Chapter 8 - THE SECRET INSIDE THE BLUE BOOK
Investigators hired by Gabriel located the red house.
It was empty.
But not abandoned.
Someone had maintained the property.
Utilities were active.
Fresh tire marks crossed the driveway.
Gabriel refused to enter illegally.
Instead, he worked with attorneys to obtain access through the trust's records and a court-authorized process.
Inside, they found old furniture.
Photographs.
A locked cabinet.
And a hidden compartment behind a bookshelf.
The compartment contained a blue leather notebook.
Gabriel stared at it.
Isabella's handwriting filled the pages.
Dates.
Names.
Shipping numbers.
Financial transfers.
The entries described a plan to move the Moretti family's remaining illegal operations into legitimate businesses.
Isabella had helped Gabriel design the transition.
But someone had been sabotaging it.
The notebook identified Vincent.
Gabriel sat down heavily.
Marco watched him.
“Boss?”
Gabriel shook his head.
“She knew.”
The notebook suggested Vincent had been diverting funds, falsifying contracts, and threatening employees who refused to cooperate.
Isabella had gathered evidence.
She intended to confront Gabriel.
But she died before she could.
Gabriel stared at the final page.
A sentence written in hurried ink.
If anything happens to me, protect Sophie from Vincent.
Gabriel closed the notebook.
For three years, he'd believed Isabella's death was an accident.
Now he wasn't sure.
He contacted his attorney and arranged for the evidence to be preserved and reviewed by independent investigators.
That evening, he returned home.
Sophie was sitting on the floor with Emma.
They were playing a card game.
Gabriel stood in the doorway.
Watching.
Emma looked up.
Something in his face frightened her.
“What happened?”
Gabriel swallowed.
“I found Isabella's notebook.”
Emma went still.
He looked at Sophie.
May you like
Then whispered:
“My wife was trying to protect our daughter.”
