Chapter 11 - THE DOCTOR WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Dr. Samuel Bennett had been Matteo's physician for years.
He'd examined me after I collapsed.
Discovered the suspicious capsules.
And insisted I receive medical care.
Now investigators had uncovered records connecting him to Isabella Marino's original poisoning.
The room went silent.
Dr. Bennett stared at Luca.
“That isn't what happened.”
Matteo looked at him.
“Explain.”
The doctor swallowed.
“I was a junior physician eleven years ago. Antonio ordered the treatment. I questioned it.”
“Did you administer it?”
Bennett closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
My stomach tightened.
Matteo's face hardened.
“You gave my mother something that made her sick?”
“I was told it was prescribed.”
“Did you verify it?”
Bennett lowered his head.
“No.”
For several seconds, Matteo said nothing.
Then he turned toward the investigators.
“He needs to give a formal statement.”
Bennett nodded.
“I will.”
I looked at the doctor.
“Did you know someone was tampering with my vitamins?”
He shook his head immediately.
“No. When I recognized the capsules were inconsistent, I suspected someone was repeating the old method.”
My hands began trembling.
“Why didn't you warn Matteo about what happened to his mother?”
The doctor looked ashamed.
“Because I was afraid of Antonio.”
I stared at him.
“My life was at risk because people kept choosing silence.”
Bennett lowered his head.
“You're right.”
Investigators interviewed him extensively.
His testimony helped identify altered medical records, suspicious prescriptions, and payments connected to Antonio Marino.
But it also revealed something unexpected.
Isabella's apparent death had been staged as part of a larger conspiracy.
Antonio wanted control of the trust.
He needed Matteo to believe his mother was gone.
And he needed Gabriel to disappear from the family records.
Daniel Parker had discovered the plan.
He'd tried to expose it.
Instead, he was threatened, forced into hiding, and separated from his daughter.
Me.
By evening, police had secured additional evidence.
Antonio Marino was detained while attempting to leave the state.
But before I could celebrate, Luca received another call.
His expression changed.
“Boss…”
Matteo turned.
“What?”
“They found Isabella.”
Matteo stopped breathing.
“Alive?”
Luca nodded.
“Yes.”
Gabriel began crying.
Matteo gripped the back of a chair.
“Where?”
“At the Albany facility. She's being evaluated.”
I covered my mouth.
But Luca wasn't finished.
“There's something else.”
My heart tightened.
“What?”
“Isabella has been asking for Naomi.”
I stared at him.
“Me?”
Luca nodded.
“She says Naomi knows where the final evidence is hidden.”
I swallowed.
“Where?”
Then Luca handed me a photograph.
It showed a little girl standing beside a red door.
Me.
And in my hands was a small silver music box.
I stared.
Because I recognized it.
May you like
The music box had belonged to my mother.
And it was still sitting on the top shelf of my childhood bedroom.
