Chapter 12 - THE DOCTOR WHO KNEW TOO MUCH|
Nora called the hospital immediately.
The nurse told her that Isabella was resting and that her doctor had not visited that morning. When Nora asked for his name, the nurse gave it without hesitation.
Dr. Stephen Marlowe.
Dante's security team traced the doctor's movements and discovered that he had visited the hospital under a false identity twice in the previous month. He had also received payments from a company linked to Salvatore.
Nora's fear turned into anger.
“He has been treating my grandmother for years.”
“Then he knows her medical history,” Dante said. “He may also know what she has told the staff.”
“What if he has already hurt her?”
Dante took her hand.
“We'll get there before he can.”
They arrived at the hospital to find two police officers near Isabella's room. The doctor had attempted to remove her from the building, claiming that she needed emergency transfer to a private facility.
The nurses had refused because the paperwork did not match the hospital's records.
Dr. Marlowe was escorted into a conference room.
Nora entered before Dante could stop her.
“Why?”
The doctor looked exhausted.
“I was paid to keep her comfortable.”
“You were paid to spy on her.”
“I was paid to report if she remembered anything about the ledger.”
Nora felt sick.
“You watched her for years?”
“I didn't hurt her.”
“You lied to her.”
He looked away.
“Salvatore said the information would prevent a war.”
Dante stepped forward.
“Salvatore doesn't prevent wars. He profits from them.”
The doctor swallowed.
“He told me the ledger contained names of people who had died. He said if the records came out, innocent families would be destroyed.”
“And you believed him?” Nora asked.
“I wanted to believe him.”
The answer was pathetic, and somehow that made Nora angrier.
She left the room and went to her grandmother.
Isabella was awake, staring at the window.
“Did the doctor tell you anything?” Nora asked.
“He asked me about the bell. About the old church.”
“Did you answer?”
“No.”
Isabella took her hand.
“But I remembered something else.”
She reached beneath her pillow and removed a small envelope.
“I kept this from the day your mother died. I wanted to give it to you when you were old enough to understand.”
Inside was a photograph of Catherine as a teenager. She stood beside a young man with dark hair and a serious expression.
Nora recognized the face.
It was Vittorio Vescari.
On the back, Catherine had written:
If anything happens to me, tell Nora that her father was not the man she was told.
Nora's heart stopped.
“My father?”
Isabella nodded.
“Your mother had a relationship with Vittorio before she was sent away. You are not just related to the Vescari family.”
She squeezed Nora's hand.
“You are part of it.”
Nora looked at Dante.
He had gone completely still.
Then his phone rang.
Marcus's voice came through.
“Boss, we have a problem. Salvatore knows we've found the photograph.”
May you like
A pause.
“He's demanding that Nora meet him alone.”
