Chapter 9
Detective Vale walked into my garage like a man entering a church he expected to find burning.
He brought two officers and a warrant packet he probably kept ready for my family at all times.
His eyes flicked to Leo.
Softened.
Then hardened again when he saw the bucket, the cloth, the untouched lunchbox, and the note.
“Who wrote this?”
“My wife.”
“Where is she?”
“East sitting room.”
He stared at me.
“Alive?”
I gave him a look.
He nodded.
“Good. Saves paperwork.”
Camila almost laughed, but the sound died in her throat.
Vale collected Sofia’s letters, the ledger, the drive, the photograph, and the toy car.
He watched the corrupted balcony video without blinking.
When it stopped before the fall, he said, “Someone cut this.”
“Can you recover it?”
“We can try.”
Then he looked at Leo.
“I need to ask you a few questions. Only if your dad says yes and only with someone safe beside you.”
Leo moved closer to me.
I said, “He has been questioned enough today.”
Vale nodded.
“Tomorrow, then. With a child advocate.”
That earned my respect.
A little.
Rocco brought Helena downstairs.
She had changed clothes.
Somehow she found lipstick.
Even now, she wanted a stage.
When she saw Detective Vale, she laughed.
“Carmine, really? You invited police into your own house?”
I looked at her.
“I invited consequences.”
Vale stepped forward.
“Helena Romano, you are being detained while we investigate allegations involving a minor.”
She turned to me.
“You’ll regret this.”
Leo stood behind my leg.
Her eyes dropped to him.
“You ungrateful little boy.”
I moved before anyone else did.
I did not touch her.
May you like
I simply stepped between her and my son.
“Look at him again,” I said quietly, “and you will learn the difference between power and protection.”
