Chapter 4 - EVELYN HAD BEEN CHOSEN BEFORE SHE BOARDED
Evelyn stared at the photograph until the room seemed to narrow around her.
Three weeks earlier.
Same navy coat.
Same canvas grocery bag.
She remembered that day because it had been raining.
“Why would anyone photograph me?”
Marco did not answer.
Antonio had insisted on being moved to a private hospital room before speaking with her by secure video.
He looked pale.
Angry.
Alive.
Evelyn found that last part inconveniently relieving.
“Do you recognize the phrase?” he asked.
“Foster Girl?”
“Yes.”
“No.”
Antonio studied her face.
“You’re sure?”
“My last name is Foster. I grew up in Brooklyn. There’s nothing mysterious about it.”
He did not look convinced.
Evelyn became irritated.
“If your family has been investigating me, say it.”
“We haven’t.”
“Then someone has.”
Antonio looked at Marco.
“Find out who.”
Within two hours they had an answer.
Not a complete one.
Daniel Rusk had paid a private investigator in New York to follow Evelyn for twenty-three days.
The instructions were narrow.
Work schedule.
Residence.
Family connections.
Whether she traveled regularly to Italy.
That final question made no sense.
Evelyn had been to Italy once in college.
She said so.
Antonio asked:
“Your parents?”
“Dead.”
“Grandparents?”
“My mother’s family was from New Jersey. My father never knew his father.”
Antonio’s gaze changed.
“What was your father’s name?”
“Thomas Foster.”
Marco quietly began searching.
Evelyn noticed.
“Stop.”
Antonio said, “Marco.”
Marco stopped typing.
Evelyn took a breath.
“You do not get to investigate my dead father because someone attacked you.”
Antonio’s expression softened slightly.
“You are correct.”
The apology surprised her.
Then her phone rang.
Unknown international number.
She rejected it.
It rang again.
Marco nodded toward it.
“Answer on speaker.”
“No.”
“Evelyn.”
“I don’t take security instructions from strangers.”
Antonio said quietly, “Then take one from the man whose death may have been connected to your photograph.”
She answered.
A woman spoke in Italian-accented English.
“Evelyn Foster?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Sofia Leone.”
Antonio immediately sat upright.
Dr. Leone’s daughter.
Sofia continued.
“My father is missing.”
Marco moved closer.
“When?”
“This morning.”
Sofia was crying.
“He left me a message.”
“What did it say?”
“He said if something happened, I was supposed to find Evelyn Foster.”
Evelyn felt the room tilt.
“Why me?”
Sofia’s answer came slowly.
“Because my father knew your real family name.”
Silence.
Evelyn gripped the phone.
“My family name is Foster.”
“No.”
Sofia inhaled.
“My father said your father changed it.”
Antonio’s eyes locked onto Evelyn.
May you like
Sofia whispered the secret.
“Your father was born Thomas Vitelli.”
