Chapter 2 - The Man Who Lied About Emily's Last Breath|
“Your sister was still breathing when we found her in that greenhouse.”
Vincent Caruso's words seemed to freeze the November air.
Dominic Moretti stood motionless.
For nine years, he had believed his twelve-year-old sister had wandered through an unlocked garden gate, fallen into the frozen lake, and drowned before anyone could reach her.
He had believed Samuel Bennett's negligence had killed her.
He had believed Bruno failed to find her.
And now the man who had helped arrange Emily's funeral was standing before him, admitting that she had been found alive somewhere else.
Dominic stepped closer.
“Say that again.”
Vincent swallowed.
“Dominic, you need to understand—”
“Where was my sister?”
His voice was so quiet that Claire felt herself shiver.
Vincent looked toward the greenhouse.
“She was inside.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Who found her?”
Vincent hesitated.
Dominic's expression hardened.
“Who?”
“Your father and I.”
Claire felt the blood drain from her face.
Her father had spent years saying Bruno led them to the greenhouse. He had insisted that someone had been inside before the search party arrived.
But the police had dismissed his account.
Now Vincent was confirming at least part of it.
Dominic looked toward the locked glass door.
“Open it.”
Vincent shook his head.
“The structure isn't safe.”
“Open the door.”
“I don't have the key.”
Dominic slowly turned toward his security chief, Daniel Russo, who had followed them into the garden.
“Get someone who can open it safely. And contact the police.”
Vincent immediately stepped forward.
“Dominic, we can settle this privately.”
“Privately?”
Dominic gave a humorless laugh.
“My sister died. An innocent man may have gone to prison. And you want another private conversation?”
Vincent's face tightened.
“You don't know whether Bennett was innocent.”
Claire straightened.
“My father told the truth.”
Vincent looked at her with open contempt.
“Your father was responsible for the estate grounds. He admitted he couldn't account for the gate.”
“He admitted he couldn't explain how someone opened it after his inspection.”
Vincent said nothing.
Dominic looked between them.
Then crouched beside Bruno.
The old German shepherd had settled near the greenhouse door.
His silver muzzle rested on his paws.
Dominic touched his collar.
“Did you find her here, boy?”
Bruno lifted his head.
Then placed one paw against the door.
Three slow scratches.
Claire covered her mouth.
Dominic stared.
For nine years, everyone had called this dog confused, difficult, and brokenhearted.
But Bruno had remembered.
He had never forgotten where the search ended.
“Claire,” Dominic said, “what does he do after he finds someone?”
Her voice trembled.
“He waits until his handler gives him another instruction.”
“What instruction?”
She hesitated.
Then whispered, “Bring them home.”
Dominic looked down at the dog.
“Then why didn't he bring Emily home?”
Claire's eyes filled.
“Because somebody stopped him.”
Vincent suddenly turned toward the garden path.
Daniel moved in front of him.
“Mr. Caruso, please stay.”
Vincent's expression changed.
“Are you detaining me?”
“I'm asking you to remain available while the police are contacted.”
Dominic stood.
“Vincent, you were like an uncle to me.”
The older man looked away.
“You helped me bury my sister.”
“I know.”
“You held my mother at the funeral.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“Dominic—”
“You watched my family destroy itself because we thought a twelve-year-old girl had died alone in the cold.”
Vincent's voice cracked.
“She wasn't alone.”
The words seemed to strike Dominic physically.
He staggered half a step backward.
Claire instinctively reached toward him.
But he steadied himself.
“What happened inside that greenhouse?”
Vincent stared at the cracked glass.
Then whispered, “She saw something she wasn't supposed to see.”
The garden fell silent.
Dominic's eyes narrowed.
“What did she see?”
Vincent shook his head.
“I can't tell you.”
Dominic stared at him.
“Can't?”
The older man swallowed.
“Won't.”
Before Dominic could respond, Daniel's phone rang.
He stepped aside.
Then returned with a grim expression.
“Boss, the estate maintenance team is coming with a locksmith and safety equipment. But there's something you should know.”
Dominic turned.
“What?”
“The greenhouse security records from nine years ago aren't in the archive.”
Vincent's face went white.
Daniel continued.
“Someone ordered them destroyed six months after Emily died.”
Dominic slowly looked toward Vincent.
“Who signed the authorization?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then answered.
“Vincent Caruso.”
Claire felt her knees weaken.
Dominic stood perfectly still.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he looked at the man who had spent nine years acting like family.
“Tell me one thing.”
Vincent didn't answer.
Dominic's voice became barely audible.
“When you found Emily in that greenhouse, was she conscious?”
Vincent looked toward Bruno.
Then toward Claire.
Finally, he whispered, “For a few seconds.”
Dominic's expression broke.
“What did she say?”
Vincent closed his eyes.
“Your name.”
The world seemed to stop.
May you like
“She asked for you, Dominic.”
And for the first time in nine years, the most feared man in Chicago lowered his head and wept.
