Chapter 2 - The Voice Before Midnight

Adrian closed the library door.

I stayed outside.

Helen stood beside me.

Lucia remained in the ballroom.

Still wearing Elena’s gown.

Inside, Adrian dialed the number.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then someone answered.

A woman.

“Hello?”

Adrian did not speak.

The voice came again.

“Adrian?”

He closed his eyes.

“Mom?”

Silence.

Then a breath.

“Yes.”

Adrian gripped the desk.

For eighteen years, he had imagined that word.

Now he looked afraid of it.

“You’re alive.”

“Yes.”

“You knew where I was.”

“Yes.”

“You knew I thought you were dead.”

“Yes.”

His voice changed.

“Why?”

Elena answered quietly.

“Because your grandfather told me he would destroy anyone who helped me come back.”

“He’s been dead seven years.”

“I know.”

“Then why didn’t you come home seven years ago?”

A pause.

“Because your father asked me not to.”

Adrian froze.

“My father?”

“Yes.”

“He knew?”

“Yes.”

“How long?”

“Since the beginning.”

Adrian stepped backward.

Outside the door, Helen looked at me.

She had heard enough through the wood.

Adrian’s voice dropped.

“My father told me you abandoned us.”

“I know.”

“He let me hate you.”

“I know.”

“Why?”

Elena started crying.

“Because I had evidence against his father.”

Adrian went still.

“My grandfather.”

“Yes.”

“What evidence?”

“The originals.”

“The property records?”

“And more.”

“How much more?”

“Enough to prove your grandfather used Marino companies to hide money for the Cross family.”

Adrian’s eyes hardened.

“Lucia’s family.”

“Yes.”

“Her father?”

“Yes.”

“Her grandfather?”

“Yes.”

Adrian looked toward the ballroom.

Lucia’s father was still there.

Standing near the fireplace.

Pretending not to watch the library door.

Adrian asked:

“What did Dad do?”

Elena hesitated.

That hesitation hurt more than an answer.

“Mom.”

“He helped me at first.”

Adrian laughed quietly.

“That phrase again.”

Elena understood.

“At first, he wanted me safe.”

“And later?”

“He wanted the documents.”

“Why?”

“Because your grandfather had promised him control of the company.”

Adrian stared at the wall.

“So Dad chose the company.”

“Yes.”

“Over you?”

Silence.

“Yes.”

Adrian sat down.

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then he asked:

“Why did you send the dress?”

“To Lucia’s mother.”

“Why?”

“Because I needed to know whether the Cross family had changed.”

“And Lucia failed your test.”

Elena did not answer immediately.

“She made the wrong choice.”

“That sounds like failed.”

“Yes.”

Adrian looked toward the door.

“Do you hate her?”

“No.”

He looked surprised.

“Why not?”

“Because I made choices out of fear too.”

Adrian’s eyes softened slightly.

Elena continued.

“But fear does not make a lie harmless.”

“No.”

“I needed her to tell you.”

“She didn’t.”

“No.”

“Where are the originals?”

Elena was silent.

“Mom.”

“In the dress.”

Adrian frowned.

“The dress is here.”

“Not the hem.”

“What?”

“The bodice.”

Adrian stood.

“There’s another compartment?”

“Yes.”

“What is inside?”

“A key.”

“To what?”

“A storage vault.”

“Where?”

“Porto.”

Adrian closed his eyes.

Of course it was in Portugal.

“What is in the vault?”

“The original ledgers.”

“Ledgers?”

“Yes.”

“How many?”

“Three.”

“Whose names?”

Elena answered:

“Your grandfather.”

“Lucia’s grandfather.”

“And?”

A pause.

Then:

“Your father.”

Adrian stopped breathing.

He looked toward the portrait above the fireplace.

His father.

Dead six years.

The man who had taught him everything about loyalty.

Adrian whispered:

“Dad was part of it.”

“Yes.”

“How much?”

“Enough that he asked me to stay gone.”

Silence.

Adrian looked down.

Then asked:

“Did he ever try to bring you home?”

“No.”

That answer was worse.

“What about me?”

“He asked about you.”

“That is not the same thing.”

“No.”

Adrian wiped his face.

Then Elena said:

“There is something else.”

He laughed without humor.

“There always is.”

“The dress was not only a test for Lucia.”

Adrian looked toward the door.

“Who else?”

“For you.”

He frowned.

“What was I supposed to do?”

“Ask questions.”

“I did.”

“No.”

Her voice softened.

“You were supposed to ask whether the woman wearing it knew where I was.”

Adrian went silent.

Elena continued.

“You were supposed to choose truth over embarrassment.”

He looked at the closed door.

“The whole ballroom saw.”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“You stopped the evening.”

“Yes.”

“You asked.”

“Yes.”

Elena started crying.

“That is why I answered.”

Adrian stared at the phone.

“You would not have?”

“If you had laughed with them?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because then I would have known the Marino family had taught you the same thing it taught your father.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

“What?”

“That reputation matters more than people.”

Silence.

Then Elena whispered:

“You passed.”

Adrian looked away.

“I don’t feel like I did.”

“You called.”

A knock sounded at the library door.

Helen entered slowly.

She carried scissors.

And Lucia.

Still in the red gown.

Lucia’s face was wet with tears.

Adrian looked at her.

Then at the phone.

“My mother says there is another compartment.”

Lucia stopped.

“Where?”

“Bodice.”

Helen nodded once.

“I know.”

Adrian stared.

“You knew?”

Helen’s eyes lowered.

“I knew there was stitching I didn’t make.”

Lucia looked at her.

“You altered it.”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you open it?”

Helen answered:

“Because it was Elena’s.”

Adrian looked at Lucia.

Then at the gown.

“Take it off.”

Lucia went still.

“Adrian—”

“Not here.”

His voice remained calm.

“Change upstairs.”

Lucia nodded.

Ten minutes later, Helen returned carrying the gown.

She placed it on the library table.

Then cut one hidden seam beneath the inner lining.

A tiny brass key fell out.

And one folded note.

Adrian opened it.

The handwriting was Elena’s.

IF THIS KEY REACHES YOU, ASK YOUR FATHER WHY HE NEVER DESTROYED THE PORTO VAULT.

Adrian stared.

His father had died six years ago.

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But the note was dated five.

One year after his father’s funeral.