Chapter 11 - Carmela
Carmela Moretti arrived wearing black.
She had worn black since Elena’s funeral and acted as if grief belonged to her more than anyone.
Rico placed the authorization in front of her.
“Explain.”
She read it.
“I approved the driver change.”
“Why?”
“Vittorio told me Elena’s usual driver had a fever.”
“That’s true,” Dante said.
“Why is the waitress here?”
Rico answered:
“Because my son talks when she’s here.”
“Children talk nonsense.”
Leo was playing in the next room.
Clara heard the sentence anyway.
“Don’t say that again.”
Rico continued:
“Not in this house.”
Carmela admitted signing the substitution.
She denied knowing Paul worked with Vittorio.
Then Clara asked:
“Did Elena ever tell you she was afraid?”
“Ma.”
“Elena was dramatic.”
“What did she say?”
“She said Vittorio was angry about Harbor Meridian.”
“When?”
“Two days before the event.”
“You knew?”
“I thought it was business.”
“She told you she was afraid.”
“She said she didn’t want to worry you.”
“So everybody protected me.”
Carmela snapped:
“You were carrying the whole family.”
“And she died carrying the truth.”
Then Carmela said something worse.
“Elena asked me to keep Leo home that night.”
“What?”
“She said she had a bad feeling.”
“Why wasn’t he home?”
“Because I told her she was being hysterical.”
Clara saw Carmela finally crack.
“I said the Moretti name made people nervous. I told her she was imagining danger.”
“I was wrong.”
Clara watched three generations of guilt form in one room.
“This?”
“No bird!”
Rico stared at the necklace.
“Where did you get that?”
Carmela looked confused.
“Vittorio gave it to me.”
“When?”
May you like
Her face drained.
“The morning after Elena died.”
