Chapter 6 - The Voice Inside the Music Room|
The old music room stood at the end of the mansion's west corridor.
I'd passed it hundreds of times.
The door was always locked.
Dust gathered along the molding.
An antique piano stood beneath a white protective sheet.
Luca had once told me it had belonged to his sister.
He hadn't entered the room since her funeral.
Now he stood in front of the door holding the silver key.
His hands were trembling.
"Mr. Moretti?" I whispered.
He looked at me.
"Yes?"
"Would you like a moment?"
He stared at the door.
Then shook his head.
"No."
He inserted the key.
The lock turned.
Inside, the room smelled of old wood and lavender.
Sunlight filtered through heavy curtains.
Framed photographs covered one wall.
Isabella as a child.
Isabella at her wedding.
Isabella holding baby Lily.
And beside the piano stood a small wooden cabinet.
Maria approached it.
"She asked me to put the recording here."
Luca opened the cabinet.
Inside was a sealed envelope and a small digital recorder.
He picked up the envelope first.
His sister's handwriting appeared across the front.
FOR LUCA, IF I CANNOT EXPLAIN MYSELF.
He stared at the words.
Then slowly opened it.
I looked away.
It felt wrong to watch a man read a letter from his dead sister.
But he didn't ask me to leave.
Instead, he read it aloud.
"Luca, I know you've spent your life trying to protect me. Sometimes I let you because it was easier than admitting I was frightened."
His voice caught.
He stopped.
Maria began crying quietly.
Luca continued.
"Michael made mistakes before he died. I loved him, but I cannot pretend those mistakes didn't affect our daughter."
He swallowed.
"I found documents showing that someone used his debts to gain influence over money meant for Lily."
Luca's hands tightened.
"I don't know how far this goes. I only know Antonio has warned me to stop asking questions."
He closed his eyes.
Then read the next line.
"If anything happens to me, please don't let Lily grow up believing she is a burden."
I covered my mouth.
Luca's voice broke.
"She is the best thing Michael and I ever made."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he unfolded the final page.
"There's a recording in this cabinet. I made it after Antonio came to the house. I hope I'm wrong about what it means."
Luca slowly lowered the letter.
Then picked up the recorder.
He pressed play.
At first, we heard footsteps.
Then Isabella's voice.
"Antonio, I'm not signing anything."
A man's voice answered.
"You're making this more difficult than necessary."
I recognized it immediately.
Antonio Moretti.
Isabella sounded frightened.
"The money belongs to Lily."
Antonio sighed.
"Nobody is taking the money from her."
"Then why does this agreement give your company control?"
"Because Michael left complicated obligations."
"He had no authority to pledge Lily's inheritance."
A pause.
Then Antonio's voice hardened.
"You don't understand how dangerous this could become."
Isabella answered.
"Then explain it."
"Your brother has business relationships he doesn't discuss with you."
"Leave Luca out of this."
Antonio laughed softly.
"That's exactly what I'm trying to do."
A longer pause followed.
Then Isabella spoke.
"If you threaten my daughter again, I'll go to the police."
My blood ran cold.
Antonio's voice became quiet.
"Be careful, Isabella. Families have been destroyed over less."
The recording ended.
Luca stood completely still.
His eyes were fixed on the device.
Then he played it again.
And again.
Finally, he placed it on the piano.
"Daniel."
The security chief stepped forward.
"Yes, boss?"
"Preserve the original recording. Have it independently authenticated."
Daniel nodded.
"And Antonio?"
Luca closed his eyes.
"Notify the attorney."
I watched his jaw tighten.
For one terrifying moment, I thought he might reach for the methods men whispered about whenever they discussed the Moretti name.
Instead, he turned toward the window.
"My sister wanted the truth."
His voice was quiet.
"Not revenge."
Maria began crying.
Luca looked toward her.
"Why didn't you show me this three years ago?"
The housekeeper lowered her head.
"Because Miss Isabella asked me to wait until Lily was older."
Luca stared at her.
"And you thought eleven was old enough?"
Maria shook her head.
"No, sir."
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
"I thought I could protect her by keeping it hidden."
Luca looked devastated.
"Secrets didn't protect her."
Maria nodded.
"I know."
He took a long breath.
Then said something I would remember forever.
"My sister died trusting people who should have protected her daughter."
He turned toward me.
"Rebecca, I need to ask you something."
I swallowed.
"Yes, sir?"
"Has Lily ever told you she was afraid of Antonio?"
I thought carefully.
Then remembered.
Two weeks earlier, Lily had asked me not to leave her alone in the library when Antonio visited.
At the time, I'd assumed she was simply shy.
Now I wasn't sure.
"She asked me to stay with her during his last visit."
Luca's expression changed.
"What did he say?"
I hesitated.
"He asked about her school."
"And?"
"He wanted to know whether she still attended speech therapy and audiology appointments outside the mansion."
Daniel looked up sharply.
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"Why would he ask that?"
I shook my head.
"I don't know."
Then I remembered something else.
"He asked whether Vanessa usually drove her."
The room went silent.
Luca slowly turned toward Daniel.
"Check every appointment Vanessa attended with Lily."
Daniel nodded.
But before he could leave, my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph.
My mother standing outside her apartment in Milwaukee.
Beneath it were seven words.
KEEP QUIET OR SHE LOSES HER HOME.
My hands began shaking.
Luca noticed immediately.
"Rebecca?"
May you like
I looked up.
And understood that whoever wanted Lily's inheritance wasn't finished threatening the people who loved her.
