Chapter 11 - The Brother Who Was BlamedSaint Agnes stood on a hill outside the city.
A private institution surrounded by iron fencing and dead trees.
Dominic arrived with six armed men.
The director refused them entry.
Until Matteo placed the ledger on the desk.
The director went pale.
“You should leave.”
Dominic's voice was cold.
“Take us to Claire Gallagher.”
“She isn't here anymore.”
“Where is she?”
The director looked at Matteo.
Then at the ledger.
“You don't understand.”
“Explain.”
“She was transferred last night.”
“To where?”
“I don't know.”
Dominic slammed his hand onto the desk.
Matteo caught his arm.
“Think.”
Dominic stared at him.
“I've spent twenty-six years thinking.”
“Then think faster.”
Norah found an old patient file in the archive.
Claire Gallagher.
Admitted October 18, 2000.
Age nineteen.
Diagnosis: acute trauma.
Guardian: Rosa Bellandi.
But there was another document.
A transfer authorization.
Signed by Victor De Luca.
Norah looked up.
“This was forged.”
“Why?”
“Because Victor didn't need to own the hospital.”
She pointed to the signatures.
“He owned the records.”
Matteo looked impressed.
Norah ignored him.
“Where was she transferred?”
The director hesitated.
Norah held up the ledger.
“Give me the location.”
He whispered:
“Bellandi House.”
Rosa suddenly became pale.
“That place burned twenty years ago.”
“Then why is she there?”
Rosa looked at Matteo.
Because he already knew.
“You sent her.”
Rosa nodded.
“To protect her.”
Dominic stared at his mother.
“You hid Claire from me too?”
“I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice.”
Rosa's eyes hardened.
“No, Dominic. I had one child disappear. I wasn't going to lose another.”
The room fell silent.
They drove to Bellandi House.
The mansion had been burned almost completely.
Only the basement remained.
Norah descended the stairs.
A single room waited below.
Inside was a bed.
Medicine.
A radio.
And photographs.
Photographs of Norah.
Every birthday.
Every school event.
Every graduation.
Someone had watched her entire life.
Norah felt sick.
“He was monitoring me.”
Rosa nodded.
“Victor.”
Dominic looked at the photographs.
“He knew where she lived.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't he take her?”
Rosa's voice became quiet.
“Because he was waiting for something.”
“What?”
A voice answered from behind them.
“For the ledger.”
Everyone turned.
Elena stood at the bottom of the stairs.
She was holding a gun.
Dominic stared.
“Elena.”
Her face was covered in tears.
“I didn't want to betray you.”
“Then lower the weapon.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
She pointed at Norah.
“Because Victor has my brother.”
Norah stepped forward.
“He's alive?”
Elena nodded.
“Barely.”
Dominic lowered his weapon.
“Call Victor.”
“He wants the ledger.”
“You'll give it to him.”
“No.”
Elena's hands shook.
“I'll give him myself.”
She placed the gun against her own chest.
Norah shouted.
“Don't!”
Elena pulled the trigger.
Click.
Empty.
She collapsed, sobbing.
Dominic caught her.
Then a phone rang.
A voice came through.
Victor.
“You should have known the gun wasn't loaded.”
Norah stared at Elena.
Victor continued.
“Because Elena was never my inside woman.”
Matteo's face changed.
“Then who?”
Victor laughed.
“Your brother.”
Dominic went still.
“My brother?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
May you like
Then Victor said:
“Ask Matteo who really opened the gate twenty-six years ago.”
