Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN WATCHING FROM THE WALLS|
Luca immediately ordered the mansion's surveillance system shut down.
Every camera was checked.
Every employee was questioned.
But the security team found no evidence of forced access.
Someone had used an authorized code.
That meant the intruder had either stolen the password or been given it by someone inside the house.
I sat in the library while Dominic reviewed the footage.
"Did you notice anything unusual?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"Only Mrs. Bennett and the kitchen staff have entered my room."
Dominic looked at the screen.
"Anyone else?"
I hesitated.
"Victoria came upstairs yesterday."
"When?"
"After dinner. She said she was looking for the powder room."
Dominic immediately made a note.
That evening, Luca asked me to join him for dinner.
The dining room was enormous, with a long table designed for twenty people.
Only two places were set.
I looked around.
"Is everyone else eating somewhere different?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I asked them to."
He pulled out a chair.
I sat.
Dinner was awkward at first.
Luca asked about my brother.
I told him Daniel had suffered a spinal injury in an accident two years earlier. He had survived, but his recovery had been slow.
"Where is he now?"
"At a rehabilitation center in Queens."
"Does he have everything he needs?"
"He's receiving treatment."
"That wasn't my question."
I put down my fork.
"I don't want you paying for his care."
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to owe you anything."
Luca studied me.
"Is that what you think this is?"
"I don't know what this is."
For a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something.
Instead, he reached for his water.
Then his phone vibrated.
He read the message.
His face changed.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Daniel has been moved."
My stomach tightened.
"Moved where?"
"His rehabilitation center says someone came to collect him."
"Who?"
"They claimed to be family."
I stood.
"That's impossible. I never authorized anyone."
Luca was already calling Dominic.
"Find him."
Within minutes, the security team discovered that Daniel's records had been accessed by someone using the hospital administrator's credentials.
The vehicle had been tracked to an apartment building.
But when the men arrived, it was empty.
Only Daniel's wheelchair remained.
I felt my legs weaken.
Luca caught my arm.
"Emma."
"Where is my brother?"
"We'll find him."
"Don't tell me that unless you mean it."
He looked directly into my eyes.
"I mean it."
Hours passed.
At midnight, a video arrived on Luca's phone.
Daniel was sitting in a dark room.
His hands were tied.
A man stood behind him.
The camera moved closer.
A familiar voice spoke.
"Mr. Russo, I believe we have something that belongs to both of us."
It was Anthony.
He looked into the camera.
"Bring me the necklace and the original records. You have until tomorrow morning."
May you like
Then he smiled.
"Or your nurse can watch her brother die."
