Chapter 3 - THE PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE AMBUSH
I stared at the photograph.
A black luxury sedan lay overturned beside a wooded road.
The windshield was shattered.
One side of the vehicle had been crushed against a concrete barrier.
I recognized Alessandro's face in a newspaper clipping attached to the back.
The article described the ambush that had nearly killed him.
Two years earlier.
The same attack that left him paralyzed.
Mrs. Alvarez watched me.
"Who gave you this?"
"I don't know."
"Was there a note?"
I showed her.
She crossed herself.
"Madonna."
I swallowed.
"Should I tell Mr. Moretti?"
She hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Immediately."
But before I could move, Luca appeared.
He looked at the photograph.
His expression changed.
"Where did you get that?"
"Someone left it for me."
He took the envelope carefully.
"Did you touch anything else?"
"No."
He looked toward the hallway.
"Come with me."
Within minutes, I was back in Alessandro's office.
He studied the photograph.
His expression grew colder with every passing second.
"Who delivered it?"
Luca shook his head.
"We're checking."
Alessandro turned toward me.
"Claire, has anyone threatened you?"
"No."
"Anyone asked questions about me?"
I hesitated.
"Not directly."
His eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
I took a breath.
"Yesterday, one of the housekeepers asked why you allowed Emma into your office."
"Who?"
"Mr. Russo's assistant. I think her name is Bianca."
Luca looked up sharply.
"Bianca works for the estate manager."
Alessandro studied me.
"What exactly did she ask?"
"Whether Emma had touched anything on your desk."
Silence.
Then Luca said:
"Boss, the security archive was accessed yesterday."
Alessandro turned.
"By whom?"
"We're checking."
I looked between them.
"Does this have something to do with the accident?"
Alessandro's jaw tightened.
"It wasn't an accident."
I stared.
He continued.
"Someone attacked my convoy."
"Did they find out who?"
"No."
His voice dropped.
"And someone has been making sure I don't."
I looked at the photograph again.
The overturned car.
The broken glass.
The warning.
Then I remembered something.
"Mr. Moretti."
He looked at me.
"Yesterday, Emma picked something up from beneath your desk."
His expression sharpened.
"What?"
"A small metal object. She thought it was a button."
Luca stepped forward.
"Where is it?"
I swallowed.
"She put it in her rabbit's pocket."
May you like
Alessandro went completely still.
"Bring me the rabbit."
