Chapter 3: The Truth He Buried
Lena caught Matteo by the sleeve before he could turn away.
“My sister’s name was Nora Carter.
Say her name.”
“Nora came here fourteen months ago,” Matteo said.
“She asked me for protection.”
“And you gave it to her?”
His silence answered first.
Lena shoved his coat from her shoulders.
It struck the floor between them.
“You let me wear this as if you were some kind of hero.”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
“Did you try that with Nora?”
The service door opened.
Alisandre entered, carrying Matteo’s untouched wineglass by the stem.
“What an ugly little reunion,” she said.
Matteo moved in front of Lena.
“Put down the glass.”
“Why?
Are you suddenly afraid of a drink?”
“I’m afraid of people who erase recordings.”
Alisandre’s smile tightened.
“Careful, Matteo.
Accusing your future wife without proof could damage our families.”
Lena stepped around him.
“Did you know my sister?”
“I meet hundreds of employees.”
“She wasn’t an employee here.”
“No?” Alisandre placed the glass on a cart.
“Then perhaps she was looking for something she hadn’t earned.”
“She was looking for the truth.”
“And look where that took her.”
Matteo seized the cart before Lena could lunge forward.
Crystal rattled beneath his hand.
“You will not speak about Nora again,” he said.
Alisandre tilted her head.
“Why not tell Lena the rest?
Tell her what Nora gave you.
Tell her what you promised.”
Lena stared at him.
“What did she give you?”
“A ledger,” Matteo said.
“It contained payments routed through this hotel.
Judges, police officers, shipping companies—names tied to both families.”
“And where is it?”
“Gone.”
Alisandre laughed softly.
“How convenient.”
Matteo’s ring struck the metal cart.
“Nora called me at eleven seventeen that night.
She said someone had followed her upstairs.
I sent two men.”
“They never arrived,” Lena said.
“They were redirected by a message sent from my phone.”
“By whom?”
“I couldn’t prove it.”
Alisandre lifted the wineglass again.
“You still can’t.”
Lena faced her.
“You sent me that message, didn’t you?”
“Why would I help a maid?”
“To frighten Matteo.
To make him confess before he was ready.”
“Then perhaps you should thank me.”
Lena moved closer.
“Did you take the capsule?”
Alisandre’s eyes settled on her.
“Go home to your niece, Lena.”
Matteo went still.
“How do you know about the child?”
“Oh, everyone knows about Sophie now.” Alisandre set down the glass.
“Children are so trusting.
Tell them Aunt Lena sent a car, and they climb right in.”
Lena’s phone rang.
She answered with both hands.
“Mrs.
Bell?”
Her neighbor was crying.
“Lena, Sophie never came upstairs.
The school says a man signed her out twenty minutes ago.”
The elevator doors closed behind Alisandre before Lena could reach her.
On the polished metal, one final message appeared on Lena’s phone.
May you like
BRING MATTEO TO THE OLD DUCA HOTEL.
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT SOPHIE BACK.
