Chapter 3 - THE BAGGAGE TICKET
Adrian dropped the slip of paper onto the table next to the photograph.
It was old, the thermal ink faded but still readable.
A baggage claim ticket from St. Jude’s Hospital.
Dated August 14th, five years ago.
The exact night my husband died.
The air in the room felt too thin to breathe.
I looked at the date, the numbers blurring through my sudden tears.
“My husband died that night,” I whispered. “He had a heart attack.”
“He did,” Adrian said, his eyes locked on Victoria. “And his personal effects were handed over to the family. Except for one bag. A small leather briefcase he always carried.”
Adrian looked at Victoria.
“The hospital records show the briefcase was claimed at 3:00 AM by a nurse. A nurse who signed the logbook with a fake name. But the security cameras caught her face.”
Victoria backed away, bumping into the dining chair.
“I didn't hurt him!” she cried. “I swear to you, Adrian, I was just a nurse! I was working in the cardiac ward that night!”
“And you just happened to steal the boss of the Romano family's briefcase?” Adrian asked, his voice dripping with venom.
“I was forced!” Victoria screamed.
Sofia, the maid, flinched in the corner, clutching her cleaning rag to her chest.
“Forced by who?” Adrian demanded.
“By the man who took my son!” Victoria sobbed, falling to her knees. “He took Leo. He told me if I didn't get that briefcase, I would never see my baby again.”
My heart ached, despite everything she had done to me.
A mother separated from her child. It was my worst nightmare.
“Why didn't you go to the police?” I asked, stepping toward her.
Victoria looked up at me, her eyes hollow.
“Because the police work for him.”
She wiped her face, smearing her makeup.
“He kept my son. And three years later, he came back. He told me I had to accidentally bump into Adrian at that charity gala. He told me I had to make him fall in love with me. And he told me I had to marry him.”
“To get what?” Adrian asked.
“To get the code to your father’s master vault,” Victoria whispered.
Adrian scoffed. “You expect me to believe this? A mysterious mastermind pulling your strings for five years?”
“It’s the truth!”
“Then give me a name,” Adrian snapped.
Victoria shook her head, terrified. “If I say his name, he’ll kill Leo tonight.”
“If you don't say his name,” Adrian said coldly, “I’ll throw you out on the street right now.”
“Adrian,” I said gently. “Wait.”
I noticed something.
When Victoria had fallen to her knees, her designer blazer had shifted.
Hanging from a thin gold chain around her neck was a piece of jewelry.
It had slipped out from beneath her silk blouse.
I recognized the glint of the metal.
I stepped closer, reaching down and pulling the chain from her chest.
Victoria gasped, trying to pull away, but I held tight.
Hanging from the chain was a heavy gold pocket watch.
Engraved on the front were the initials V.R.
Vincenzo Romano.
My late husband.
“Where did you get this?” I asked, my voice shaking.
Victoria looked at the watch, then up at me.
“He gave it to me,” she whispered.
“Who?” Adrian demanded.
May you like
Victoria closed her eyes.
“Your father.”
