Chapter 11 - THE EMPTY HOUSE IN WISCONSIN|
The drive to Wisconsin felt endless.
Giovanni sat beside me in the back of the SUV, reading updates from Marco. Camilla was in the vehicle behind us with two security officers. Lily had been left at the country house with Elena, who had promised to keep her safe.
I hated leaving my daughter.
But I hated the thought of another little girl disappearing even more.
When we reached the house, police lights flashed across the neighboring trees. The front door stood open. A small bicycle lay on its side near the porch.
I stepped out before Giovanni could stop me.
"Jessica, wait."
I ignored him.
Inside, the kitchen smelled of coffee and something metallic. A chair had been overturned. A glass lay shattered near the refrigerator.
A dark stain marked the floor.
I crouched beside it.
"Is this blood?"
Marco nodded.
"The laboratory will confirm."
I looked around.
There was no sign of a struggle in the living room. The family photographs remained on the shelves. A child's drawing was attached to the refrigerator with a magnet.
It showed a house, a yellow sun, and three people holding hands.
The little girl had written her name beneath it.
Sofia.
I felt tears sting my eyes.
"Where are they?" I asked.
"We're checking the property and the surrounding roads," Marco replied.
Giovanni examined the overturned chair.
"Whoever came here knew the family."
Camilla entered behind us.
She stopped when she saw the drawing.
"Oh, God."
I turned.
"Did you know they might be taken?"
"No. I swear."
"Then why didn't you tell me you were receiving threats?"
"I thought they were empty threats."
"Someone photographed Lily, Camilla. Someone entered the house where we were staying. You knew this was happening and still kept secrets."
Camilla lowered her head.
"I was trying to protect everyone."
"Keeping people uninformed isn't protection."
Giovanni interrupted gently.
"We can deal with this later. Right now, we need to find the child."
A police officer approached with a plastic evidence bag.
"We found this in the driveway."
Inside was a small silver bracelet.
Camilla gasped.
"It belongs to Sofia."
Giovanni took it carefully.
On the inside was a tiny inscription.
For my little star. Love, Mama.
He closed his fist around it.
For a moment, the feared head of the Fioraldi family looked like nothing more than a father who had lost his child twice.
Then Marco's phone rang.
He listened.
His face changed.
"Boss, we've got a witness. A delivery driver saw a black van leaving the property around six this morning."
"Plate?"
"Partially obscured. But the driver remembers a logo."
"What logo?"
Marco showed him a photograph taken from a nearby security camera.
It was a white circle with a black bird inside.
Giovanni's expression hardened.
"Rossi's symbol."
Camilla stepped forward.
"Where would he take her?"
Giovanni stared at the image.
"There's an old estate outside Milwaukee. It belonged to one of my father's associates. Rossi used it as a meeting place years ago."
"Then we go there," I said.
"Not yet."
I looked at him.
"She's a little girl, Giovanni."
"I know."
"Then don't waste time."
He took a breath.
"We need to know how many men he has, where the entrances are, and whether the family is still alive. If we rush in, we could make things worse."
I hated that he was right.
We spent the next hour studying the property maps. Marco contacted local authorities, and Giovanni arranged for a team to monitor the estate without approaching.
Then an unknown number called my phone.
I answered before anyone could stop me.
A little girl's voice whispered.
"Hello?"
My heart jumped.
"Sofia?"
There was a pause.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Jessica. I'm a friend of your mommy's."
The child began crying softly.
"Are you going to take me home?"
"Yes, sweetheart. We're going to do everything we can."
A man's voice sounded in the background.
"Who are you talking to?"
The call ended.
I looked at Giovanni.
He was already standing.
"Trace it."
Marco checked the phone.
"It came through a temporary relay. But the signal bounced near the old estate."
Giovanni picked up his coat.
"Now we know she's there."
I caught his arm.
"Wait. We need a plan."
He looked down at my hand.
Then he looked into my eyes.
"Tell me what you need."
I had no idea how to rescue a child from a dangerous man.
But I knew what frightened children needed.
"Someone she trusts. Someone who won't shout. And a way out that doesn't make her feel like she's being taken again."
Giovanni nodded.
"Then you'll help us plan the rescue."
May you like
He paused.
"And Jessica, when this is over, I owe you more than an explanation."
