Chapter 3 - THE CODE FROM LUCA'S PRIVATE STUDY
Luca’s executive code was not supposed to exist outside his private study.
That was what Marco said.
It required a physical token kept inside a locked drawer.
A password Luca changed every Monday.
And a biometric confirmation from his office terminal.
Yet twenty-eight thousand dollars had moved under Luca’s authority while he slept three floors above.
Vanessa looked genuinely startled for half a second.
That mattered.
Either she was a better actress than I realized, or someone else had joined her plan.
Luca stood.
“Dinner is over.”
Nobody argued.
Guests rose carefully, politely, like people leaving a church after witnessing a funeral.
But Luca stopped one man.
“Father Bellini.”
Vanessa’s uncle froze near the doorway.
A silver-haired priest with expensive shoes.
“I need you to stay.”
Vanessa’s face changed again.
Fear.
Real fear.
Father Bellini turned slowly.
“Luca, surely this can wait.”
“No.”
The priest gave Vanessa one quick glance.
Too quick.
Not quick enough.
I saw it.
So did Luca.
When the guests left, only six of us remained.
Luca.
Vanessa.
Marco.
Father Bellini.
Me.
And Luca’s head of security, Enzo.
The mansion felt suddenly enormous.
Luca placed the catering contract, Marco’s forged resignation, and the deposit record in a row.
“Explain the transfer.”
Father Bellini smiled sadly.
“My nephew’s company must have received funds through a misunderstanding.”
“From my private code?”
“Technology confuses many people.”
“Not me.”
Silence.
Then Marco leaned forward.
“The code token is kept in your study, Luca.”
Luca’s eyes went to Vanessa.
She snapped:
“I have never been inside your desk.”
“That is not what I asked.”
“You haven’t asked anything.”
“Fine. Were you in my study this morning?”
“No.”
Too fast.
I remembered carrying fresh towels past the second-floor hall before breakfast.
Vanessa had been near the study door.
At the time, I thought nothing of it.
Now I said:
“I saw her outside the study at 7:30.”
Vanessa whipped toward me.
“You are becoming very comfortable speaking out of turn.”
Luca’s voice cut in.
“She is answering my question.”
Then I added:
“She wasn’t alone.”
Everyone looked at me.
I swallowed.
“There was a man with her.”
Luca’s security chief straightened.
“What man?”
“I didn’t see his face. Dark coat. Gray gloves.”
Vanessa’s lips parted.
I realized she had not known anyone saw.
Luca stepped closer to her.
“Who was with you?”
“No one.”
“Emma saw him.”
“She is lying.”
I almost laughed.
Her first weapon every time.
Then Father Bellini sighed.
“Enough.”
Vanessa turned sharply.
“Uncle—”
He raised one hand.
“She didn’t steal the code.”
Luca looked at him.
“Who did?”
The priest removed his glasses.
“Your brother.”
The room went still.
Luca’s brother, Matteo Moretti, had been dead for nine years.
At least, that was the story I had heard whispered downstairs.
Luca’s face lost every trace of expression.
“Choose your next words carefully.”
Father Bellini looked exhausted.
“Matteo is alive.”
Vanessa whispered:
“No.”
May you like
The priest ignored her.
“And he was inside this house this morning.”
