Chapter 10
Chapter 10
THEME: FONT SIZE: 18pxHe looked at Alessia.
“This is ridiculous.”
Dante placed the cufflink on the desk.
Bellini’s expression changed for less than a second.
He recovered. He always recovered. But Alessia saw it, and Dante saw it, and Matteo, standing by the bookcase, saw it too.
“Enough,” Dante said. “Yours?”
Bellini picked it up. Examined it. Set it down.
“Yes.”
“How did it get beneath my desk?”
“I’ve been in this study hundreds of times.”
“Not since I replaced the carpet three weeks ago.”
Bellini paused.
Dante continued, evenly. “And you haven’t worn these cufflinks since my father’s funeral.”
Alessia looked at Dante. She had not known that. She had not been in this house when Dante’s father died. But she saw the way Bellini’s shoulders changed, a fraction of an inch, and she understood that Dante had just cut something loose.
Bellini recovered.
“Then someone planted it.”
“Possible.”
He glanced toward Alessia. “She found it.”
Dante’s eyes cooled.
“Careful.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re trying very hard to make her guilty before I know what happened.”
Bellini’s mouth tightened. “I’ve protected this family for twelve years. She has cleaned your house for seven months. Exactly.”
Dante looked at him.
“That makes your fear of her interesting.”
Bellini said nothing.
Dante placed the photograph beside the cufflink.
“Recognize this?”
Bellini stared at it. “Your mother.”
“Turn it over.”
He did. His face changed.
Ask about Lorenzo.
He set it down carefully, and for a moment he did not speak, and the room filled with the sound of the clock in the hall.
“I don’t know who wrote that.”
“Neither do I.” Dante watched him. “But apparently someone thinks I should ask.”
Bellini looked at Alessia.
“You think she wrote it.”
“No,” Dante said.
“How can you know?”
“Because she had the photograph before the message appeared.”
Bellini’s eyes flickered. Alessia saw it. Dante saw it too.
Bellini knew more than he was saying. But not, Alessia thought, about the message. About something else. Something older.
Dante dismissed him.
Bellini reached the door and stopped.
“Dante.”
He turned.
“You’re making a mistake.”
“Which one?”
“Trusting someone you know nothing about.”
Dante looked toward Alessia. Then back to Bellini.
“I haven’t decided whether I trust her,” he said. “I’ve decided I don’t trust you.”
Bellini left.
Alessia exhaled.
May you like
“You enjoy making rooms uncomfortable,” she said.
Dante looked at her. “You noticed. It may be your greatest talent.”
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