Chapter 6 - THE DINNER OF FALSE SMILES
Dante hosted a private dinner for Isabella, Salvatore Costa, Victor Serno, and two senior shipping partners. The invitation described it as a celebration of the approaching wedding. In reality, Rebecca had helped him prepare a controlled test: each guest received a different version of a proposed shipping schedule, each with a harmless identifying error.
Isabella arrived wearing the gold necklace with the letter I. She kissed Dante's cheek. "You've been distant."
"I've had business to attend to."
"You always have business."
Across the table, Victor watched them with the benign expression of a grandfather observing an ordinary quarrel. Salvatore Costa discussed winter routes and port congestion. No one mentioned the stopped container.
During dessert, Dante announced that the family seal would be moved to a bank vault. Isabella set down her spoon. Victor glanced at Salvatore. Carlo, standing by the door, noticed both reactions.
After dinner, Dante walked Isabella to the conservatory. "Did you open my desk?" he asked.
She went pale. "What?"
"I know someone handled the seal."
"Are you accusing me?"
"I'm asking."
For a moment she seemed about to speak. Then she folded her arms. "Your staff have been filling your head with stories. That cook's child should be disciplined."
"Sophia doesn't work for me."
"Her mother does."
"And neither of them belongs to me."
Isabella stared as though he'd spoken in a language she didn't know.
Later, Rebecca received a copy of the false schedule from an anonymous source. It contained the identifying error supplied only to Victor. The source had forwarded it to an account associated with Bellwether Maritime.
The result did not prove Victor ordered a murder. It proved someone with access to Victor's papers was communicating with the suspect company.
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Dante spent the night reviewing surveillance footage from the corridor outside Victor's office. At 10:42, Isabella entered. At 10:49, she emerged carrying a folded envelope. Her face was wet with tears.
Dante watched the seven minutes again. For the first time, he wondered whether the woman he planned to marry was as frightened of Victor as Elena was.
