Chapter 7 - THE BROTHER BEHIND THE LOCKED DOOR
The breakthrough came from a former Northbridge employee.
Her name was Judith Palmer.
She'd worked as an administrative assistant at the facility for eleven years.
After leaving, she'd filed complaints about recordkeeping practices and patient treatment.
Most had gone nowhere.
Mara found her through public records and interviewed her with consent.
Judith remembered a patient called Matthew Stone.
He'd been admitted years earlier.
He had no verified family contacts.
No clear legal basis for remaining at the facility.
And a history of repeated requests to speak with someone named Luca.
When Mara showed Judith a photograph of Matteo, the woman began crying.
“That's him.”
I stared at the screen.
“Are you certain?”
She nodded.
“He was older when I knew him. Thinner. But that's him.”
My hands shook.
“Is he alive?”
Judith hesitated.
“He was when I left.”
“When was that?”
“Eight months ago.”
I closed my eyes.
Eight months.
After seventeen years, my brother had been alive eight months ago.
Mara contacted the appropriate authorities and provided the evidence she'd collected.
Investigators sought records and legal access to the facility.
I wanted to drive there myself.
Break down the doors.
Drag Matteo out.
But Mara stopped me.
“Luca, if you act recklessly, you could put him at greater risk.”
I stared.
“He's my brother.”
“I know.”
She leaned forward.
“Then help us get him out safely.”
Two days later, authorities entered Northbridge as part of an investigation.
They found evidence of serious recordkeeping irregularities and possible unlawful confinement.
Several patients required independent assessment.
One of them was Matthew Stone.
His real name was Matteo Moretti.
I saw him in a hospital room the following evening.
He was thirty-eight now.
His dark hair was streaked with gray.
He was thin.
His face carried years I couldn't imagine.
But his eyes were the same.
Our mother's eyes.
I stopped in the doorway.
“Matteo?”
He looked up.
For a moment, he stared.
Then his lips trembled.
“Luca?”
I couldn't move.
He began crying.
I crossed the room.
And hugged my brother.
For seventeen years, I'd imagined this moment.
I thought I'd shout.
Demand answers.
Promise revenge.
Instead, I held him and sobbed.
“I'm sorry,” I whispered.
Matteo clung to me.
“I thought you'd forgotten me.”
May you like
My heart broke.
“Never.”
