Chapter 2: The Key Beneath Her Necklace
Vanessa’s lips trembled.
“It was only an appraisal.”
“Then why did you lie to Emily?” Luca asked.
“To avoid upsetting her.”
“You told my pregnant daughter I was ashamed of her.”
Emily gripped Luca’s sleeve.
“Dad, those men knew the cabinet was behind the basement wall.
I never told anyone that.”
Luca’s eyes narrowed.
“Only three people knew.”
“Mom, you…and me,” Emily whispered.
Vanessa backed toward the table.
Something slipped from beneath her necklace—a small brass key.
Emily froze.
“That’s Mom’s.”
Vanessa covered it with her hand.
“No, it isn’t.”
“Yes,” Emily said.
“She wore it until the week she d!ed.”
Luca held out his palm.
“Give me the key.”
Before Vanessa could answer, Luca’s phone rang.
He put it on speaker.
A security guard spoke quickly.
“Sir, someone just entered the Maple Street house.”
Vanessa lunged for the phone, but Claire caught her arm.
“Who is it?” Luca demanded.
“We can’t see his face.
But he opened the side door with an access card registered to Vanessa Bellini.”
Every guest turned toward her.
Then the guard added, “Sir…he’s already in the basement, and the cabinet door is open.”
Luca stared at Vanessa.
“What was inside?”
Her answer made Emily’s hand fly to her mouth.
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What did Emily’s mother hide in that cabinet—and why was Vanessa desperate to reach it first?
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