Chapter 3 - The Three Scratches Behind the Glass|
Claire had never imagined seeing Dominic Moretti cry.
At the mansion, employees whispered about his temper, his influence, and the dangerous men who answered his calls.
But standing outside the greenhouse, she saw something entirely different.
A brother who had just learned that his little sister had called for him while she was dying.
Dominic wiped his face before turning back toward Vincent.
“Who took her to the lake?”
Vincent stiffened.
“I didn't say anyone took her there.”
“You said she was alive in the greenhouse. The police said they found her in the lake.”
Dominic stepped closer.
“Explain the distance between those two facts.”
Vincent looked toward Daniel.
“I want my attorney.”
Dominic nodded.
“Call one.”
That appeared to surprise him.
“You're letting me?”
“I'm not interested in forcing a confession. I'm interested in the truth.”
Vincent lowered his eyes.
Within an hour, police investigators arrived.
The greenhouse was photographed before the lock was removed. A building inspector examined the damaged framework and identified a section safe enough for a limited entry.
Bruno remained outside with Claire.
He watched every movement.
When the door finally opened, the dog rose unsteadily.
His ears lifted.
Claire knelt beside him.
“Easy, Captain.”
The German shepherd looked at her.
She remembered her father's voice from childhood.
Don't ask a working dog to do something he can no longer physically manage. Listen to what he's telling you.
Bruno was old.
His joints hurt.
His breathing had become heavier.
But his eyes remained fixed on the greenhouse.
Dominic approached.
“Can he go inside?”
Claire looked toward the inspector.
“Only if it's safe. And only for a moment.”
The inspector approved a short walk along the cleared entrance path.
Claire entered with Bruno while Dominic followed.
Dust covered the old planting tables.
Broken terracotta pots lined the walls.
An overturned wooden chair lay beneath a canvas sheet.
At the far end stood an enormous stone planter.
Bruno walked directly toward it.
Then stopped.
He lowered his nose.
Sniffed the wooden floor beneath the planter.
And scratched three times.
Claire's breath caught.
“Dominic.”
He came closer.
“What?”
She pointed.
“That's where he's indicating.”
Daniel called an investigator.
They examined the flooring.
One board looked different from the others.
Its edges had been replaced with newer wood.
After photographs were taken, the investigator carefully lifted it.
Beneath the board sat a shallow compartment.
Inside was a small metal tin.
Its surface was covered with rust.
Dominic stared.
“What is that?”
The investigator placed it into an evidence container.
“We'll examine it.”
Bruno suddenly whined.
Then nudged Claire's hand.
She crouched.
“What is it, sweetheart?”
The dog looked toward the tin.
His tail moved once.
Claire's eyes filled.
“He remembers.”
Dominic knelt beside them.
For a moment, his hand hovered above Bruno's head.
Then he gently touched the dog's silver fur.
“Good boy.”
Bruno leaned into him.
Dominic swallowed.
“I should have said that nine years ago.”
Back inside the mansion, investigators examined the tin.
Among its contents were a corroded key, several photographs, and a small red ribbon.
Dominic recognized the ribbon immediately.
“Emily wore that.”
His voice broke.
“She tied it around Bruno's collar every Christmas.”
Claire touched the dog's neck.
She remembered seeing faded red threads caught beneath the old leather collar when she first arrived at the estate.
Dominic stared at the photographs.
One showed an unfamiliar delivery van parked outside the greenhouse.
Another showed a man carrying two black cases.
The third—
Dominic went still.
It showed Vincent Caruso standing beside the van.
And next to him was someone Dominic recognized.
His father's business partner, Martin Vale.
Martin had supposedly left Chicago ten years earlier.
He had been involved in warehouse management and private transportation for Moretti Holdings.
Dominic remembered his father saying Martin had retired to Florida.
But in the photograph, he was standing beside the greenhouse on the week Emily died.
Dominic looked toward Daniel.
“Find Martin Vale.”
Daniel nodded.
Then Claire noticed something written on the back of the photograph.
Small letters.
A child's handwriting.
Captain knows where they put it.
Claire's heart stopped.
Dominic slowly took the photograph.
He recognized his sister's handwriting.
Emily had always made her capital letters too large.
He stared at the words.
Then whispered, “What did they put there?”
Bruno lifted his head.
From the corridor came Vincent's voice.
“You shouldn't have opened that floor.”
Dominic turned.
Vincent stood between two officers.
He was pale.
But the fear in his eyes wasn't directed at Dominic.
It was directed at the photograph.
“Why?” Dominic asked.
Vincent swallowed.
“Because Emily didn't hide that tin.”
Claire stared at him.
“Then who did?”
May you like
Vincent looked directly at her.
“Your father.”
