Chapter 8 - THE SECRET BENEATH THE FOUNTAIN
Investigators returned to the ruined summer property.
The house had never been rebuilt.
The gardens were overgrown.
The fountain stood cracked and empty.
Valentino arrived with Gabriel Ross and a licensed investigative team.
Becca remained at the estate with the girls.
Beneath the fountain, workers discovered an old drainage access.
Inside was a small waterproof container.
The container held a damaged digital recorder.
And a bracelet.
Pink beads.
A silver star.
Valentino recognized it.
Isabella had bought the bracelet for Annie.
The recorder was sent to forensic specialists.
Most files were corrupted.
But one short recording survived.
A woman's voice.
Isabella.
"If anyone finds this, please listen carefully."
Static.
Then:
"Annie is not safe. Someone inside the organization knows about her father."
Valentino's hands trembled.
The recording continued.
"I don't know who I can trust anymore."
Then a loud sound.
A door opening.
Isabella whispered:
"Someone's here."
The recording ended.
Valentino stared at the device.
His wife had been afraid.
Not of strangers.
Of someone close enough to reach her.
That evening, he returned home.
Becca found him in the greenhouse.
He was holding Isabella's bracelet.
"She knew," he whispered.
Becca sat beside him.
"She knew someone was coming."
He looked at her.
"I failed her."
Becca shook her head.
"You didn't know."
Valentino's voice broke.
"I should have."
Becca did not offer an easy answer.
She simply stayed.
After a long silence, he asked:
"Do you think Annie survived?"
Becca looked toward the dark garden.
"I hope so."
Then Valentino's phone rang.
Gabriel's voice was urgent.
"We found something else."
"What?"
"A financial transfer."
"From whose account?"
May you like
Gabriel hesitated.
"Marco Bellini's."
