Chapter 8 - The Second Little Girl Who Disappeared|
By Sunday evening, the Moretti mansion felt like a place waiting for a storm.
Nora had filed emergency applications seeking to preserve the foundation's records and stop the disputed board vote.
Investigators were examining the forged custody documents.
June Patel had flagged the suspicious accounts.
And Luca had ordered every employee to report directly to Marco if anyone attempted to remove documents from the house.
Vanessa, however, appeared completely calm.
I found her standing near the grand staircase in a cream-colored coat.
Two expensive suitcases waited beside her.
She was examining her reflection in the hallway mirror.
"Going somewhere, Mrs. Moretti?"
She turned slowly.
"That's none of your business."
I kept my voice steady.
"Mr. Moretti asked that nobody disturb the children."
Vanessa smiled.
"You're becoming very comfortable giving orders."
"I'm not giving orders."
"Then remember your place."
I said nothing.
She stepped closer.
"Do you honestly think Luca will keep you around once this little performance ends?"
I met her eyes.
"Sophia is not a performance."
Vanessa laughed coldly.
"You're a maid, Claire."
She looked me up and down.
"You clean floors, wash dishes, and pretend your employer's daughter belongs to you."
"She doesn't belong to me."
"Exactly."
I took a breath.
"But she deserves to feel loved."
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Be careful."
She leaned closer.
"I know about your last job."
My stomach tightened.
Years earlier, I had worked for an elderly woman whose daughter accused me of stealing a valuable bracelet.
The accusation had been withdrawn when the bracelet was found in a desk drawer.
But the humiliation had followed me for months.
Vanessa smiled as she saw recognition in my face.
"People remember accusations, Claire."
I stood very still.
"Are you threatening me?"
"I'm reminding you how quickly a reputation can disappear."
Before I could answer, Luca's voice came from behind us.
"Is there a problem?"
Vanessa instantly changed her expression.
"Darling, Claire was being disrespectful."
Luca looked at me.
"Claire?"
I shook my head.
"No, sir."
Vanessa sighed dramatically.
"See?"
But Luca wasn't looking at her.
He was looking at the suitcases.
"Where are you going?"
"To stay with friends."
"That's your choice."
Her smile faltered.
"I thought you'd beg me to stay."
Luca's expression remained cold.
"Not after what happened to Sophia."
Vanessa stared at him.
Then she laughed bitterly.
"You'll regret humiliating me."
Luca stepped aside.
"Goodbye, Vanessa."
She collected her handbag and walked out through the front entrance.
I watched her disappear into a waiting car.
For the first time in months, I felt the mansion breathe.
But that feeling lasted less than an hour.
At seven-fifteen, Sophia came running into the kitchen.
"Claire!"
I turned away from the strawberry cake cooling on the counter.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?"
"Madison's gone!"
I froze.
"What do you mean?"
"She said she was going to get her tablet."
Sophia's face crumpled.
"But now her room is empty."
I hurried upstairs.
Madison's overnight bag was missing.
Her silver birthday shoes were gone.
And the little stuffed rabbit she had been holding all morning had disappeared.
I called Marco immediately.
Within minutes, security was searching the property.
Luca rushed upstairs.
"Where's Madison?"
"We're trying to find out."
Marco checked the security log.
Then his expression darkened.
"She left through the west entrance."
"With whom?"
"Adrian Bellini."
Luca's jaw tightened.
"Her father?"
Marco nodded.
"One of the guards recognized him and believed he was authorized to collect her."
Nora arrived moments later.
"Has anyone contacted Madison's mother?"
Luca looked at her.
"Her parents separated last year."
"Who has custody?"
"Rachel has primary custody."
Nora reached for her phone.
"Then we need to speak with her immediately."
Rachel Bellini lived in Milwaukee.
She had allowed Madison to spend the weekend with Vanessa because she believed the family was hosting a celebration for the cousins.
When Nora reached her, Rachel was horrified.
"Adrian wasn't supposed to collect her."
Her voice shook through the speaker.
"His visits are supervised."
Luca's expression changed.
"Why?"
Rachel hesitated.
"Because of his gambling debts and financial problems."
Nora looked at Luca.
"We need to alert the police."
Meanwhile, I returned to Sophia's bedroom.
The little girl was sitting on her bed, clutching Madison's abandoned birthday crown.
"Claire?"
"Yes?"
"Did Madison do something bad?"
"No, sweetheart."
"Then why did everybody leave her?"
I sat beside her.
"We don't know what's happened yet."
Sophia looked down.
"She told me she was scared of Uncle Adrian."
My heart began pounding.
"When did she say that?"
"This morning."
"Why was she scared?"
Sophia swallowed.
"Because he said she had to keep pretending it was her birthday."
I took her hand.
"Did she say anything else?"
Sophia nodded.
"She said he was angry because she told Daddy the truth."
At that moment, Sophia's small tablet made a chiming sound.
She reached for it.
A message had arrived from Madison's account.
There was no photograph.
Only a short voice recording.
Sophia pressed play.
Madison's frightened voice filled the room.
"Sophia, I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye."
I leaned closer.
The recording continued.
"Daddy says we're going somewhere far away."
A car door slammed in the background.
Then Madison whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"He says if I tell Uncle Luca what I heard, Claire is going to get hurt."
Sophia looked at me in terror.
"Claire, are you going to disappear too?"
I pulled her into my arms.
"No, sweetheart."
But my hands were trembling.
May you like
Because now Vanessa and Adrian had threatened two children.
And for the first time, I understood that they might be desperate enough to do something even worse.
Related Stories
