Chapter 9 - THE MOTHER WHO WAS BURIED TWICE
Vincent stared at the account information.
His mother, Isabella Moretti, had been dead for seven years.
He remembered the funeral, the flowers, and the sealed coffin his father insisted nobody open.
He remembered standing beside Anthony while the priest spoke.
He remembered his father whispering, "She's finally at peace."
Now a federal investigator was telling him that the woman buried in the family mausoleum might never have been his mother.
"Find the death certificate," Vincent ordered.
Dana shook her head.
"We already did. It was issued by a private physician whose license was revoked two years later."
"Why?"
"Fraudulent medical records."
Claire looked at him.
"Did your father know?"
Vincent's face tightened.
"I don't know."
For the first time, his empire felt like a building constructed on sand.
Dana obtained a court order to exhume the remains.
The results arrived two days later.
The coffin contained the body of an unidentified woman.
Not Isabella.
Vincent read the report in silence.
Then he walked outside and stood beneath the rain.
Claire followed him.
"Vincent."
He shook his head.
"I don't know who my mother is anymore."
She stood beside him without touching him.
"You don't have to solve everything tonight."
He looked at her.
"You have every reason to hate my family."
"I don't hate you."
"You should."
Claire's voice softened.
"I need you to tell me the truth. That's all."
He nodded.
"I will."
A call came from Dana.
A witness had contacted investigators.
An elderly nurse who had worked at the private clinic where Isabella was last seen.
The nurse claimed Isabella had been transferred to a facility in Michigan under a false name.
She also claimed Anthony Moretti had visited her twice.
The second visit occurred three days after Elizabeth Hayes died.
Vincent went pale.
"Did my father hurt her?"
"We don't know," Dana replied. "But the nurse kept a personal journal."
The journal was delivered that evening.
Inside was a photograph of Isabella sitting in a wheelchair.
She looked older, thinner, and frightened.
On the back, someone had written:
I know what happened to Elizabeth. I know what Richard did. And I know who ordered the final shipment.
Claire turned the page.
A name appeared beneath the note.
Not Anthony Moretti.
Not Richard Vale.
Not Thomas Hayes.
It was the name of the man who had signed Claire and Vincent's marriage license as a witness.
Leo Bennett.
Vincent stared at his trusted security chief's name.
Then his phone rang.
Leo's voice sounded strained.
"Boss, I need you to come to the estate."
"Why?"
May you like
A long silence followed.
Then Leo whispered, "Because I know where Lily is."
