Chapter 13 - The Man Behind the Restaurant
The restaurant where Elena had worked for four months was connected to the man who had taken her from Lucia.
She felt sick.
"Daniel Ross owns part of Leto's?"
Rebecca nodded.
"Through an investment company."
Aleandro's expression hardened.
"That explains how Richard knew where to find her."
Elena looked toward him.
"Was Richard working for my father?"
"Possibly."
Detective Mitchell obtained additional records.
They showed that Daniel Ross had invested in several hospitality businesses.
One of them employed Richard Sloan.
The same man investigators believed was Carlo Venturi.
Elena stared at the documents.
"Then my father and Carlo were working together."
Rebecca nodded carefully.
"That's what the evidence suggests."
The investigation took another dramatic turn when authorities located a former accountant named Nathan Brooks.
Nathan had worked for Daniel twenty-two years earlier.
He agreed to provide a statement.
According to Nathan, Daniel had been involved in a scheme to redirect money from Lucia's charity.
When Lucia discovered the fraud, Daniel feared she'd expose him.
He also knew that her daughter might eventually inherit rights connected to the foundation.
"Elena was a baby," Elena whispered.
Nathan lowered his eyes.
"I know."
"Then why would he involve me?"
"Because he believed controlling your identity would help him control the money."
Elena felt cold.
For twenty-two years, she'd believed she was simply unwanted.
Now she understood she'd been treated like a financial obstacle.
Nathan continued.
"Daniel intended to place you with someone he trusted. But Lucia reached Saint Jude's before he could complete the arrangement."
Elena frowned.
"Then why did Lucia say he took me?"
"That may have happened during the confusion. I wasn't present."
Rebecca nodded.
"We'll need to verify the sequence."
Elena appreciated that.
She didn't want another story built from half-truths.
She wanted evidence.
Not guesses.
Over the following days, investigators recovered additional financial records.
The documents supported allegations that Daniel and Carlo had manipulated charitable accounts and helped conceal Lucia's whereabouts.
Daniel's business interests were frozen pending legal proceedings.
Richard's suspected identity as Carlo Venturi was confirmed through fingerprints and archived records.
Then police located Richard.
He was trying to leave the country.
He was arrested at the airport.
But Daniel remained missing.
Elena felt increasingly uneasy.
He had known where she worked.
He may have known where she lived.
And he had spent years hiding the truth.
One evening, Elena returned to her Queens apartment.
Basil greeted her at the door.
She knelt to pet him.
Then noticed something strange.
Her kitchen window was open.
She was certain she'd closed it.
Elena slowly backed toward the hallway.
Her phone was already in her hand.
She called the police.
Then left the apartment without touching anything else.
When officers arrived, they found signs someone had searched her bedroom.
Drawers stood open.
Books lay on the floor.
The silver locket's empty jewelry box had been opened.
Elena felt sick.
Someone had been looking for it.
But she had the necklace with her.
Always.
Detective Mitchell arrived.
"Did you notice anything missing?"
Elena shook her head.
"Not yet."
Then she remembered a small envelope she'd kept beneath her mattress.
The photograph of Lucia holding her as a baby.
She hurriedly explained where it should have been.
An officer checked.
The envelope was gone.
Elena covered her mouth.
"Why would someone take that?"
Mitchell looked serious.
"Because it may contain information we haven't identified."
Elena's heart pounded.
Then her phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
You have your mother.
Now give me what belongs to me.
Elena stared.
Another message followed.
The necklace.
Her hands trembled.
Then the final message arrived.
You should have stayed Sofia.
Elena stopped breathing.
Because the person sending the messages knew both names.
The name she'd been given at Saint Jude's.
And the name Lucia had chosen before she was born.
Then her phone rang.
She answered on speaker with Detective Mitchell beside her.
A man's voice whispered:
"Hello, sweetheart."
Elena's blood turned cold.
"My name is Daniel Rossi."
May you like
A pause.
"And I'm your father."
