Chapter 17 - THE WIFE WHO RETURNED FROM THE DEAD|
Giovanni didn't speak for several seconds.
He enlarged the photograph with his thumb.
The woman was older than the pictures he had shown me. Her hair was shorter, her face thinner, but there was no doubt.
It was Isabella.
"Where was this taken?" he asked.
"Tyler's office," Marco replied. "About forty minutes ago."
"Why is she with him?"
"We're trying to establish that."
I looked at the photograph.
Tyler had not simply become involved with Moretti.
He had somehow found Isabella.
"Could she be working with them?" I asked.
Giovanni's eyes remained fixed on the screen.
"I don't know."
"Then don't assume she's a victim."
He looked at me.
"She's my wife."
"She was your wife. You haven't seen her in years. You don't know what she's been through or what she's been forced to do."
He looked away.
I softened my voice.
"Don't let the hope of finding her make you careless."
He nodded.
Marco arranged a meeting through a contact at Tyler's office. Isabella agreed to see Giovanni at a small hotel near the river.
We arrived with security but entered separately.
Isabella was waiting in a private lounge.
When Giovanni walked in, she stood.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then she whispered his name.
"Giovanni."
He stopped a few feet away.
"You're alive."
She nodded.
"I'm sorry."
He laughed once, a broken sound.
"Sorry?"
"I had to keep Sofia safe."
"You let me bury our daughter."
"I thought you were being watched. Your father had people everywhere. I didn't know who I could trust."
"Your father-in-law was dead."
"Not everyone who worked for him was."
Giovanni took a breath.
"Why did you go to Tyler?"
Isabella looked at me.
"Because he offered to help me find Sofia."
"Tyler Reed?"
She nodded.
"He said he knew where Camilla had taken her. He promised he could arrange a reunion."
I felt sick.
"Did he tell you he was married to Vanessa?"
"Yes. He said he had changed."
I almost laughed.
"He's very good at making people believe that."
Isabella lowered her eyes.
"He's been asking about the ledger. He said if I gave him the location, he would help me see my daughter."
Giovanni stepped closer.
"Did you give him anything?"
"No."
"Does he know where Sofia is?"
"I don't think so. But Moretti knows."
Giovanni turned toward Marco.
"Get Sofia moved again. Quietly."
Isabella reached for his hand.
"Please. Don't hurt Tyler. He said he would tell the police about me if I didn't cooperate."
I stared at her.
"Why would he have anything to report?"
Isabella hesitated.
Then she told us.
After fleeing Italy, she had used false documents to protect herself and Sofia. Moretti had arranged some of those documents, then kept copies as leverage. Tyler had obtained the files and was threatening to expose her.
"Why would he do that?" I asked.
"Because he wants money. Moretti promised him a share of the ledger's value."
Giovanni's expression turned cold.
"Then he has made a very serious mistake."
Isabella looked at me.
"You're Jessica."
"Yes."
"I've heard about you. Camilla told me you were kind to children."
I didn't know how to respond.
She continued.
"I know you have a little girl. I'm sorry you've been dragged into this."
"Tyler dragged me into it long before you met him."
Isabella looked confused.
"He's your ex-husband?"
"Yes."
She glanced at Giovanni.
"Then you need to know something. Tyler has been telling Moretti that Jessica can be used to force Giovanni into surrendering the ledger."
Giovanni's face hardened.
"He won't touch her."
Isabella shook her head.
"You don't understand. Moretti believes Tyler can make Jessica disappear without anyone connecting it to the family."
My blood turned cold.
"How?"
May you like
Isabella looked directly at me.
"Through your own parents."
