Chapter 9 - The Night Giovanni Moretti Never Came Home
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For eleven years, Teresa Moretti had believed her husband died from a sudden heart attack.
She remembered the telephone call.
The hospital.
The drive to Milwaukee.
The moment a doctor told her Giovanni could not be saved.
She remembered Luca standing beside her, too shocked to cry.
And she remembered coming home to a mansion that suddenly felt empty.
Now, eleven years later, investigators were questioning whether the official account told the entire story.
Luca stood in his father's study, staring at the old photograph on the desk.
Detective Harris sat across from him.
I remained beside Teresa's wheelchair.
“The original medical records confirm that Giovanni suffered cardiac arrest,” Harris explained.
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Then what are you investigating?”
“What caused it.”
The room went silent.
Harris continued.
“We found discrepancies in the timeline of his final evening. Giovanni was reported to have collapsed alone in his hotel suite. But hotel records suggest someone entered the room shortly before emergency services were called.”
“Who?” Luca asked.
“We're working to establish that.”
Teresa looked down at her hands.
“Victor?”
“Possibly. We don't have enough evidence to state that as fact.”
Harris opened another folder.
“The cassette recording indicates Giovanni intended to confront Victor about the missing funds. The hotel records support that they may have met.”
Luca looked toward the window.
“And the medical evidence?”
“The available records don't establish foul play. We are consulting medical specialists and examining additional evidence.”
I watched his expression.
He wanted certainty.
He wanted someone to blame.
But Harris was giving him facts, not promises.
And for once, Luca seemed willing to wait.
Teresa suddenly spoke.
“My husband had a heart condition.”
Everyone turned.
She continued.
“He took medication every morning.”
Harris nodded.
“Do you remember the name?”
“Yes.”
She told him.
Harris wrote it down.
Then asked, “Did Giovanni usually carry his medication when traveling?”
“Always.”
“Did you receive it with his personal belongings?”
Teresa thought carefully.
Then shook her head.
“No.”
Luca looked up.
“Ma?”
“I remember asking the hospital about it.”
“What did they say?”
“They said his medication bag wasn't among the belongings returned.”
Harris made another note.
“That may be important. We'll review the evidence inventory.”
Teresa's eyes filled with tears.
“I should have asked more questions.”
I gently touched her arm.
“You had just lost your husband.”
She looked at me.
“I was so frightened.”
I nodded.
“You were grieving.”
For a moment, she seemed like a woman reliving the worst day of her life.
Then she straightened.
“But I want the truth now.”
Harris nodded.
“We'll pursue it.”
That evening, Luca canceled all his business meetings.
He stayed home with his mother.
They sat in the garden for nearly two hours.
I watched from the kitchen window as Teresa spoke and Luca listened.
Sometimes she laughed.
Sometimes she cried.
At one point, Luca leaned forward and held both her hands.
I looked away.
Some moments belonged only to family.
Later, Mrs. Romano found me preparing fresh towels.
“Emma, have you heard?”
I turned.
“What?”
“Isabella has been contacting the household staff.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“She wants to know what we've told Luca.”
“Did anyone answer?”
Mrs. Romano shook her head.
“Not that I know of.”
Then she hesitated.
“There's something else.”
“What?”
“Isabella asked whether anyone remembered a young woman who worked here when Giovanni died.”
I frowned.
“What young woman?”
Mrs. Romano looked uncomfortable.
“A personal assistant named Rachel.”
“Rachel what?”
“Rachel Donovan.”
I repeated the name.
It meant nothing to me.
Mrs. Romano lowered her voice.
“Rachel left the mansion two days after Giovanni's funeral.”
“Why?”
“She said she'd been threatened.”
My stomach tightened.
“By who?”
Mrs. Romano hesitated.
Then whispered, “Victor Bellini.”
I stared.
“Did she tell anyone?”
“She told Giovanni's old driver. He passed away several years ago.”
“Where is Rachel now?”
“I don't know.”
I thought about Isabella asking after her.
If Rachel had seen something connected to Giovanni's death, she might be in danger.
I immediately told Luca.
He contacted Harris.
The detective agreed to look into Rachel Donovan's history.
By the following afternoon, investigators located a possible address in Indiana.
Rachel was now forty-one.
She worked as an accountant.
And she'd spent more than a decade avoiding any contact with the Moretti family.
Harris reached her by telephone.
At first, she refused to speak.
Then he explained the investigation.
There was a long silence.
Finally, she agreed to meet.
But she insisted on one condition.
Luca couldn't be present.
I wondered why.
Then Harris told us something that made everything worse.
Rachel claimed Giovanni had discovered not only stolen money but a second set of records.
Records connected to several criminal enterprises operating through legitimate businesses.
And she believed someone inside the Moretti organization had helped Victor hide them.
Someone Giovanni trusted.
Someone who remained close to Luca.
I looked toward the hallway.
Anthony was speaking quietly with two security guards.
Luca frowned.
“Did Rachel name the person?”
Harris shook his head.
“Not yet.”
Then he added, “But she said that person was present when Giovanni's belongings were returned to the mansion.”
Teresa looked up sharply.
“I remember.”
Luca turned.
“Who was there, Ma?”
May you like
Her face slowly drained of color.
“Anthony.”
