Chapter 2 - THE NAME THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Amelia had spent eleven months searching for her sister.
Rose was twenty-two when she disappeared.
A gifted violinist.
A terrible driver.
A girl who cried at animal rescue commercials and collected postcards from cities she'd never visited.
She had worked part-time at a waterfront event company while saving money for graduate school.
Then one Friday evening, she sent Amelia a text.
I found something strange at work. Call you tomorrow.
Tomorrow never came.
Rose's phone was discovered near the Boston waterfront.
Her apartment showed no signs of a struggle.
The police investigated.
But without evidence of a crime, the case eventually stalled.
Julian had been Amelia's greatest source of comfort.
He arranged meetings with private investigators.
Paid for search advertisements.
Held her when she cried.
And repeatedly assured her that Rose had probably left voluntarily.
Now someone had slipped Amelia a note warning her not to marry him.
And telling her to ask about Rose.
She barely slept.
At dawn, she examined the paper again.
The handwriting was unfamiliar.
The message contained no signature.
She considered calling the police.
But she had nothing beyond a mysterious note.
Instead, she called the Deuca estate.
A woman answered.
“Deuca residence.”
“My name is Amelia Bennett. I delivered flowers yesterday.”
A pause.
“Yes, Miss Bennett?”
“I need to speak with Alessandro Deuca.”
Another pause.
“May I ask why?”
Amelia looked at the note.
“It's about my sister.”
Twenty minutes later, a black sedan arrived outside her flower shop.
Amelia nearly refused to get in.
May you like
Then she thought of Rose.
And climbed inside.
