Chapter 3 - My Brother’s Smile
I ran upstairs with Elena’s note in my fist.
Anthony was gone.
His champagne glass was still on the table.
His coat was missing.
So was Sofia’s small red backpack.
I turned in a circle.
“Where is my daughter?”
A waiter pointed toward the patio.
“Your brother took her outside. He said you asked him to.”
I was moving before the sentence ended.
I found Anthony near the side gate with Sofia beside him.
Her hand was in his.
His other hand held her backpack.
“Let go of her.”
Anthony froze.
Then he gave me the same calm smile he used in board meetings.
“Vincent, what the hell is going on?”
“Sofia. Come here.”
She pulled away from him and ran to me.
Anthony looked offended.
“You’re scaring her.”
I showed him Elena’s note.
His face stayed still.
Too still.
“Where did you get that?”
“You tell me.”
He read the line with his name and exhaled.
“Elena was under enormous stress before the accident.”
“Accident?”
“What else would you call it?”
“A lie.”
Vanessa appeared behind us.
Anthony looked at her.
For half a second, they communicated without speaking.
That was enough.
I handed Sofia to my housekeeper, Maria.
“Take her upstairs. Lock the bedroom. Nobody gets near her without me.”
Anthony stepped closer.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“No. I made the mistake eighteen months ago when I trusted both of you.”
Sirens sounded beyond the front gate.
Someone had called police.
Vanessa relaxed.
That told me exactly who had made the call.
Three patrol cars arrived.
The lead officer entered, looked at the wrecked dining room, Marco’s bruised ribs, and me holding a torn letter.
Then he walked directly to Vanessa.
Not me.
Vanessa said, “Thank God you’re here, Detective Shaw.”
They knew each other.
Shaw put a hand on his cuffs and looked at me.
“Mr. Rossi, step away from Ms. Bell.”
I stared at the detective who had signed Elena’s missing-person report.
May you like
Then Vanessa whispered something into his ear.
Shaw looked toward the basement and went pale.
