Chapter 11
The missing video came back three days later.
Detective Vale called me to the station.
I brought my lawyer.
I did not bring Leo.
Some doors should open after children are far away.
Vale played the recovered footage in a small gray room.
The balcony.
The storm.
Sofia and Helena arguing.
This time, the sound worked.
Sofia’s voice shook but stayed strong.
“You stay away from my son.”
Helena smiled.
“Your son is the key to everything.”
“You will never touch him.”
“I already have.”
Sofia stepped toward the door.
Helena grabbed her arm.
They struggled.
Sofia broke free.
Then another person entered frame.
A man.
Tall.
Gray hair.
My father’s old lawyer.
Enzo Moretti.
My blood went cold.
Enzo struck Sofia across the face.
She stumbled.
Helena pushed.
Sofia hit the railing.
The screen shook with rain.
Then she went over.
I stopped breathing.
My lawyer cursed under his breath.
Vale paused the video.
“You need a minute?”
“No.”
My voice did not sound like mine.
“Play the rest.”
The rest was worse.
Enzo turned to Helena.
“Now cry. Carmine must believe grief brought you here later.”
Helena wiped her face.
Then she screamed.
Perfectly.
Like a woman discovering tragedy.
Vale stopped the video.
I stood.
The room tilted.
My wife had not died in an accident.
May you like
She had been murdered.
And I had married one of the people who did it.
