Chapter 10 - THE BOATHOUSE|
The old Bellini boathouse stood beside a private stretch of water west of Chicago.
It had been abandoned for years, though the electricity still worked and the security cameras had recently been replaced. Luca recognized the building from photographs of his father's business meetings.
Marco wanted to bring a full security team.
Luca refused to approach the entrance until they had a clear view of the interior.
Claire sat in the back of the SUV, clutching Sophie's pink ribbon.
“You shouldn't be here,” Luca told her.
“I know.”
“Then why did you come?”
“Because Sophie trusts me. If she's frightened, hearing a familiar voice might help.”
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he nodded.
“Stay behind Marco. Do not move unless he tells you.”
They entered through the side door.
The boathouse smelled of damp wood and gasoline. A single lamp illuminated a table in the center of the room.
On the table sat the blue notebook.
Beside it was a small ballet shoe.
Claire recognized it immediately.
Sophie's.
Luca took a step forward.
A speaker crackled.
“Good evening, Luca.”
Richard Bellini's voice echoed through the building.
“Where is my daughter?” Luca demanded.
“Safe. For now.”
“Show me.”
A screen mounted on the wall flickered to life.
Sophie sat in a chair in an unfamiliar room. Her ankle was wrapped, and her face was pale, but she appeared conscious.
Claire moved toward the screen.
“Sophie?”
The little girl looked up.
“Miss Claire?”
“I'm here, sweetheart. We're going to bring you home.”
Sophie began to cry.
A shadow moved behind her.
Richard Bellini stepped into view.
He looked older than Luca remembered, but very much alive.
“You should have married my daughter when you had the chance,” Richard said.
Luca's expression became cold.
“You kidnapped an eleven-year-old child because I suspended an engagement?”
“I took her somewhere safe.”
“You disabled my security system and sent a threat to my home.”
“Your home is full of people who don't understand what is at stake.”
Luca stared at him.
“What do you want?”
“The notebook. The original trust documents. And your signature on a transfer agreement.”
Luca glanced at the blue notebook on the table.
“You think Caroline's notes are enough to give you control of my company?”
“Not the notes. The papers they identify.”
Richard leaned toward the camera.
“Your father made a promise to mine. He broke it. Caroline discovered the evidence and decided to interfere.”
“What happened to my wife?”
Richard smiled faintly.
“Your wife died in an accident.”
Luca's voice dropped.
“Was it an accident?”
Richard said nothing.
That silence was answer enough to make Luca's hands tighten.
Claire stepped closer to the screen.
“Mr. Bellini, Sophie is injured. Whatever you want from Luca, she has nothing to do with it.”
Richard glanced at her.
“Ah. The housemaid.”
“Her name is Claire.”
He laughed.
“Names don't matter in this family. Only what people can be made to do.”
Claire felt a chill run through her.
Richard turned back toward Luca.
“Bring the original documents tomorrow night. No police. No additional security. If you fail, you will never see your daughter again.”
The screen went dark.
Marco immediately began tracing the transmission.
Luca stared at the empty display.
Then Claire noticed something.
The ballet shoe on the table had a small silver clasp attached to its ribbon.
It was not Sophie's usual shoe.
Inside the clasp was a tiny folded photograph.
Claire opened it.
The photograph showed Caroline standing beside Richard Bellini.
On the back, in Caroline's handwriting, were six words:
He wasn't the man who drove.
Claire looked at Luca.
“Mr. Moretti, I think someone else was involved.”
Luca took the photograph.
For the first time, his anger gave way to something more dangerous.
May you like
Doubt.
Because if Richard Bellini hadn't been the driver, then the person responsible for Caroline's death might still be close enough to enter his home.
