Chapter 13 - THE AGREEMENT|
The original agreement was hidden in a secure archive beneath an office building once owned by Luca's father.
Evelyn Shaw accompanied Luca and Rebecca Collins, an attorney who had represented the family in several earlier disputes. The archive contained boxes of contracts, property records, and sealed correspondence.
After two hours, Evelyn found a metal case with a handwritten label.
Family Succession — Confidential.
Inside lay a thick document signed by Anthony Moretti and Richard Bellini more than twenty years earlier.
Luca read the first pages slowly.
The agreement concerned a business partnership and the transfer of certain assets to the next generation. But a later section established a separate family trust, one designed to protect the interests of children born into either family.
One paragraph had been highlighted.
If a beneficiary was considered at risk of coercion, relocation, or unlawful guardianship transfer, an independent trustee could suspend any pending change in custody or inheritance rights.
Luca frowned.
“Why would a business agreement contain guardianship provisions?”
Rebecca turned several pages.
“Because the families apparently tied the trust to a broader succession plan. This is unusual, but the exact legal effect would require further review.”
Evelyn pointed to an appendix.
“Here. This is the original beneficiary schedule.”
Luca looked at the names.
His own appeared beside his father's estate.
Then he saw Caroline's name.
Beside it was a handwritten note.
Primary guardian of Sophie Moretti. No transfer without independent consent.
A second name had been crossed out.
Richard Bellini.
Luca felt his stomach tighten.
“Richard was named as a potential guardian?”
“Under certain circumstances,” Rebecca said. “But this document appears to have been amended later.”
Evelyn removed another page.
The amendment was dated six months before Caroline's death.
It transferred significant authority to a private trustee and gave that trustee the ability to recommend relocation of a minor beneficiary.
The trustee's name was Daniel Price.
Luca stared at it.
“Where is he?”
“We haven't found him,” Evelyn replied.
Rebecca examined the signatures.
“This amendment may not have been properly executed. The witness section is incomplete.”
“Could someone have used it to send Sophie away?”
“Someone could have attempted to use it. That doesn't mean the transfer would have been lawful.”
Luca continued reading.
A note in Caroline's handwriting had been attached to the back.
Daniel told me the original agreement protects Sophie. Vanessa says it doesn't. One of them is lying.
Luca looked toward Evelyn.
“Did Caroline know Daniel?”
“Yes. He worked for your father before the trust was created.”
“Did she trust him?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“She trusted him at first.”
“And later?”
“She became frightened of him.”
Rebecca closed the folder.
“We need to preserve this document and establish its authenticity. We also need to provide it to the authorities investigating Sophie's disappearance.”
Luca nodded.
Then his phone buzzed.
An unknown number had sent a voice recording.
He pressed play.
Richard Bellini's voice filled the room.
“Luca, you have the agreement. Good. Now you can finally understand why Caroline had to be stopped.”
The recording ended.
Luca stared at the phone.
Rebecca immediately told him not to respond.
But a second message arrived.
This one contained a video.
Sophie looked directly into the camera.
“Daddy, please come get me.”
Then a man spoke from behind her.
“Tell your father who gave you the notebook.”
Sophie began crying.
May you like
And whispered a name Luca had not heard in years.
“Daniel.”
