Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT EMMA VANISHEDThe darkness lasted eleven seconds.
Eleven seconds.
Enough time for someone to take a dog.
Enough time to open a door.
Enough time to change the entire story.
“Bruno!”
Luca's voice thundered through the study.
Emergency lights flickered on.
The dog was gone.
His leash lay on the floor.
Daniel ran toward the hallway.
“Lock the house!”
Security teams moved instantly.
I followed Luca.
“Bruno couldn't have walked away.”
“I know.”
Then something struck the back of my head.
The hallway spun.
I heard Luca shout my name.
Then everything went black.
When I woke, I was lying on a concrete floor.
My hands were tied.
A single bulb swung above me.
Bruno was in the corner.
Alive.
But locked inside a metal cage.
I struggled.
“Bruno.”
The dog lifted his head.
Then a voice came from the shadows.
“Still trying to save everyone?”
Vanessa stepped into the light.
She wasn't wearing the elegant red dress anymore.
She wore black.
No jewelry.
No smile.
I stared at her.
“Why?”
She crouched in front of me.
“Because your life is connected to something you don't even remember.”
“What are you talking about?”
She smiled.
“Your mother.”
“My mother died when I was a child.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you watching me?”
Vanessa tilted her head.
“You really don't remember?”
I shook my head.
She sighed.
“I hoped you wouldn't.”
She pulled a photograph from her pocket.
It showed me.
I was perhaps seven years old.
Standing beside Vivian Moretti.
And Bruno.
My mouth went dry.
“That isn't possible.”
Vanessa smiled.
“It is.”
I stared at the photograph.
Vivian had one arm around my shoulders.
She was smiling.
I was holding a small brass key.
The same shape as the key Luca had found.
“Who took this?”
“Your mother.”
“No.”
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“She did.”
“My mother never knew the Morettis.”
“She did.”
“Then why was I there?”
Vanessa leaned closer.
“Because your father worked for Luca's father.”
My heart pounded.
“My father?”
She nodded.
“He disappeared after the ledger was hidden.”
I felt numb.
“What happened to him?”
Vanessa smiled.
“He died.”
“Who killed him?”
Her eyes darkened.
“Vivian.”
I stared.
“No.”
“She was trying to protect Luca.”
“Why would she kill my father?”
“Because your father knew where the ledger was.”
Vanessa stood.
“And so did you.”
I laughed nervously.
“I was seven.”
“You saw where he hid the key.”
“I don't remember.”
“That was the point.”
She walked toward Bruno.
“Your father trusted the dog.”
She touched Bruno's collar.
“And your mother trusted you.”
I looked at her.
“What did my mother do to me?”
Vanessa turned.
“She made sure you forgot.”
The door opened.
Anthony entered.
“Vanessa.”
She looked at him.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Luca is here.”
Her expression changed.
“How?”
Anthony looked toward me.
“He followed the tracker.”
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
“Then kill the lights again.”
Anthony frowned.
“Why?”
Vanessa looked at Bruno.
Then at me.
“Because before Luca gets here, I need Emma to remember.”
She leaned close to my ear.
May you like
And whispered one sentence.
“The night your father died, you were there.”
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