Chapter 4 - THE GUARD WHO WAS AFRAID OF A CHILD
Dario confronted Rachel near the laundry room.
She was folding towels.
He stepped into the doorway.
“Stay away from Sophia.”
Rachel continued folding.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
She looked up.
“Does Mr. Caruso know you're giving orders about his daughter?”
Dario smiled coldly.
“You think he listens to maids?”
Rachel set down the towel.
“I think he listens when someone threatens his child.”
Dario's expression changed.
He stepped closer.
“Be careful.”
Rachel remained still.
“Are you threatening me?”
He leaned toward her.
“You don't know who you're dealing with.”
Rachel met his eyes.
“Neither do you.”
For a moment, something flickered across his face.
Recognition.
Then he stepped back.
“You'll regret this.”
***
That evening, Rachel reported the incident to Mrs. Galloway.
The housekeeper looked troubled.
“Dario has worked here for almost a year.”
“And?”
“He's trusted.”
Rachel stared.
“By whom?”
Mrs. Galloway said nothing.
***
Later, Sophia asked Rachel why grown-ups sometimes lied.
Rachel sat beside her.
“Sometimes they're afraid.”
Sophia frowned.
“Of getting in trouble?”
“Sometimes.”
The girl considered.
“Dario says Daddy won't believe me.”
Rachel felt anger rise.
“Your father needs to know.”
Sophia shook her head.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Daddy gets angry.”
Rachel softened.
“Has he ever hurt you?”
“No.”
“Then what frightens you?”
Sophia's voice trembled.
“He gets so angry when someone mentions Mommy.”
Rachel closed her eyes.
Bella Caruso.
The explosion.
The tragedy that had destroyed the family.
And suddenly Rebecca wondered whether Sophia's silence had less to do with blindness than with something she'd heard that night.
***
“Do you remember what happened when your mother died?” Rachel asked gently.
Sophia went still.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then whispered:
“I remember a voice.”
Rachel's heart accelerated.
“Whose voice?”
Sophia shook her head.
“I don't know.”
“What did it say?”
The girl hugged her bear.
Then whispered:
“Tell Caruso the girl wasn't supposed to be there.”
Rachel felt cold.
Because those words matched a sentence from the sealed report on Elena Marquez's disappearance.
A report Rebecca had never shown anyone.
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And suddenly, the explosion that killed Bella Caruso looked less like an isolated attack.
It looked like part of the same conspiracy.
