Chapter 3 - THE FIRST LIEMarco returned three days later.
He entered the study carrying a thin black folder.
"Daniel Voss."
Luca glanced at it.
"That's all?"
"That's the problem."
Marco placed the folder on the desk.
"Most of the records are clean. Too clean."
Luca opened it.
Voss had been respected.
Published.
Rich.
Dead from a heart attack at sixty-eight.
Nothing remarkable.
Then Marco slid over another document.
"He owned a medical research company."
Luca looked up.
"I was never told that."
"It was registered through three holding companies."
"Why?"
Marco leaned against the desk.
"Because he was testing compounds."
Luca's eyes narrowed.
"What kind?"
"Neurological agents."
The room went still.
"What happened to the company?"
"Closed six months after you collapsed."
Luca stared at the page.
"Who inherited it?"
"His daughter."
"Name."
"Evelyn Voss."
Luca felt something cold settle in his chest.
"Find her."
"Already did."
Marco paused.
"She's still in Chicago."
"Where?"
"Working at St. Vincent's."
Luca closed the file.
"Bring her to me."
Marco hesitated.
"She may not come willingly."
Luca smiled without humor.
"Then ask politely first."
The next morning, a woman arrived at the estate.
Evelyn Voss was fifty-two.
Elegant.
Controlled.
She entered the study without appearing afraid.
"Mr. Costello."
Luca studied her.
"You knew my doctor."
"My father treated you."
"You've been at St. Vincent's for nineteen years."
"Yes."
"Did you know I was poisoned?"
Her expression did not move.
But her fingers tightened around her handbag.
Luca noticed.
"Poisoned?" she repeated.
"That's what I said."
"I don't know anything about that."
"Your father owned a neurological research company."
"Many doctors invest in research."
"Your company disappeared after I collapsed."
"Coincidence."
"Was it?"
She stood.
"I think this conversation is inappropriate."
Luca rolled closer.
"Sit."
She sat.
He opened the folder.
"The compound my new toxicologist suspects suppresses neural transmission without destroying the spinal pathways."
Evelyn's face went pale.
Only for a second.
But Luca saw it.
He closed the folder.
"Thank you."
She stood again.
"You've accused me of nothing."
"No."
"Then why am I here?"
"Because I needed to see your face when I said the word poison."
She froze.
Luca smiled.
"You've given me exactly what I needed."
She turned to leave.
Then stopped.
"My father believed you were going to destroy everything."
Luca's expression changed.
"Everything?"
She looked back.
"He said you were becoming too powerful."
"Your father worked for me."
"He worked for many people."
"Who?"
She hesitated.
Then she whispered:
"Anthony."
Luca's blood went cold.
Anthony Costello.
His younger brother.
The man who had taken over almost every visible operation of the family after Luca became paralyzed.
The man who had always claimed loyalty.
The man Luca had trusted with his life.
For twelve years, Anthony had told everyone that Luca's survival was a miracle.
He had stood beside his hospital bed.
He had managed the empire.
He had attended every birthday.
Every funeral.
Every board meeting.
Luca's brother.
His protector.
His shadow.
Evelyn looked at him.
"I never told anyone because my father made me promise."
"Promise what?"
"That I would never say his name."
"Why?"
"Because he said if the wrong people knew what he had done, they'd kill me."
Luca stared at her.
"Who are the wrong people?"
Evelyn reached the door.
"You already know."
Then she left.
Luca sat motionless.
A minute later, Marco entered.
"You heard?"
"Yes."
Marco's jaw tightened.
"Anthony?"
"Possibly."
Then a small voice came from the doorway.
"Mr. Costello?"
Maya.
She was standing there.
She looked worried.
"Why is everybody acting weird?"
Luca looked at her.
May you like
He suddenly understood how dangerous the world around him really was.
And for the first time, he realized Maya might be in it.
