Chapter 5 - The Falcon
Rico wanted Vittorio brought back immediately.
Clara stopped him.
“Why?”
“Because if he did this, he already knows you suspect him.”
Rico stared.
“You think I should do nothing?”
“I think anger is loud.”
“She’s right.”
“I hate when everybody becomes reasonable at the same time.”
The next morning Vittorio returned on his own.
He walked into breakfast as if nothing had happened.
“Leo better?”
“Where were you after Elena’s study was released by police?”
“Here.”
“Did you enter the chapel?”
“Many times.”
“Did you take an envelope from Saint Julian?”
“Is this an interrogation?”
“Yes.”
“This waitress has made you paranoid.”
“You’re brave.”
“No.”
“No?”
“I’m employed.”
Dante almost choked on his coffee.
Vittorio’s smile disappeared.
Rico placed Elena’s blue page on the table.
V KNOWS ABOUT THE HARBOR ACCOUNTS.
“You think V means me?”
“Does it?”
“No.”
“Who?”
“Vanessa.”
“Vanessa who?”
“Elena’s accountant. Vanessa Cortez.”
The Moretti charitable foundation had employed Vanessa Cortez for four years. She resigned the week after Elena died.
Rico asked why nobody had told him.
“You were burying your wife.”
Vanessa Cortez had moved to Florida.
Her old apartment in Brooklyn had been emptied overnight.
Then Clara heard a soft sound from the hallway.
He stood barefoot, holding a stuffed rabbit.
“Little prince.”
“What’s wrong?”
Leo pointed at Vittorio’s hand.
Leo whispered:
“Mommy said no.”
“What did she say no to?” Clara asked.
“Bird man took red book.”
“That child is confused.”
But Rico did not dismiss him.
“Vanessa Cortez never made it to Florida.”
Rico stared.
“Where is she?”
Dante looked at Vittorio.
“She checked into a private clinic in New Jersey under a different name.”
May you like
Vittorio put down his cup.
And for the first time, his hands were shaking.
