Chapter 3 - The Secret Meeting at School
"He asked me whether Daddy ever gets angry," Isabella signed.
Her fingers moved carefully. The way they moved when she was afraid the answer might hurt someone.
Luca sat down across from her so their faces were level.
What did you tell him?
That you get angry when people lie.
A shadow crossed Luca's face.
And then?
He said it must be scary living with a man like you.
I saw Luca's fists close beneath the table. But when he raised his hands, his signing remained gentle.
Did anyone else see him?
My teacher. And Vanessa.
"Marco," Luca said quietly, "call the school. I want the visitor logs preserved."
An hour later, I sat beside Luca in the principal's office, my employment status suddenly feeling very small compared with Isabella's future. Mrs. Carter stayed with Isabella at home. The principal, Dr. Evelyn Shaw, had the pale, weary expression of a woman realizing her institution had made a terrible mistake.
"Senator Bellini was introduced as a family friend," she explained. "Miss Bellini told us he had Mr. Moretti's permission."
"Did you verify it with me?" Luca asked.
"No."
"Did he question my daughter without her father present?"
"A counselor was nearby."
"That isn't what I asked."
Dr. Shaw looked down.
I watched Luca struggle to control himself. The newspapers liked describing him as ruthless. Sitting here, I saw something much more human: a father who had trusted adults to protect his child and discovered they had failed her.
A counselor brought the visitor records. Senator Bellini had met with Isabella twice, not once. The first visit had taken place before the engagement party. The second, two days later.
"Why would he come back?" I asked.
The counselor hesitated. "He wanted to discuss a residential program for children with communication differences."
"You mean a school?" Luca demanded.
"A facility. He called it an opportunity."
I felt sick. "Did anyone explain to him that Isabella already attends school successfully, has friends, and communicates fluently in ASL?"
"He said the family was concerned about behavior."
"Her communication isn't a behavior problem," I said.
No one answered.
Dr. Shaw opened an email. "We can provide the correspondence to your attorney. And I owe your daughter an apology."
Outside, the cold Chicago wind struck my face like a slap.
Luca leaned against his car and exhaled slowly.
"I should have noticed," he said.
"She hid it because she was scared."
"I'm her father."
"Then be her father now. Not the man you wish you'd been three weeks ago."
He looked at me, stunned by my bluntness. I braced for his anger.
Instead, he nodded.
"You're right."
My phone vibrated. Mom's name lit the screen.
I answered immediately.
"Honey," she said, "did you send a man to check on me?"
"He's making sure you're safe."
"Claire, why would I need protection?"
I couldn't answer with Luca listening.
Then Mom's voice changed.
"Someone left flowers at my door."
"What kind?"
"White lilies. No card."
The same lilies arranged across the engagement tables.
My blood ran cold.
"Mom, lock your door. Don't open it for anyone."
Before she could respond, a crash sounded through the phone.
"Mom?"
A muffled cry.
Then silence.
Luca was beside me in an instant.
"Claire. What happened?"
I held the dead phone between us.
"Someone's inside her apartment."
May you like
He reached for his keys.
"Then we're going to Rockford. Now."
