Chapter 4 - What Isabella Never Told Her Husband
"Call her."
Isabella did.
Maria didn't answer.
Matteo was already reaching for his phone.
"No," Isabella said.
He stopped.
"No what?"
"No men. No convoy. No spectacle."
"Someone is inside her house."
"And if Victor is watching, you sending people there proves everything."
Matteo stared at her.
She was frightened, but thinking clearly.
"What do you suggest?"
"Police."
Matteo nodded.
He called San Aurelio authorities and reported a possible break-in.
Then Isabella called Maria again.
This time she answered.
"Maria?"
"I'm outside."
Isabella nearly collapsed with relief.
"Are you safe?"
"I'm at Helen's."
"Did you see anyone?"
"No. Back door was open."
"Stay there."
Maria went silent.
Then:
"The envelope's gone."
Isabella closed her eyes.
Matteo looked at the photograph in his hand.
"No," Isabella said. "It isn't."
Maria exhaled.
"You have it?"
"Yes."
"Thank God."
"Maria, who is Daniel?"
Silence.
"Maria?"
"I think Mom worked with him."
"Where?"
"The trust."
Matteo leaned closer.
Maria continued.
"I found an old ledger in the house. Daniel Mercer. His name appears beside several original deposits."
Matteo wrote the name down.
"Do you still have the ledger?" he asked.
Maria hesitated.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"I am not telling you over the phone."
"Good."
That answer earned the first hint of approval Isabella had given him all day.
They drove to San Aurelio together the following morning.
No entourage.
No unnecessary attention.
When Isabella reached Maria, the sisters stood staring at each other for several seconds.
Then Maria crossed the porch.
Isabella wrapped both arms around her.
Matteo turned away.
Some reunions didn't need witnesses.
Inside, Maria produced the ledger.
It was old.
Handwritten.
Matteo photographed nothing until Maria gave permission.
Then they examined it together.
The entries documented money Elena had placed into the trust.
Near the final pages appeared transfers authorized after Elena's death.
Victor's signature appeared repeatedly.
But so did another signature.
Daniel Mercer.
"Maybe Daniel helped him," Maria said.
"Or tried to stop him," Isabella replied.
Matteo pointed to one line.
Beside Daniel's signature was a handwritten notation:
DISPUTED.
Then another:
DO NOT RELEASE.
The next page had been torn out.
Matteo's phone rang.
Luca.
"I found Daniel Mercer."
"Alive?"
"Very."
"Where?"
"Belladonna City."
Matteo looked at Isabella.
"What does he do?"
"He used to be an accountant."
"Used to?"
"Now he owns a bookstore."
Matteo almost laughed at the absurdity.
"Address."
Luca gave it to him.
Then paused.
"There's another thing."
"What?"
"Victor has been looking for him too."
Matteo's expression hardened.
"Since when?"
"Since yesterday."
They left San Aurelio immediately.
But they were not the only ones heading south.
Halfway home, Isabella received a call from an unknown number.
She answered.
"Hello?"
An older male voice spoke.
"Isabella Marino?"
She looked at Matteo.
"Yes."
"My name is Daniel Mercer."
Everyone in the car went silent.
"I knew your mother."
Isabella's fingers trembled.
"Where are you?"
"Not where I usually am."
"Why?"
"Because Victor came looking for me."
Matteo gestured for her to keep him talking.
Daniel continued.
"Your mother knew the trust was being manipulated before she died."
Isabella stopped breathing.
"What?"
"She was gathering records."
"Records of what?"
"Money being moved through companies she never authorized."
"By Victor?"
A long pause.
"Your uncle was involved."
Isabella closed her eyes.
"But he wasn't the only one."
Matteo leaned toward the phone.
"Who else?"
Daniel heard him.
"Is that Matteo Rossi?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
"I don't know whether that's good or bad."
"Neither do I," Matteo said. "But Isabella and Maria are safe."
"Keep them that way."
"Tell us where you are."
Daniel hesitated.
Then gave them an address.
An old train station outside Belladonna.
"One hour."
The call ended.
They arrived fifty-three minutes later.
The station had been converted into small offices and cafés.
Daniel waited inside a closed coffee shop.
He was seventy, perhaps older.
He looked at Isabella for a long time.
"You have Elena's eyes."
Isabella swallowed.
"You knew my mother?"
"I was her accountant."
He opened an old leather case.
Inside were documents.
Original documents.
Matteo recognized trust statements.
Property deeds.
Transfer authorizations.
Daniel pushed one sheet toward Isabella.
"Your mother discovered this three weeks before she died."
Isabella read it.
Then looked at him.
"This signature isn't hers."
"No."
"Who signed it?"
"Someone forged her authorization."
"Victor?"
Daniel shook his head.
"Victor benefited from it. But this particular signature wasn't his."
Matteo studied the page.
"Whose?"
Daniel opened his mouth.
A shadow moved outside the café window.
Matteo turned.
A man stood across the platform.
Watching them.
Daniel's face changed instantly.
"Don't react."
"Who is he?" Isabella whispered.
Daniel slowly closed the leather case.
"The man your mother was trying to expose."
May you like
The stranger started walking toward the café door.
Then Daniel whispered his name.
