Chapter 10 - THE CALL I DIDN’T MAKE ALONE
Beth photographed the car.
I called Detective Ellis.
My hands shook so badly I pressed the wrong number first.
Enzo’s sedan pulled away before a patrol car reached the diner.
Ellis met us there.
She listened to the voicemail twice.
Then she asked whether either of us had received other messages.
Beth shook her head.
I didn’t.
There had been one at two in the morning.
A picture of Nora’s apartment building.
No words.
I had told myself it was a warning I could keep away from my sister by not repeating it.
Ellis watched my face.
“Olivia.”
I handed her the phone.
Her expression changed.
“You need to tell us these things when they happen.”
“I know.”
“No.
You know now.
That’s enough.
We act from here.”
For the first time in two days, someone gave me an instruction without making me feel small.
That evening, Nora and I moved temporarily to a hotel arranged through an employee emergency service.
I chose the location.
The address stayed out of the company’s hands.
Luca paid the fund’s outstanding obligations through the outside firm, but he didn’t get our room number.
At seven, Vanessa called.
I recognized the number from staff scheduling messages.
I let it ring.
Then I called Ellis.
She told me I didn’t have to answer.
“If she contacts you again, preserve it.
Don’t meet her alone.”
Vanessa called again ten minutes later.
This time I answered with Nora beside me.
“You’ve had your moment,” Vanessa said.
I said nothing.
“How much?”
“For what?”
“To tell them you misunderstood.”
“You hit me.”
“You were going through my belongings.”
“The papers had my name.”
“You have no idea what those papers could do.”
I looked at Nora.
She was writing down every word.
“Then explain.”
Vanessa’s breathing changed.
“You think Luca will choose you?
He won’t even remember your name in six months.”
“This isn’t about him choosing me.”
“Everything is about who gets chosen.”
For one second, I heard something ugly beneath her anger.
Fear.
Then her voice sharpened.
“Enzo won’t let you get as far as a courtroom.”
She hung up.
I stared at the dark screen.
A message from Ellis arrived a minute later.
We located Samuel Mercer.
May you like
Then a second message.
He says he’s been waiting for someone to ask about the camera.
