it?” Luca asked.
“No.”
“Did you know it?”
“No.”
Marco’s phone rang.
He answered, listened, then turned toward Luca.
“The original file is missing from the main server.”
Elena spread her hands.
“Then this spectacle is over.”
“There may be a backup,” Marco said.
“May be?” Isabella asked.
“So you have nothing.”
“For the moment.”
Luca pointed toward the house.
“Neither of you leaves the estate.”
Elena laughed once.
“You cannot detain me.”
“I can revoke access to my property.”
“This property belongs to Moretti Holdings.”
“I own sixty-two percent.”
“Not if the emergency board petition filed this morning is approved.”
Luca’s hand lowered.
“What petition?”
Elena took a sealed envelope from her handbag.
“One removing you as chief executive because your judgment has become unstable.”
Isabella looked at her.
“You said that wasn’t being filed yet.”
The words landed harder than a confession.
Luca faced his fiancée.
“You knew?”
“She told me it was only protection.”
“Protection from whom?”
Isabella looked at me.
“From people who manipulate you.”
I stepped toward her.
“You planted that key.”
“Prove it.”
“You sh0ved me because I saw something.”
“You saw a scarf.”
“I saw you pass Elena a black flash drive.”
Elena’s handbag slipped against her coat.
Luca noticed.
“What was on it?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
“They were arguing.
Isabella said, ‘The transfers have to stop before the wedding.’ Then Elena saw me.”
“That never happened,” Isabella snapped.
“You told me to leave.
When I tried, you sh0ved me.”
“You stumbled.”
“And Elena told me I’d regret speaking.”
Elena’s voice dropped.
“Be very careful, Emma.”
Marco moved between us.
“That sounded like another warning.”
“It was advice.”
A car horn sounded beyond the gates.
Marco checked the security feed on his phone.
“Two board members and the company attorney are here.”
Elena smiled at Luca.
“Perfect timing.”
Luca folded the petition without opening it.
“Call them and cancel.”
“I can’t.
They requested this meeting.”
“You arranged it.”
“I protected the company.”
The front doors opened, and footsteps crossed the marble hall.
Isabella moved to Luca’s side.
“If Emma admits she stole the key, this can all end quietly.”
I stared at her.
“You want me to confess to your lie.”
“I want Luca to survive what you started.”
Marco’s phone chimed.
He read the message twice.
“What?” Luca asked.
“The backup server came online.”
Elena’s smile disappeared.
Marco looked at me.
May you like
“It contains a second recording from the greenhouse.”
Before he could play it, every light in the estate went out.
