Chapter 7 - THE ROOM SHE WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO LEAVE
Isabella Conti hadn't wanted the west bedroom because of its balcony.
She wanted what was hidden beneath its floor.
Dante discovered the truth when Leo brought him footage from an older security camera in the hallway.
At 2:19 a.m., Isabella had entered Sophia's bedroom carrying a small black bag.
She remained inside for forty-three minutes.
When she emerged, her hands were dirty.
Dante watched the recording twice.
"She searched the room."
Leo nodded.
"Maintenance found fresh scratches near the window."
Dante went upstairs.
He examined the floorboards beneath the old radiator.
One panel had been loosened.
He removed it carefully.
Below lay a narrow compartment.
Empty.
Almost.
A torn corner of yellowed paper remained caught beneath a nail.
Dante pulled it free.
The handwriting was familiar.
His father's.
If the child returns, the west room will protect what belongs to her.
Dante stared.
Sophia had slept in that room for months without knowing what it concealed.
And Isabella had used Dante's own permission to search it.
He turned toward Leo.
"Find out what she took."
Meanwhile, at the Wisconsin lake house, Sophia walked along the porch with her mother's letter in her hands.
She had read it six times.
Each reading brought more questions.
Daniel joined her.
"Your mother wanted you to have a peaceful life."
Sophia looked at the water.
"She spent her whole life running."
"She spent it keeping you safe."
Sophia shook her head.
"And now I'm supposed to inherit money from people who wanted me dead?"
"You don't have to accept any of it."
She looked at him.
"What if I want the truth instead?"
Daniel smiled sadly.
"Then you're exactly like Margaret."
Her phone vibrated.
Dante.
Another message.
Sophia, I was wrong.
She stared at the words.
A second message arrived.
You didn't deserve what happened.
Then a third.
I won't ask you to come back. But you're in danger, and I need to explain why.
Sophia almost replied.
Almost.
Then Daniel's phone rang.
He stepped inside to answer.
Sophia heard his voice rise.
"What do you mean the documents are missing?"
A pause.
"Who accessed the archive?"
Another pause.
Then Daniel appeared in the doorway.
His face had gone pale.
"Sophia, come inside."
"What's happened?"
He held up his phone.
A photograph showed an old legal document recovered from a private auction broker.
Across the top were the words:
CUSTODY TRANSFER AGREEMENT — SOPHIA CONTI.
Beneath the document appeared two signatures.
Margaret Bennett.
And Anthony Romano.
But the third signature made Sophia's stomach drop.
May you like
DANTE ROMANO.
Dated eighteen months earlier.
