Chapter 4 - The Widow Who Celebrated Too Soon
Moretti House sat behind iron gates overlooking the Hudson.
Cara expected luxury.
She didn’t expect silence.
At 2:17 a.m., she sat in Dante’s study wearing borrowed clothes while Carlo placed a phone on the desk.
“We intercepted Vanessa’s call,” Carlo said.
Dante stood near the fireplace.
“Play it.”
A recording began.
Vanessa’s voice filled the room.
“Is he dead?”
Victor answered.
“The car went over.”
“You saw it?”
“No.”
“Then confirm it.”
“The police are searching the ravine.”
Vanessa exhaled.
“What about the waitress?”
Cara stiffened.
Victor said, “What waitress?”
“The blonde one. She ran outside after Dante.”
Dante looked at Cara.
Vanessa continued.
“If she heard anything, handle it.”
The recording ended.
Cara stared at the phone.
“She knows.”
Dante’s face hardened.
Carlo said, “We need to move Cara somewhere else.”
“No,” Dante replied.
“Boss—”
“She stays here.”
Cara stood.
“I’d like to participate in decisions about whether I become bait.”
Dante looked at her.
“You’re not bait.”
“That sounded suspiciously like something people tell bait.”
Carlo coughed.
Dante ignored him.
“Vanessa cannot reach you here.”
Cara stepped closer.
“You trusted her.”
Dante’s eyes narrowed.
“That isn’t relevant.”
“It is if you’re about to make decisions angry.”
“I don’t make decisions angry.”
“Your jaw says otherwise.”
Carlo suddenly became extremely interested in the bookshelf.
Dante stared at Cara for several seconds.
Then something unexpected happened.
He smiled.
Barely.
“You’re either brave or incapable of recognizing danger.”
“Probably both.”
A guard entered.
“Mr. Moretti.”
“What?”
“Mrs. Moretti just arrived.”
Silence.
Cara whispered, “She came here?”
Dante looked at Carlo.
“Did anyone contact her?”
“No.”
The guard continued.
“She’s crying.”
Cara stared at Dante.
“Of course she is.”
Dante’s expression turned cold.
“Put Cara in the surveillance room.”
Minutes later, Cara watched through hidden cameras as Vanessa entered the study.
Her red dress was still damp from the rain.
She looked devastated.
“Carlo?”
Carlo stood alone.
Vanessa pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Where’s Dante?”
Carlo lowered his head.
“We found the car.”
Vanessa’s knees nearly buckled.
“No.”
Cara watched the performance.
Vanessa began crying.
“No… please…”
Then Carlo said quietly, “We haven’t recovered his body.”
Vanessa’s crying stopped for half a second.
It was tiny.
But Cara saw it.
Vanessa recovered.
“Then keep searching.”
Carlo nodded.
Vanessa turned away.
And smiled.
Cara felt cold.
Suddenly, the study doors closed.
Vanessa turned.
Dante stepped from the shadows.
Her face became white.
“Hello, Vanessa.”
She stumbled backward.
“Dante?”
“You look disappointed.”
“No. I—”
“You expected me at the bottom of a ravine.”
Vanessa stared at him.
Then her expression changed.
The grief disappeared.
“You don’t understand.”
Dante approached.
“Then explain.”
“It was Victor.”
“Try again.”
“He threatened me.”
Cara whispered from the surveillance room.
“Liar.”
Dante apparently agreed.
“You asked whether the brakes were cut just enough.”
Vanessa froze.
Dante continued.
“You said you’d be a grieving widow.”
Her eyes widened.
“Who told you?”
Dante’s voice became quiet.
May you like
“A waitress you never noticed.”
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