Chapter 3: A Voice from the Past
Luca held out his hand.
“Give it to me.”
Isabella closed her fingers around the memory card.
“You’re making a scene over a piece of plastic.”
“You hid it in your fist.”
“I picked it up so Matteo wouldn’t swallow it.”
Matteo pressed himself against my side.
“It came from Mommy’s cup.”
Isabella looked down at him.
“You’re confused, sweetheart.”
“He isn’t,” I said.
Her head snapped toward me.
“Nobody asked you.”
Luca moved between us again.
“You will not speak to Emma that way.”
Isabella dropped the card into his palm.
“Fine.
Watch whatever is on it.
Then apologize to me.”
Luca carried it to the laptop on the sideboard.
I held the fresh cloth around my injured hand while Matteo stayed close enough that his shoulder touched my knee.
A video file appeared.
Luca pressed play.
A woman with soft brown hair filled the screen.
Matteo gasped and reached toward her.
“Mommy.”
Luca’s hand froze over the keyboard.
The woman leaned toward the camera.
“Luca, if you’re watching this, then someone found the card.
I hid it because I no longer knew whom I could trust.”
Isabella stepped forward.
“Turn it off.
Matteo shouldn’t see this.”
Luca blocked her with one arm.
“Her name was Sofia.
You don’t decide when her voice is heard.”
Sofia looked over her shoulder in the recording.
“Money is disappearing from Matteo’s trust.
The transfers carry Luca’s authorization, but Luca didn’t sign them.
I confronted Isabella—”
The picture broke into squares.
A harsh sound filled the room, and the screen went black.
“No,” Luca said.
“Play it again.”
He clicked twice, but an error message appeared.
Isabella released a slow breath.
“A damaged file and an accusation from a grieving woman.
Is that your proof?”
“My wife did not make careless accusations.”
“Your wife distrusted everyone near the end.”
Luca rose so quickly that the chair struck the wall.
“Finish that sentence.”
Isabella lifted her chin.
“She was frightened.
Fear changes people.”
“Did you take money from Matteo’s trust?” I asked.
She gave me a cold smile.
“A caregiver with no financial training is questioning me?”
“I’m questioning why Sofia named you.”
“You planted that card.”
Matteo grabbed my sleeve.
“She didn’t.”
Isabella pointed toward my injured hand.
“She breaks a treasured cup, hides evidence in her bandage, then performs this little show at breakfast.
And you believe her because she feeds your son oatmeal?”
Luca removed the card from the laptop.
“Emma is going to a doctor.
Matteo is coming with me.”
“And me?” Isabella asked.
“You are staying away from both of them.”
She pulled out her phone.
“You may want to reconsider.”
“Is that another warning?”
“It’s advice.” She tapped the screen.
“Ask Emma what she keeps in the bottom drawer of her bedroom.”
I stared at her.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You will.”
The doorbell rang.
A moment later, two uniformed officers entered with the head of security.
One officer looked at me.
“Emma Hayes?”
“Yes?”
“We received a report that an expensive necklace was taken from this residence.”
Isabella folded her arms.
“Tell them where you found it.”
The security chief placed a velvet box on the table.
“In the bottom drawer of Miss Hayes’s room.”
The officer opened it.
Diamonds flashed beneath the breakfast-room lights.
Matteo began to cry.
May you like
Isabella leaned close enough for only me to hear.
“Now,” she whispered, “remember where you belong.”
