Chapter 9 - THE LAST DRIVE|
When Luca heard what the mechanic was prepared to reveal, he sank into the chair beside his mother's photograph.
For the first time since I had known him, he looked completely defeated.
Olivia stood beside the window with tears streaming down her face.
Neither sibling spoke.
Three years earlier, Rosa Moretti had been buried while everyone called her death a tragic accident.
Now the truth was beginning to emerge.
Someone had wanted her silenced.
And the man who had helped steal money intended for children might also have arranged her death.
Maya arrived that afternoon with an update from the investigators.
"The mechanic's name is Anthony Greco."
Luca looked up.
"Did he damage my mother's car?"
"He says he didn't."
"Then what does he know?"
"He inspected the vehicle after the crash."
Olivia leaned forward.
"And?"
"He noticed damage to a brake line that didn't match an ordinary mechanical failure."
Luca's face tightened.
"Did he report it?"
"Initially."
Maya opened a folder.
"But his supervisor told him to change the inspection findings."
"Why?"
"Because the company had been paid to produce a clean maintenance record."
Luca clenched his fists.
"Who paid them?"
"An account linked to Silas Voss."
Olivia began crying again.
"Mom knew somebody was coming after her."
Maya nodded.
"Greco also kept photographs from his original inspection."
Luca stared at her.
"After three years?"
"He was afraid of becoming involved in a murder investigation."
"Then why speak now?"
"Because he saw the news about Benjamin's attempted removal."
Maya paused.
"He has a daughter."
I felt my throat tighten.
"How old?"
"Ten."
Greco had apparently spent three years convincing himself that remaining silent would protect his family.
But when he learned that another child might have disappeared because of Voss, he decided he could no longer live with what he knew.
Luca lowered his head.
"My mother died because I wouldn't listen."
Olivia immediately turned toward him.
"No."
He looked up.
"I told her to stop investigating."
"That doesn't mean you caused her death."
"I could have protected her."
Olivia's voice softened.
"You could have believed her."
Luca closed his eyes.
She stepped closer.
"But Voss is responsible for what Voss did."
For a long time, they stood together without speaking.
Finally, Olivia touched her brother's shoulder.
"We lost Mom once."
Luca looked at her.
"Let's not lose each other over what we should have done differently."
He pulled her into his arms.
I turned toward the window as the siblings embraced.
Their mother had been gone for three years.
But some part of her was still bringing them home to one another.
That evening, I took Benjamin into the garden.
The air smelled of autumn leaves and wet stone.
He carried a small bunch of white roses.
"These were Grandma's favorite," he told me.
"I remember."
He stopped beside a stone bench.
"Claire, can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"If somebody dies, do they know when we miss them?"
I sat beside him.
"I don't know exactly what happens after someone dies."
Benjamin considered that.
"But I think loving someone changes us in ways that don't disappear."
He looked at the flowers.
"Grandma told me she would always be proud of me."
"I'm sure she meant it."
He placed the roses beside the bench.
"Do you think she'd be proud that I told Daddy about the bad man?"
I felt tears sting my eyes.
"Very proud."
Benjamin smiled faintly.
For the first time since the attempted kidnapping, I saw something besides fear in his expression.
He was beginning to understand that telling the truth had been brave.
Later, Luca joined us.
He sat on the bench and listened while Benjamin explained how he had planted flowers with his grandmother.
Then the boy climbed into his lap.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, buddy?"
"Do you think Grandma would forgive you?"
Luca looked startled.
"For what?"
"For not listening."
A tear slipped down Luca's cheek.
He quickly wiped it away.
"I hope so."
Benjamin wrapped his small arms around his father.
"I forgive you."
Luca held him tightly.
And I realized that no amount of money could purchase the gift his son had just given him.
But peace did not last.
At eight o'clock, Maya called again.
"There's a new problem."
Luca stood.
"What happened?"
"Vanessa's attorney has filed an emergency guardianship petition."
I stared at him.
"Guardianship?"
Maya continued.
"She's claiming Benjamin is endangered by your criminal associations and needs immediate protective placement."
Luca's expression darkened.
"She has no right to decide where my son lives."
"Her petition relies on a supposed authorization you signed."
"Another forgery?"
"That's what we expect to establish."
Luca looked toward Benjamin.
The little boy was still holding his roses.
Maya continued.
"She's also named Claire in the filing."
My heart stopped.
"What did she say about me?"
Luca listened.
Then his face turned white with fury.
"She claims Claire manipulated Benjamin into making false accusations."
I took a step backward.
Maya's voice came through the phone.
"The court has scheduled an emergency hearing tomorrow morning."
Luca stared at the city beyond the garden.
Then he looked down at his son.
Benjamin whispered, "Daddy, are they still trying to send me away?"
Luca took his hand.
"They're trying."
May you like
He knelt in front of him.
"But tomorrow we're going to tell the truth."
