Chapter 6 - The Doctor Wasn't the Only One Lying
The death of Dr. Russo changed everything.
His body was found in a private clinic owned by one of the companies connected to Meridian.
There were no fingerprints.
No weapon.
No obvious motive.
But inside his pocket was a photograph.
Me.
Mia.
Alessandro.
And another woman.
I recognized her immediately.
Harper.
Greta's assistant.
The woman who had been working in the mansion for nearly twelve years.
I looked at Alessandro.
“Everyone around me has been lying.”
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“We'll find out.”
We returned to the mansion.
Greta was still in custody.
I confronted her.
“Did you know about Harper?”
Greta's eyes filled with tears.
“She was the one who recruited me.”
“For Meridian?”
“Yes.”
“What about Victor?”
“He worked for her.”
“And Dr. Russo?”
“He worked for someone above her.”
“Who?”
Greta shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Alessandro stepped into the room.
“She does.”
Greta looked at him.
“You know what your father taught me?”
“What?”
“Never trust the first confession.”
Alessandro placed the photograph on the table.
Greta stared.
“Where did you get that?”
“Dr. Russo.”
She looked afraid.
“Then we're already too late.”
“What does that mean?”
“The council knows.”
“What council?”
“The people who run Meridian.”
Alessandro's voice became cold.
“How many?”
“Seven.”
“Names?”
Greta shook her head.
“I only know one.”
“Who?”
She whispered:
“Senator Adrian Bell.”
I recognized the name.
A powerful senator.
A man who had attended charity events at the Conti mansion.
A man who had once complimented my cooking.
A man I had never thought twice about.
Alessandro made a call.
Within hours, records were pulled.
Bell had financial ties to shipping companies.
He had been involved with Judge Whitmore.
He had met Adrian Vale.
And he had been in Chicago the night my father died.
Everything connected.
But we still needed evidence.
Harper appeared suddenly at the mansion.
She surrendered.
“I want protection.”
Alessandro looked at her.
“From whom?”
“Everyone.”
She handed over a file.
“Meridian is preparing to take the ports.”
“Why now?”
“Because they believe Alessandro is vulnerable.”
Harper looked at me.
“They believe you are his weakness.”
I hated hearing that.
Alessandro didn't react.
Harper continued.
“They plan to abduct Mia during the charity gala tomorrow.”
My blood froze.
“The gala?”
“It is hosted by Senator Bell.”
Alessandro's eyes turned cold.
“We'll go.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I want them to believe I am vulnerable.”
“You want to use me as bait.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“I'll be there.”
“You can't guarantee everything.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“But I can guarantee one thing.”
He took my hands.
“I will not let them touch her.”
I swallowed.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
The gala was held at a historic museum.
Hundreds of guests.
Security everywhere.
Cameras.
Reporters.
Politicians.
Businessmen.
And Senator Bell.
Alessandro wore a black suit.
I wore a red dress.
Mia stayed with two trusted guards in a secure room.
Everything seemed controlled.
Then Harper whispered:
“Something's wrong.”
“What?”
“The guest list.”
She handed me a phone.
One name had been added.
Nora Hayes.
I stared.
“My name was already there.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“This one says Nora Hayes, guest of Adrian Bell.”
I looked up.
Bell was watching me.
He smiled.
Alessandro noticed.
“Stay close.”
Bell approached.
“Mrs. Conti.”
I froze.
“We're not married.”
“Not yet.”
Alessandro stepped between us.
“Senator.”
Bell laughed.
“I've always admired your father.”
“He would have disliked you.”
Bell's smile vanished.
“Perhaps.”
He walked away.
Minutes later, the museum lights went out.
A scream came from the secure room.
Mia.
I ran.
Alessandro followed.
The door was open.
The guards were unconscious.
Mia was gone.
I screamed her name.
Alessandro stood completely still.
Then he noticed something on the floor.
A broken stuffed rabbit.
He picked it up.
Inside was a note.
WE TOOK WHAT BELONGS TO MERIDIAN.
My knees gave out.
Alessandro caught me.
“I'll bring her back.”
“I can't do this again.”
“You won't.”
He looked at Dom.
“Seal Chicago.”
Dom nodded.
“No one leaves.”
“Find every camera.”
“Yes.”
“Find every vehicle.”
“Yes.”
“And bring me Adrian Bell.”
We returned to the mansion.
Bell was already there.
Sitting in the great hall.
Drinking coffee.
As if he owned the place.
Alessandro walked toward him.
“Where is my daughter?”
Bell smiled.
“You mean the girl who carries the key?”
Alessandro's face became terrifyingly calm.
“Where.”
“I don't have her.”
“Then who does?”
Bell smiled.
“You're asking the wrong question.”
He looked at me.
“You should ask who gave us access.”
My blood froze.
Greta was missing.
Harper was missing.
And the mansion's front gate camera had captured only one person leaving.
Me.
Except I hadn't left.
Alessandro looked at the footage.
The woman looked exactly like me.
Same hair.
Same dress.
Same walk.
He turned toward me.
“Nora.”
I shook my head.
“That isn't me.”
Then I remembered something.
My mother used to say:
There are some faces the world can copy.
But not a mother's voice.
Mia had been taught to recognize one thing.
My voice.
A recording could imitate it.
And someone had used mine to lure her away.
Alessandro looked at me.
“Where's the recording?”
I understood.
“They used my voice.”
He nodded.
“And whoever did it knew how you speak.”
I whispered:
“Harper.”
A door opened behind us.
Harper stood there.
May you like
Smiling.
Mia was in her arms.
