Chapter 9 - THE WOMAN WHO WORE MY MOTHER'S NAME
Evelyn Gallagher had buried her mother nine years earlier.
Now someone was claiming a woman named Catherine Gallagher had been living in a Wisconsin care facility for decades.
Her hands began trembling.
"That's impossible."
Vincent looked toward her.
"Evelyn..."
"My mother died."
He nodded.
"I know."
"Then why is someone using her name?"
Nobody answered.
The investigators obtained the facility's records.
They discovered that a woman matching Isabella Moretti's age had been admitted years earlier under a protected identity.
The paperwork listed Catherine Gallagher as her legal name.
But several documents were inconsistent.
Evelyn stared at the photograph attached to the file.
The woman looked older.
Her dark hair had turned gray.
There were lines around her eyes.
But her face resembled the young girl in the photograph from Evelyn's mother's jewelry box.
Vincent covered his mouth.
"Isabella."
His voice cracked.
For twenty-six years, he'd believed his sister was dead.
Now she might be alive.
They traveled to Wisconsin after investigators confirmed the woman was willing to receive visitors.
The facility was quiet.
Sunlight fell across pale walls.
A nurse led them toward a small sitting room.
Inside sat a woman near the window.
She was reading a book.
When Vincent entered, she looked up.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then her eyes widened.
"Vincent?"
He stopped breathing.
"Isabella?"
The book slipped from her hands.
She stood.
Then began crying.
"My brother."
Vincent crossed the room.
They embraced.
Twenty-six years disappeared in one moment.
Evelyn watched with tears streaming down her cheeks.
The reunion was heartbreaking.
Beautiful.
Almost impossible to believe.
But one question remained.
Why had Isabella never returned?
When they finally sat down, Vincent asked gently.
"Why didn't you come home?"
Isabella looked down.
"Because I believed Father would kill me."
Vincent's expression tightened.
"He's been dead for eight years."
She nodded.
"I know."
"Then why didn't you contact me?"
Her eyes filled.
"Because Leonard Bianchi told me you had taken over Father's operations."
Vincent looked away.
It was true.
He had inherited the family business.
Including its criminal activities.
Isabella continued.
"I thought you'd become exactly like him."
The words hurt.
Because Vincent couldn't deny them entirely.
He looked at her.
"I'm trying not to be."
Isabella studied his face.
Then smiled sadly.
"Maybe it's not too late."
Evelyn sat beside them.
Isabella turned toward her.
"You must be Catherine's daughter."
Evelyn nodded.
"My name is Evelyn."
Tears filled Isabella's eyes.
"Your mother saved my life."
Evelyn swallowed.
"She never told me."
"She couldn't."
"Why?"
Isabella looked toward Vincent.
"Because Leonard had people watching her."
Evelyn's chest tightened.
"Did he hurt her?"
Isabella lowered her eyes.
"I don't know."
Silence.
Then she reached for Evelyn's hand.
"But there's something I need to tell you."
Evelyn looked up.
Isabella's voice trembled.
"Catherine wasn't simply helping me hide."
"What do you mean?"
"She was protecting evidence."
Evelyn's stomach tightened.
"What evidence?"
Isabella looked toward Vincent.
"Documents proving who ordered Sophia's murder."
Vincent went still.
May you like
Then Isabella whispered:
"And those documents also reveal why your father kept Catherine Gallagher's daughter under surveillance from the day she was born."
