Chapter 8 - THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD
Isabella Moretti walked into the federal courthouse on a Monday morning.
Alive.
Celia learned about it from the news.
She stared at the television in Marissa's office.
A woman with dark hair and a pale face entered the building surrounded by attorneys.
The headline read:
MISSING FINANCIAL EXECUTIVE RETURNS AFTER FOUR YEARS.
Celia felt cold.
She called Lorenzo.
He answered immediately.
“Celia.”
“Isabella's alive.”
“I know.”
Silence.
Then:
“Have you seen her?”
“No.”
“Are you going to?”
“Yes.”
Celia swallowed.
“Okay.”
Lorenzo's voice softened.
“Celia.”
“It's okay.”
“It's not simple.”
“I know.”
She looked toward the television.
“Go find out what happened.”
***
Isabella had been living under a protected identity.
She had cooperated with investigators in a long-running financial-crimes investigation.
Her disappearance had been staged with federal assistance after credible threats emerged against her life.
Lorenzo had never been told.
The secrecy had protected the investigation.
But it had also left him believing she might be dead.
When he met Isabella, neither knew what to say.
She looked older.
So did he.
Finally, she spoke.
“I'm sorry.”
Lorenzo stared.
“For what?”
“For leaving without telling you.”
“You were protecting yourself.”
“I know.”
He looked away.
“I searched for you.”
Her eyes filled.
“I know.”
Silence.
Then Lorenzo asked:
“Why didn't you trust me?”
Isabella swallowed.
“Because your organization was involved.”
He closed his eyes.
She continued.
“I didn't know whether you knew.”
“And did I?”
“Not then.”
He nodded.
The answer hurt.
But it was honest.
***
Isabella explained that Graham Hail had helped move illicit funds through real estate acquisitions.
Northstar Holdings was one of several entities involved.
The scheme had expanded after she disappeared.
Now investigators were preparing charges.
Lorenzo listened.
Then asked:
“Why come back now?”
Isabella looked at him.
“Because the people who threatened me are finally vulnerable.”
She hesitated.
“And because someone else is in danger.”
Lorenzo's expression hardened.
“Who?”
Isabella looked down.
“Celia Vaughn.”
***
That evening, Lorenzo went to Naomi's apartment.
Celia opened the door.
He looked exhausted.
She stepped aside.
“Come in.”
He entered.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Celia asked:
“How is she?”
“Alive.”
Celia smiled faintly.
“That's a good start.”
Lorenzo sat down.
He told her everything.
The protected identity.
The investigation.
Graham Hail.
Northstar.
Then he looked at her.
“Isabella says you're in danger.”
Celia's stomach tightened.
“Because of Travis?”
“Because you may have seen financial documents that connect the scheme.”
She swallowed.
“I did.”
Lorenzo went still.
“What?”
Celia looked down.
“When Travis and I lived together, he left paperwork on the dining table. I remember some names.”
“Which names?”
She thought carefully.
“Northstar. Hail Development. A company called Meridian Freight.”
Lorenzo's expression changed.
“Meridian?”
“Yes.”
He stood.
Celia looked up.
“What?”
Lorenzo's voice hardened.
“Meridian Freight is one of my companies.”
Silence.
May you like
Then he said:
“Someone inside my organization has been helping them.”
