Chapter 8: The Woman Who Knew Isabella's Secret
The first thing Adrian noticed about the man was that he never ate in front of him.
He brought food, placed it on the floor, and waited until Adrian had taken a few bites before leaving the room.
It reminded Adrian of Eleanor.
But the man did not shout when Adrian refused to eat. He did not threaten to throw the food away. He simply sat in the chair by the wall and watched him with tired eyes.
On Friday morning, Adrian pushed the plate away.
"I'm not hungry.""
The man folded his hands.
"That's what you told Margaret, isn't it?""
Adrian's head snapped up.
"How do you know Margaret?""
"I know more about your family than you think.""
"Then tell me your name.""
The man hesitated.
"Michael.""
"Michael what?""
"Michael Reed.""
Adrian studied him.
"Are you going to hurt me?""
Michael looked down at his hands.
"No.""
"Then why am I here?""
Michael did not answer immediately.
He stood, walked to the window, and checked the narrow strip of street visible through the curtain.
"Because your family has been lying to you for a very long time.""
Adrian clutched the stuffed rabbit against his chest.
"My daddy doesn't lie.""
Michael turned.
"Your father has been lied to. That's not the same thing.""
"Then let me call him.""
"I can't do that yet.""
Adrian's eyes filled with tears.
"Everybody says that.""
Michael's face tightened.
"Who else said it?""
"Eleanor. She said she'd let me call Daddy after I learned to behave.""
Michael sat down again.
"And did she?""
Adrian shook his head.
"No.""
For several seconds, Michael looked as though he wanted to say something but could not find the words.
Then he reached into his jacket and removed a photograph.
It showed a younger Victor standing beside Isabella in front of the Romano mansion. Isabella was holding a baby wrapped in a yellow blanket.
Adrian leaned forward.
"That's my mother.""
"Yes.""
"Why do you have that?""
"Because I was there when this picture was taken.""
Adrian stared at him.
"Who are you really?""
Michael looked at the photograph.
"My real name is Michael Reed. I worked for your grandfather before your father took over the company.""
"What did you do?""
"I handled private security and sensitive records. Things your family didn't want discussed in public.""
Adrian's voice dropped.
"Did you work for Eleanor?""
Michael shook his head.
"No. I worked for Isabella.""
The boy went still.
Michael continued.
"Your mother discovered something about the family trust. Something she believed could destroy the people responsible for your uncle's death.""
"But Uncle Anthony is dead.""
Michael's eyes lifted.
"Are you certain?""
Adrian thought about the man who had taken him to the boathouse. The silver watch. The strange way Eleanor had spoken about his uncle.
"No," he whispered.
Michael nodded.
"Good. Never be certain about something just because an adult tells you it is true.""
Adrian looked down at the photograph.
"Did my mother know Uncle Anthony was alive?""
Michael's silence answered him.
Then he said, "She knew he might be.""
Adrian's hands began to tremble.
"Is that why she died?""
Michael leaned forward.
"Listen to me carefully. I don't know everything that happened the night your mother died. But I know she was afraid. And I know she left evidence for your father.""
"What evidence?""
"A recording.""
Adrian stared at him.
"Where is it?""
Michael reached into his pocket and produced a small brass key.
"Your mother hid it somewhere only you might recognize.""
"Me?""
"You were very young, but she used to sing you a song whenever you were frightened. She told me that if anything happened to her, you would remember where she sang it.""
Adrian shook his head.
"I don't remember.""
Michael's expression softened.
"That's all right. You don't have to remember everything at once.""
Then he stood and walked toward the door.
"Eat something. We may need to leave soon.""
Adrian looked at the photograph again.
"Michael?""
The man stopped.
"Will you take me home?""
Michael looked back at him.
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Before tonight is over.""
But as he opened the door, another man's voice came from the corridor.
"That's a promise you shouldn't make.""
Michael turned sharply.
A figure stood at the end of the hall.
Martin Shaw.
He wore a dark coat and carried a leather briefcase. His expression was calm, almost amused.
Michael moved in front of Adrian.
"You're not supposed to be here.""
Martin smiled.
"Neither are you.""
He looked past Michael toward the boy.
"Hello, Adrian.""
Adrian shrank against the wall.
Martin set his briefcase on a table.
"I've brought you something.""
He opened it and removed a folder containing photographs of the Romano mansion, Victor's office, and the family cemetery.
The final photograph showed the open grave.
Adrian stared at it.
"Why did you do that?""
Martin's smile disappeared.
"Because your father has a habit of digging up things that should remain buried.""
Michael reached into his jacket.
Martin raised one hand.
"Don't.""
Two men emerged from the stairwell behind him.
Both wore dark clothing.
Michael slowly lowered his hand.
Martin looked at Adrian.
"Your father has until midnight to bring me the original trust agreement. If he refuses, you will be sent somewhere he will never find you.""
Adrian's voice shook.
"Daddy will come.""
Martin crouched until they were eye to eye.
"Your father has already lost his brother, his company, and his reputation. Do you really think he can save you?""
Adrian swallowed.
"Yes.""
For a moment, Martin looked genuinely irritated.
Then he stood.
"Take him to the other room.""
The two men moved forward.
Michael stepped between them.
"You'll have to go through me.""
Martin sighed.
"I was hoping you wouldn't make this difficult.""
He nodded toward the men.
They seized Michael's arms.
Adrian screamed.
"Stop! Leave him alone!""
Martin turned toward the boy.
"See what happens when people interfere? They get hurt.""
Michael struggled against the men.
"Adrian, remember what I told you. Your mother left you something. Don't let them take it.""
One of the men struck Michael across the face.
He fell against the wall.
Martin picked up the photograph of Isabella and Victor, folded it in half, and placed it in his pocket.
"Bring the boy.""
As Adrian was dragged from the room, he looked back at Michael.
The man was still conscious.
His lips moved.
Though Adrian could barely hear him, he understood the words.
Find the song.
At the Romano mansion, Victor was sitting across from Eleanor when Detective Mitchell entered with a forensic report.
Eleanor had demanded a formal interview with her attorney present. She insisted she was the victim of Victor's increasingly erratic behavior and claimed she had never seen the silver cart recording.
Victor sat motionless while the detective placed a document on the table.
"Mrs. Romano, we have a preliminary DNA result from the exhumation.""
Eleanor's face remained composed.
"How unfortunate.""
"The remains in Anthony Romano's grave do not match Victor's reference sample as a sibling comparison.""
Victor looked up.
"What does that mean?""
"The preliminary result excludes the remains as your biological brother, with high confidence. We are conducting additional testing to establish identity.""
Victor stared at Eleanor.
She picked up her glass of water.
"How tragic.""
Victor's voice dropped.
"Stop pretending.""
She set the glass down.
"Excuse me?""
"You knew.""
Eleanor looked at him.
"You knew Anthony might be alive.""
She did not answer.
Victor leaned forward.
"Did you help him fake his death?""
Her attorney interrupted.
"My client will not answer questions based on speculation.""
Detective Mitchell opened another folder.
"Then perhaps she'll answer questions about these.""
She placed photographs of the boathouse, the hidden recording device, and the forged trust documents on the table.
Eleanor glanced at them.
For the first time, her composure faltered.
Mitchell continued.
"We have evidence of financial transfers from the family trust to Northbridge Youth Services. We also have audio recordings discussing the planned removal of Adrian Romano.""
Eleanor's attorney leaned toward her and whispered.
She ignored him.
"Victor, you have no idea what Anthony is capable of.""
Victor stared at her.
"Then tell me.""
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
"Your brother destroyed everything he touched. He lied to your father. He manipulated Isabella. He used people until there was nothing left to take.""
"Then why did you help him?""
"Because I had no choice.""
Victor's expression hardened.
"You always have a choice.""
Eleanor looked at him for a long moment.
Then she laughed bitterly.
"You really believe that, don't you? You think money makes you untouchable. You think your name protects everyone you love.""
She leaned forward.
"Do you know why Isabella died?""
Victor went completely still.
Detective Mitchell looked up sharply.
"Mrs. Romano, be careful.""
But Eleanor had already begun.
"She discovered what Anthony was doing. She found the original trust agreement and learned that your father had left him a controlling interest in the company under certain conditions.""
Victor frowned.
"What conditions?""
"Anthony had to remain alive, solvent, and legally competent. If he was declared dead, his shares would transfer to you.""
Victor stared at her.
"That isn't what the agreement said.""
"You never read the original. You read Martin's summary.""
Victor felt the room tilt.
Eleanor continued.
"Anthony believed your father had changed the agreement to favor you. Isabella discovered that the signature on the amended document was forged.""
"Who forged it?""
Eleanor's lips parted.
Then she looked toward the detective.
"I want immunity.""
Mitchell's expression became cold.
"You don't get immunity by withholding evidence.""
"Then I have nothing to say.""
Victor stood.
"Where is my son?""
Eleanor looked at him.
For several seconds, the mask slipped completely.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"Not this time.""
She leaned closer.
"Anthony took him. Martin arranged it. I was supposed to make sure you stayed occupied until they completed the transfer.""
Victor stared at her.
"Transfer of what?""
"The company.""
"Adrian isn't part of the company.""
Eleanor's eyes hardened.
"He is the heir.""
She paused.
"Your father changed the trust after Isabella discovered the forgery. If you died, or if you were declared legally incompetent, control of your voting shares would pass to Adrian's guardian until he turned eighteen.""
Victor slowly understood.
The forged documents were not merely intended to remove Adrian from the household.
They were designed to place him under a guardian controlled by Martin and Anthony.
The boy was the key to the company.
And Victor's enemies were willing to use him as leverage.
Detective Mitchell rose.
"Mrs. Romano, you're under arrest for conspiracy, financial fraud, and suspected involvement in the attempted abduction of a minor.""
Eleanor stood abruptly.
"You can't arrest me. I'm his stepmother.""
"That does not give you immunity from the law.""
As the officers approached, Eleanor turned toward Victor.
"You think you've won?""
Victor said nothing.
She leaned close enough for him to hear her final words.
"Ask Isabella why she hid the recording in Adrian's room. Then ask yourself why she never told you what she knew about your brother.""
The officers escorted her away.
Victor remained at the table, staring at the photographs.
Detective Mitchell returned to his side.
"She may be trying to manipulate you.""
"Perhaps.""
"Don't assume everything she said is true.""
Victor nodded.
Then he looked at the old photograph of Isabella holding baby Adrian.
"There's one place she might have hidden something.""
"Where?""
Victor stood.
"The nursery.""
The nursery had remained almost untouched since Isabella's death.
Victor had kept the pale yellow curtains, the wooden rocking chair, and the small music box she used to play when Adrian was an infant.
He entered the room with Margaret and Detective Mitchell close behind.
For years, he had avoided spending more than a few minutes there. The room reminded him of everything he had lost, and he had convinced himself that leaving it untouched was a way of honoring his wife.
Now he saw it differently.
He had preserved the room.
He had not protected the truth.
Victor opened the wardrobe.
Inside were old blankets, baby clothes, and a box of toys.
Margaret lifted the music box from the shelf.
"Is this the song Michael mentioned?""
Victor looked at her.
"Who is Michael?""
"The man who took Adrian. He said Isabella left a recording and that Adrian would remember a song.""
Victor took the music box.
He turned the key.
A soft melody filled the room.
Adrian had once fallen asleep to it every night.
Victor sat in the rocking chair and closed his eyes.
Then he remembered something Isabella used to do whenever the melody ended.
She would lift Adrian from his crib, walk to the window, and sing the final four lines herself.
The words came back to Victor slowly.
When the moon hides from the sea,
Find the place where shadows sleep.
Count the stars that guard the door,
And you'll find what love kept for you.
Victor opened his eyes.
"There's a place she used to call the star room.""
Margaret frowned.
"The old observatory?""
Victor nodded.
It had been built above the mansion's eastern wing, a small circular room where Isabella had taken Adrian to watch the night sky.
No one had used it since her death.
Victor hurried toward the staircase.
But before he reached the door, his phone vibrated.
A message from the unknown number.
You found the wrong room.
A second message appeared.
Your son is with us now.
Then a photograph arrived.
Adrian stood beside a window, holding his stuffed rabbit.
Behind him was a tall grandfather clock.
Victor recognized it immediately.
The clock had once stood in the library of his father's old riverfront house.
The house had been demolished five years earlier.
Or so Victor had believed.
He looked at Detective Mitchell.
"Anthony isn't hiding in the city.""
"Where is he?""
Victor stared at the photograph.
"He's been living in the one place my family never thought to search.""
He enlarged the image.
The clock's brass face showed the time.
11:47.
May you like
Beneath the photograph was a final message.
*Bring the original trust agreement to the river house by midnight, or Adrian will learn what really happened to his mother.*
