Chapter 3: The Woman in Zurich
“Her real mother?””
The words came out of Vittorio’s mouth so quietly that Bianca stopped struggling.
Emma still held the photocopied authorization.
“The woman listed here,” she said.
“Her name is Elena Moretti.””
Vittorio stared at her.
“I know that name.””
Marcus looked toward Bianca.
That tiny movement was enough.
Vittorio turned.
“Who is Elena Moretti?””
Bianca folded her arms.
“Ask your dead wife.””
The kitchen seemed to shrink.
Vittorio stepped closer.
“Be very careful.””
“I’m telling you the truth.””
“My wife never mentioned an Elena.””
“Maybe Sofia had secrets.””
“Don't say her name.””
Bianca's expression hardened.
“You spent eight years pretending Sofia was perfect. Maybe it's time you learned she wasn't.””
Vittorio reached for Emma's phone.
“Show me what you found.””
Emma opened a photograph of the custody document.
“Elena Moretti is listed as Lucy's biological mother.””
Vittorio read the line twice.
“That’s impossible.””
Lucy had been born at St. Catherine's Hospital.
Vittorio had been there.
He remembered Sofia crushing his hand during labor.
He remembered the nurse placing Lucy against Sofia's chest.
He remembered Sofia laughing through tears.
Emma said, “I thought it had to be fake.””
“It is.””
“But someone created it for a reason.””
Marcus suddenly laughed.
Everyone looked at him.
“You people are unbelievable.””
Vittorio turned.
Marcus spread his hands.
“Some forged paperwork appears and suddenly we're running an international kidnapping operation?””
“Why did you know about the ticket?””
“I didn't.””
Emma swiped to another recording.
Marcus's voice filled the kitchen.
“Zurich is safer. Once the girl is there, Vittorio won't be able to fix this quickly.””
Marcus stopped smiling.
Emma lowered the phone.
“You were recorded yesterday afternoon.””
Marcus looked at Bianca.
“Tell him.””
Bianca remained silent.
“Bianca.””
“Shut up, Marcus.””
“No. You said Charles had everything handled.””
Vittorio stepped between them.
“What exactly did Charles have handled?””
Marcus pointed at Bianca.
“Ask her.””
Bianca's eyes flashed.
“You coward.””
“You dragged me into this.””
“You begged me for money!””
“And you promised nobody would get hurt.””
Vittorio's stomach tightened.
“What were you planning?””
Neither answered.
Then a small voice came from the staircase.
“Daddy?””
Vittorio turned.
Lucy stood halfway down the stairs.
She had changed into pajamas, but she was clutching her old stuffed rabbit against her chest.
“Why are you talking about my mommy?””
Vittorio's anger vanished from his face.
He walked toward her.
“You should be upstairs, sweetheart.””
“I heard Mommy's name.””
Lucy looked past him at Bianca.
Then at the papers.
“Is Mommy coming back?””
“No.””
Her eyes dropped.
“Oh.””
Vittorio climbed the stairs and crouched beside her.
“We're trying to understand something. That's all.””
Lucy touched his sleeve.
“Is it about the lady?””
Every adult in the kitchen went still.
“What lady?””
Lucy immediately looked frightened.
“The one Bianca told me not to talk about.””
Vittorio felt his pulse in his throat.
“What did she look like?””
Lucy hugged the rabbit tighter.
“She had dark hair. She talked funny.””
“When did you see her?””
“At school.””
Bianca moved.
Vittorio looked over his shoulder.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
Lucy continued.
“She was waiting outside the gate. She knew my name.””
“What did she say?””
“She said she knew Mommy.””
Vittorio's skin went cold.
“Did she touch you?””
Lucy shook her head.
“She gave me a picture.””
“What picture?””
“I hid it.””
“Where?””
Lucy looked toward Bianca again.
“In Bunny.””
She turned the stuffed rabbit over.
Along its back was a tiny zipper.
Vittorio had never noticed it.
Lucy opened it and pulled out a folded photograph.
The image was old.
Sofia looked perhaps nineteen.
Beside her stood another young woman who looked so much like her they could have been sisters.
On the back, someone had written:
*Sofia & Elena — Florence, 2008.*
Vittorio stared.
“Sofia had no sister.””
“Half-sister,” Bianca said.
He turned.
For the first time that night, she wasn't pretending.
“You knew?””
Bianca looked away.
“How?””
“My mother knew Sofia's family.””
“You told me you barely knew Sofia.””
“I lied.””
“Why?””
Bianca's eyes filled with something that wasn't remorse.
Resentment.
“Because Sofia got everything.””
Vittorio stood.
“What does that mean?””
“She got the family. The money. You.””
Marcus muttered, “Bianca, stop.””
“No. He wants the truth?””
She laughed bitterly.
“Give him the truth.””
She pointed at the photograph.
“Elena was Sofia's half-sister. Their father had an affair. Elena grew up with nothing while Sofia grew up protected.””
Vittorio looked at Emma.
“Can we contact her?””
“I found an address.””
Bianca smiled strangely.
“You won't need it.””
“Why?””
“Because she's already here.””
Vittorio stared at her.
“In this country?””
“In this city.””
Emma grabbed the phone.
“How do you know?””
Bianca didn't answer.
Instead, a doorbell rang through the mansion.
Once.
Then again.
Nobody moved.
A moment later, the intercom sounded.
A man's voice came through from the front gate.
“Mr. DeLuca?””
Vittorio pressed the button.
“Yes?””
“There's a woman here asking for you.””
“What woman?””
A pause.
“She says her name is Elena Moretti.””
Lucy gasped.
Bianca went white.
Vittorio looked at her.
“You said she was working with you.””
Bianca shook her head.
“I never said that.””
The bell rang again.
Vittorio pressed the gate release.
Marcus swore under his breath.
Bianca grabbed Vittorio's arm.
“Don't let her inside.””
He pulled free.
“Why?””
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“Because if Elena is here tonight…”
May you like
She stared toward the front door.
“…then Charles betrayed all of us.””
