Chapter 11 - THE LISTENER
Vincent immediately dropped the blue phone into a metal ice bucket.
Rafael instructed them to disconnect every wireless device in the mansion.
The house went dark electronically.
No Wi-Fi.
No cameras.
No smart locks.
Nothing.
For the first time in years, the Moretti estate was quiet.
Vincent spread the microfilm images across a table after an old offline reader was brought from storage.
Lorenzo Moretti had hidden documents in miniature photographs.
Contracts.
Ownership records.
A handwritten confession.
Vincent read it twice.
Anthony Moretti ordered the murder of three business partners during the 1990s.
Lorenzo covered for him.
Then regretted it.
He secretly moved controlling shares into a protected family trust.
But there was one final clause.
The controlling beneficiary was not Vincent.
Dominic leaned over his shoulder.
“Who is Elena Moretti?”
Vincent stopped breathing.
“My sister.”
Dominic stared.
“You don’t have a sister.”
“I did.”
Elena had died at six months old.
At least that was what Vincent had been told.
Sofia’s voice came through the secure landline.
“I found the same name.”
Vincent gripped the receiver.
“What happened to her?”
“I don’t know.”
Then Isabella spoke.
“I do.”
Everyone turned.
“My father mentioned an Elena once.”
Vincent stared.
“When?”
“Years ago. He was drunk. He said Lorenzo’s daughter was the family’s last insurance policy.”
Vincent stepped closer.
“Where is she?”
“I don’t know.”
Dominic slammed his hand on the table.
“Can one person in this family know something useful without saying ‘I don’t know’?”
Emily suddenly spoke.
“Elena is Grace.”
Silence.
Vincent looked at her.
“What?”
Emily’s face went red.
“Mom’s middle name is Elena.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“She has a picture.”
Vincent froze.
“What picture?”
“In our apartment. An old baby picture. There’s a man holding her.”
Emily swallowed.
“It’s the same man from the painting downstairs.”
Vincent’s father.
Lorenzo.
Vincent stared at Emily.
Grace Carter.
His housekeeper.
The woman who had served his family for ten years.
Could be his younger sister.
Dominic whispered, “That’s why Anthony took her.”
Not because of the phone.
Because of the trust.
If Grace was Elena Moretti, she was the controlling beneficiary.
Vincent grabbed his coat.
“We’re going.”
Sofia said, “Wait.”
“No.”
“Anthony wants you to rush.”
“He has my sister.”
The word sounded strange.
But right.
Sofia went quiet.
Then said:
“He also has proof.”
“Of what?”
“That Grace already knows who she is.”
Vincent stared at the receiver.
“She knows?”
“Yes.”
“For how long?”
“Three years.”
Vincent closed his eyes.
Another secret.
Another person protecting him with silence.
Then Dominic’s phone, which had supposedly been disconnected, buzzed.
One message appeared.
A live photograph.
Grace tied to a hospital chair.
Behind her stood Anthony.
May you like
Under the image were five words:
BRING ELENA’S BROTHER TO ME.
