Chapter 5 - The Sister Who Left a Warning Behind|
The next morning, Luca received a call from an unfamiliar number.
He answered before the second ring.
“Luca Moretti.”
A woman whispered, “Don't hang up.”
His expression changed.
“Isabella?”
Silence.
Then a shaky breath.
“Luca.”
He closed his eyes.
For a moment, relief seemed to overwhelm him.
“Where are you?”
“I can't tell you yet.”
His expression hardened.
“Are you safe?”
A pause.
“For now.”
I stood near the kitchen doorway holding a tray of coffee.
Luca looked toward me.
Then gently motioned for me to stay.
“Bella,” he whispered, “what happened?”
His sister began crying.
“They told me you knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That you approved the transfer.”
Luca went still.
“What transfer?”
“The one involving Mom's foundation.”
He looked toward the music room.
Then slowly sat down.
“Isabella, I found Mom's notebook.”
Silence.
Then she whispered, “You found it?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“In the music cabinet.”
Another pause.
“Then Emma brought the piano back.”
I stopped breathing.
Luca looked toward me.
“How do you know about Emma?”
Isabella's voice trembled.
“Because I asked her not to let Vanessa take the piano.”
My heart stopped.
I looked down.
I hadn't received any message from Isabella.
Had I?
Then I remembered.
A week earlier, an anonymous envelope had appeared beneath the door of the west sitting room.
Inside was a small photograph of Elena at the piano.
On the back were five words.
Please don't let them remove it.
I'd assumed it was an old note left by a family member.
Now I understood.
“Mr. Moretti,” I whispered, “I received a photograph.”
Luca stared.
“What photograph?”
“The one of your mother playing the piano.”
His expression changed.
I continued.
“There was a note asking me not to let anyone remove it.”
Luca looked toward the phone.
“Bella, did you send Emma that photograph?”
“Yes.”
Her voice broke.
“I didn't know who else to trust.”
My throat tightened.
Isabella continued.
“Vanessa had started going through Mom's things. I knew she was looking for something.”
Luca swallowed.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I tried.”
His eyes filled.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago. In your study.”
He frowned.
“I remember.”
“You were on a call. Vanessa said you were busy.”
Luca closed his eyes.
“She told me you'd left.”
“I waited for an hour.”
Silence.
Then Isabella whispered, “She said you thought I was becoming paranoid.”
Luca looked down.
I saw something painful cross his face.
He had trusted Vanessa to manage household matters.
Trusted her to organize his engagement dinner.
Trusted her to speak for his sister.
And all the while, she'd been making sure Isabella couldn't reach him.
“Bella,” he whispered, “I'm sorry.”
She began crying.
“Luca, I need you to listen.”
“I'm listening.”
“Richard's company is in financial trouble.”
Luca's expression hardened.
“I know he has debts.”
“More than debts. He's been using assets connected to Mom's foundation to secure private loans.”
Luca stared.
“How?”
“Forged approvals. False trustees. People who were supposed to protect the money.”
He closed his eyes.
“And Vanessa?”
“She was helping him.”
The room went silent.
Isabella continued.
“When I found the original records, Richard offered me money to sign new documents.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“What did you do?”
“I refused.”
“Then what happened?”
Her breathing changed.
“Vanessa told me I needed rest. She arranged a trip to Boston. Said she'd organize the transportation.”
Luca stared toward the window.
“But the driver didn't take you to the airport.”
“No.”
Her voice broke.
“He took me to a private property in Wisconsin.”
My stomach tightened.
“Are you still there?” Luca asked.
A long silence.
Then Isabella whispered, “I escaped yesterday.”
Luca stood immediately.
“Where are you now?”
“I've found someone who can help me.”
“Who?”
A pause.
“Mom's old attorney.”
Luca frowned.
“Mr. Holloway?”
“Yes.”
He closed his eyes.
“Good.”
But Isabella wasn't finished.
“Luca, there's something else.”
He gripped the phone.
“What?”
“Vanessa found the seventh key.”
He looked toward the piano.
“I know.”
“She took something from inside.”
His expression hardened.
“What?”
Isabella swallowed.
“A small metal cylinder containing the original account records.”
Luca stared.
“Do you know where it is?”
“Yes.”
His voice became dangerously quiet.
“Where?”
Isabella whispered:
“Vanessa gave it to Richard.”
May you like
Then she added the words that made my stomach drop.
“And Richard plans to destroy it today.”
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