Chapter 10 - The Man Who Had Guarded Our Doors
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Anthony Russo had worked for the Moretti family for fifteen years.
He knew every entrance to the mansion.
Every security code.
Every staff schedule.
He had carried Teresa's groceries, driven Luca to business meetings, and stood beside the family during Giovanni's funeral.
I had always considered him one of the safest people in the house.
Now Teresa was telling us he'd been present when Giovanni's belongings were returned.
And Rachel Donovan, the former assistant, believed someone close to the family had helped hide evidence.
Luca didn't speak for several seconds.
Then he looked toward Detective Harris.
“Anthony was my father's security coordinator.”
Harris nodded.
“I know.”
“He was at the hotel when Dad died.”
Teresa's eyes widened.
“Luca?”
He turned toward her.
“Anthony accompanied Dad to Milwaukee.”
She looked confused.
“I thought he stayed in Chicago.”
“So did I until I reviewed the old travel records.”
A cold silence followed.
I thought about the watch Isabella had removed.
The photograph she'd thrown away.
The package addressed to Victor Bellini.
Someone had been searching for evidence.
But if Anthony had been involved all those years ago, why would he allow us to investigate now?
Then I remembered something.
Anthony had been the person who reported Isabella's attempted departure.
He had helped preserve the security recordings.
He had provided the courier information.
Why would he do any of that if he wanted the truth hidden?
I cautiously raised my hand.
“Mr. Moretti?”
Luca turned.
“Yes, Emma?”
“Could Anthony have been helping your father rather than Victor?”
Harris looked at me.
“That's a possibility we need to examine.”
Teresa nodded slowly.
“Anthony loved Giovanni.”
Luca's expression remained tense.
“Or he was good at pretending.”
Harris asked Luca not to confront Anthony privately.
He arranged to interview him formally.
Anthony agreed immediately.
That surprised everyone.
He sat with investigators for nearly four hours.
When Harris returned, his expression was grim.
“Anthony admitted he accompanied Giovanni to Milwaukee.”
Luca went still.
“Why did he lie?”
“He says he didn't lie. He says nobody asked him whether he was there.”
“That's convenient.”
Harris nodded.
“But he also provided information we didn't previously have.”
“What information?”
“Giovanni met Victor Bellini in the hotel suite. Anthony waited in the corridor.”
Teresa covered her mouth.
Harris continued.
“Anthony says the meeting became heated. He heard raised voices.”
“Then what?” Luca asked.
“Victor left.”
“And my father?”
“Anthony says Giovanni was alive when Victor departed.”
Luca stared.
“Did he see him?”
“Yes. He says Giovanni opened the door and told him to return to the lobby.”
“Why?”
“Because Giovanni wanted to make a telephone call privately.”
I frowned.
“To who?”
Harris hesitated.
“Rachel Donovan.”
The room went still.
Harris continued.
“Anthony says he went downstairs. About forty minutes later, he received a call from hotel staff saying Giovanni had collapsed.”
Teresa began crying.
I knelt beside her.
She gripped my hand.
“Forty minutes.”
I nodded.
Harris looked toward Luca.
“Anthony also says he removed a small briefcase from Giovanni's suite after emergency responders arrived.”
Luca stood.
“What?”
“He claims Giovanni had previously instructed him to protect certain business records if anything happened.”
“Where's the briefcase?”
“Anthony says he gave it to Rachel.”
I looked up sharply.
“Rachel?”
Harris nodded.
“She may still have it.”
Luca walked toward the window.
Then slowly turned back.
“Why didn't Anthony tell me?”
“He says Giovanni specifically instructed him not to involve you until the evidence was secure.”
Luca laughed bitterly.
“Eleven years?”
Harris didn't answer.
Then he added something unexpected.
“Anthony also admitted he suspected Victor Bellini was involved in the missing foundation funds. But he says he had no knowledge of any plan to harm Giovanni.”
Luca's jaw tightened.
“Do you believe him?”
Harris replied calmly.
“His account needs corroboration. We're checking it against the old records.”
That evening, Anthony asked permission to speak with Teresa.
Luca initially refused.
But Teresa insisted.
“I want to hear what he has to say.”
So they met in the sitting room.
Luca remained nearby.
I stood beside the fireplace.
Anthony looked older than I'd ever seen him.
“Mrs. Moretti,” he began, “I'm sorry.”
Teresa watched him.
“For what?”
“For keeping things from you.”
“Did you betray my husband?”
Anthony's eyes filled with tears.
“No, ma'am.”
“Then why didn't you tell us what you knew?”
He looked down.
“Because Mr. Moretti made me promise to protect the documents until they could be delivered safely.”
Teresa's voice trembled.
“And you thought keeping me in the dark was protection?”
Anthony closed his eyes.
“No.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he whispered, “I was wrong.”
Teresa looked away.
“I don't know whether I can forgive you.”
Anthony nodded.
“I understand.”
After he left, Luca received a call from Harris.
Rachel Donovan had agreed to turn over the briefcase.
But when investigators arrived at her Indiana home, she was gone.
Her front door stood open.
Her car remained in the driveway.
And on the kitchen table was a handwritten note.
Tell Teresa I'm sorry I waited so long.
Underneath it was a telephone number.
Harris checked the number.
Then called Luca.
May you like
Because it belonged to someone none of us expected.
Isabella Bellini.
