Chapter 5 - The Woman Who Sent the Photographs|
The next morning, Luca canceled his wedding.
He didn't issue a dramatic announcement.
He didn't call the newspapers.
He simply asked Daniel to contact the wedding planner, the venue, and the invited guests.
The ceremony scheduled for Saturday would not happen.
Vanessa was no longer his fiancée.
I learned about it while preparing breakfast for Lily.
She sat at the kitchen island in a pale-blue sweater, watching me make pancakes.
Her hearing aid rested comfortably behind her ear.
I made sure I faced her whenever I spoke.
"Blueberries?"
She smiled.
"Extra."
I laughed.
"Of course."
She looked toward the doorway.
"Is Uncle Luca angry?"
I hesitated.
"He's upset about what happened."
Lily lowered her eyes.
"Because of me?"
My heart tightened.
I placed the spatula down.
Then moved around the island so she could see me clearly.
"No, sweetheart."
I signed as I spoke.
You did nothing wrong.
She looked uncertain.
"But the wedding..."
I gently squeezed her hand.
"Adults are responsible for their own decisions."
Lily stared at me.
Then whispered, "I didn't want him to be lonely."
The words nearly broke my heart.
Three years earlier, she had lost her mother.
Before that, her father.
And now she believed she was responsible for making sure her uncle wasn't alone.
I crouched beside her.
"Being part of a family doesn't mean you have to make everyone happy."
She looked at me.
"Really?"
"Really."
She leaned forward and hugged me.
I held her gently.
Then Luca appeared in the doorway.
He stopped when he saw us.
For several seconds, he didn't speak.
Then he smiled softly.
"Good morning."
Lily immediately raised her hands.
Pancakes.
Luca signed back.
Extra blueberries?
She grinned.
Obviously.
He laughed.
I smiled despite myself.
Luca approached the counter.
"Rebecca, may I speak with you after breakfast?"
I nodded.
"Of course, sir."
He hesitated.
Then said quietly, "And thank you."
I looked up.
"For what?"
"For making sure she knows none of this is her fault."
My throat tightened.
"She deserves to hear it."
Luca nodded.
"Yes."
After breakfast, Daniel arrived carrying a folder.
He placed it on Luca's desk.
"We traced the photographs."
Luca looked up.
"Who sent them?"
Daniel opened the file.
"Most were printed by a photography studio near Lincoln Park."
"And mailed?"
"From different locations."
Luca frowned.
"Who paid?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Cash, usually."
"Usually?"
"The most recent photograph was ordered online."
He turned the page.
"Using an account belonging to Maria Carter."
I froze.
Maria.
The Moretti housekeeper.
She had worked for the family for twenty-two years.
She'd helped Isabella care for Lily when she was little.
After Isabella died, Maria had become the closest thing Lily had to a grandmother inside the mansion.
Luca stared at Daniel.
"Maria?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Luca picked up his phone.
"Ask her to come to the study."
Maria arrived ten minutes later.
She wore her usual dark uniform.
Her gray hair was pinned neatly.
When she saw Daniel's folder, her expression changed.
"Mr. Moretti?"
Luca held up the photograph.
"Did you send this to Eleanor Whitmore?"
Maria looked at it.
Then slowly nodded.
"Yes, sir."
My heart stopped.
Luca leaned forward.
"Why?"
Maria's eyes filled.
"Because Miss Isabella asked me to."
The room went silent.
Luca looked as though he'd been struck.
"My sister?"
Maria nodded.
"Before she died, she told me she regretted shutting Eleanor out."
Luca swallowed.
"Then why didn't she contact her directly?"
"Because she was afraid."
"Of what?"
Maria began crying.
"Of the people who had threatened her family."
I felt cold.
Luca leaned closer.
"Who threatened her?"
Maria wiped her cheeks.
"She never told me all the names."
"Then tell me what you know."
Maria looked toward the hallway.
Then lowered her voice.
"Six months before Miss Isabella died, she discovered documents in Michael's old office. She believed someone had been using Lily's inheritance to hide money."
Luca's expression hardened.
"Antonio?"
Maria hesitated.
"She suspected him."
"And Vanessa?"
Maria shook her head.
"I don't know."
Luca leaned back.
Maria continued.
"Miss Isabella wanted to meet Eleanor and explain everything. But then she became ill."
Her voice broke.
"She was gone before they could reconcile."
For a moment, the only sound was the ticking clock.
Then Maria reached into her apron pocket.
She removed a small silver key.
"She gave me this before she went to the hospital."
Luca stared at it.
"What does it open?"
Maria looked directly at him.
"The old music room."
He frowned.
"That room hasn't been used in years."
Maria nodded.
"Your sister asked me to leave something there."
My heart began pounding.
"What?"
Maria's eyes filled.
"A recording."
Luca went still.
Maria continued.
"She made it because she was afraid someone might tell Lily a different story about her parents."
Then she whispered something that changed the entire morning.
"Mr. Moretti, your sister didn't die without knowing who was threatening her."
Luca slowly stood.
"What?"
May you like
Maria looked toward the door.
Then whispered, "She recorded his voice."
