Chapter 9 - THE BROTHER WHO CAME BACK
Vincent stepped in front of Leo.
Daniel raised both hands.
“Don't shoot.”
Vincent hadn't drawn a weapon.
But Daniel looked terrified.
Claire clutched the little girl.
The child buried her face against her coat.
I saw dark curls.
A tiny pink mitten.
Nothing about her deserved this nightmare.
“Explain,” Vincent said.
Daniel glanced toward the stairs.
“We don't have much time.”
“Then talk faster.”
Daniel looked at the photograph.
“Isabella found the accounts.”
“We know,” Vincent said.
“She found more than money.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Your father's trust wasn't the only thing we hid.”
Vincent took one step forward.
Daniel flinched.
“Who is the girl?” I asked.
Claire answered.
“She's mine.”
“Then why does that certificate name Isabella?”
Claire stared at me.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Because we needed a second identity.”
“For what?”
“To move a child without anyone tracing her.”
I looked at the little girl.
She was awake now.
Her eyes followed Leo.
He waved shyly.
She waved back.
Vincent's voice turned cold.
“Did you steal her?”
“No,” Claire whispered.
“I gave birth to her.”
Daniel interrupted.
“Sabrina arranged the documents.”
“And Isabella?” Vincent asked.
Claire looked away.
“She was alive after the crash.”
The room seemed to tilt.
Vincent caught the edge of the desk.
“Where is she?”
“I don't know anymore.”
“That's not good enough.”
Daniel stepped between them.
“Vincent, listen.”
“Three years ago, Isabella discovered our father had hidden a second set of company records.”
“Records of what?”
“Illegal transfers. Names. Payments.”
Vincent stared at him.
“Your name was on them.”
Daniel nodded.
“I helped move the money.”
“And Sabrina?”
“She built the shell companies.”
“Why kill Isabella?”
Daniel's eyes filled.
“I didn't order the crash.”
Vincent laughed without humor.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No. But it's true.”
Claire rocked her daughter.
“The crash was supposed to frighten Isabella.”
“Frighten her?” I repeated.
“They wanted the evidence,” she said.
“Thomas Reed forced her car off the road.”
Leo made a small noise.
I knelt beside him.
“You don't have to listen.”
He shook his head.
“I want to know.”
Daniel looked at the boy.
His face crumpled.
“I'm sorry, Leo.”
Leo didn't answer.
Vincent moved closer to his brother.
“Where is Isabella?”
Daniel stared at the floor.
“After the crash, Sabrina took her.”
“Where?”
“To a private clinic.”
“Which clinic?”
“I don't know.”
Vincent grabbed his collar.
“You knew enough to steal from my son.”
Daniel didn't resist.
“I did.”
“You knew enough to forge my signature.”
“Yes.”
“But you can't tell me where my wife is?”
Daniel began crying.
“I tried to find her.”
Vincent released him.
The silence hurt.
I looked around the room.
A sewing machine stood beneath the lamp.
Beside it lay blue thread.
The same shade as Arthur's paw.
I lifted a folded cloth.
Underneath was a second teddy bear.
Two button eyes.
Perfect stitching.
And a silver key sewn into its paw.
“Vincent,” I whispered.
Everyone turned.
Leo ran toward me.
“That's him.”
“That's the real Arthur.”
I carefully opened the seam.
Inside was a small silver key.
A paper tag hung from it.
LEO'S ELEVENTH BIRTHDAY.
Vincent took it.
“What does it open?”
Daniel went pale.
“No.”
Vincent looked at him.
“What?”
Daniel backed toward the door.
“That key can't be here.”
Claire's daughter began crying.
Daniel stared at the silver metal.
“Isabella was supposed to destroy it.”
Vincent's voice was deadly quiet.
“Tell me what it opens.”
Daniel swallowed.
“The vault beneath your father's chapel.”
“And what's inside?”
Daniel looked at Leo.
May you like
Then at me.
“The proof that Vincent Caruso wasn't supposed to inherit anything.”
