Chapter 9 - The Son Who Was Framed
Lorenzo Vitali had just discovered he had a son.
Now he was being told the boy had been arrested for attempted murder.
The room went completely silent.
"How old is he?" Lorenzo asked.
"Eleven."
His voice turned cold.
"An eleven-year-old was charged with attempted murder?"
Marco nodded.
"The case is sealed because he's a minor."
Lorenzo looked at me.
Something in his expression frightened me.
Not anger.
Fear.
The kind a parent feels when someone they love is in danger.
I stepped closer.
"Lorenzo, we need facts."
He nodded.
"You're right."
Marco arranged a meeting with the attorney handling Daniel's case.
The next morning, we drove to Albany.
I insisted on coming.
Daniel had once trusted me.
If he was frightened, perhaps seeing someone familiar would help.
When we entered the facility, a counselor led us into a small visitation room.
Ten minutes later, the door opened.
A thin boy walked inside.
Dark hair.
Gray eyes.
The same small scar beneath his chin.
My heart broke.
"Daniel?"
He stopped.
His eyes widened.
"Lily?"
I stood.
For a moment, he looked uncertain.
Then he ran toward me.
I knelt and wrapped my arms around him.
"Hey, sweetheart."
He began crying.
"I thought you forgot me."
My throat tightened.
"Never."
Behind me, Lorenzo stood motionless.
Daniel noticed him.
He stepped backward.
"Who is that?"
I looked toward Lorenzo.
His eyes were shining.
"Daniel, this is Lorenzo Vitali."
The boy stared.
Then his expression changed.
"I know you."
Lorenzo swallowed.
"You do?"
Daniel nodded.
"Uncle Adrian showed me pictures."
Lorenzo crouched slowly.
"Daniel, I think I'm your father."
The boy went pale.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Daniel shook his head.
"No."
Lorenzo's face fell.
Daniel continued.
"My father is dead."
I covered my mouth.
"Who told you that?"
"Uncle Adrian."
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
Then he opened them again.
"Daniel, I didn't know where you were. I didn't even know you existed."
The boy studied him.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes."
Daniel's eyes filled.
"Then why did nobody come for me?"
Lorenzo's voice broke.
"Because someone lied to us both."
The boy looked down.
Then whispered:
"Uncle Adrian said if I told anyone what happened, he'd hurt Sofia."
My heart stopped.
"Sofia?"
Daniel nodded.
"My sister."
Lorenzo leaned forward.
"Do you know where she is?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Yes."
"Where?"
The boy started crying.
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Then he whispered the secret that changed everything.
"She's hiding with Mom."
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