Chapter 3 - The Mother Luca Found Behind a Blue Door

We reached Charleston the next morning.

Luca came.

June came.

I came because Luca asked.

Vanessa did not.

Neither did Richard.

The address led to a narrow house divided into apartments.

Blue door.

White steps.

Luca stood outside for almost a minute.

Then knocked.

No answer.

Again.

Footsteps.

The door opened.

A woman in her early sixties stood there.

Dark hair streaked silver.

Small scar near her temple.

Luca stopped breathing.

Maria looked at him.

Her hand rose to her mouth.

"Luca."

His face broke.

Not completely.

But enough.

"You know me."

She began crying.

"I would know you anywhere."

He did not hug her.

Not yet.

He asked:

"Did Vanessa tell you I didn't want to see you?"

Maria looked down.

"Yes."

Luca closed his eyes.

June whispered:

"Maria."

Maria saw her.

Then me.

Then Luca again.

"Come inside."

The apartment was small.

Simple furniture.

Books.

Framed photographs.

One photograph showed Antonio.

Older.

Smiling.

Luca picked it up.

"My father."

Maria nodded.

"When?"

"Two months before he died."

Luca looked at her.

"How did he die?"

Maria's face changed.

He saw.

"Richard said cancer was a lie."

"It wasn't entirely."

"What does that mean?"

Maria sat.

"Antonio had cancer."

Luca exhaled.

Then she continued:

"But that isn't what killed him."

Silence.

Luca sat across from her.

"What did?"

"An infection."

"Hospital?"

"Yes."

"Why was he admitted as David Hale?"

Maria closed her eyes.

June looked stunned.

Maria said:

"Because David was there."

Luca stared.

"Alive."

"Yes."

"Three years ago."

"Yes."

Luca stood.

"Where is he now?"

"I don't know."

"Mom."

The word came out before he meant it.

Maria looked up.

Tears filled her eyes.

Luca froze too.

Then he continued:

"Tell me."

She nodded.

"David found us again."

"When?"

"Four years ago."

"How?"

"He had been living in Argentina."

June frowned.

"Richard said he sent him away."

Maria laughed bitterly.

"Richard sent him money."

Luca's face hardened.

"How long?"

"For years."

Maria looked at June.

"That is why David kept disappearing."

Luca asked:

"What did he want when he came back?"

"Antonio."

"Why?"

"Money."

"Again?"

"No."

Maria shook her head.

"This time he wanted Antonio to confess."

Luca frowned.

"To what?"

Maria stared at the photograph.

"To helping David fake his death."

Silence.

June whispered:

"Antonio knew?"

Maria nodded.

Luca's face changed.

"My father knew David was alive when he married you?"

"Not at first."

"When did he find out?"

"Two years after our wedding."

"Then he helped him disappear?"

Maria nodded.

Luca stepped back.

"Why?"

"Because David threatened you."

The room became quiet.

Maria continued:

"You were four."

Luca stared at her.

"David knew where you slept."

His jaw tightened.

"He told Antonio that if anyone exposed him, he would take you."

Luca looked at June.

Then back.

"So Dad paid him."

"At first."

"Then?"

"Then Richard took over."

Luca's face hardened again.

Maria continued:

"Richard wanted the entire problem away from the Hale family."

June whispered:

"So he financed David."

"Yes."

Luca asked:

"And six years after you disappeared?"

Maria nodded.

"David came back to Savannah."

"What did he want?"

"More money."

"And you filed the second marriage license."

"Because I wanted everything legal."

"Why not divorce him first?"

Maria laughed without humor.

"I tried."

"What happened?"

"He vanished before service."

June nodded.

"That matches the file."

Luca looked at Maria.

"Why did you disappear from me?"

The question changed everything.

Maria looked down.

"Because David threatened you."

"You already said that."

"No."

Her voice broke.

"Later."

Luca waited.

"When you were thirteen, he found us again."

Luca frowned.

"That was when you disappeared."

"Yes."

"What did he say?"

"He said if I stayed, he would tell police Antonio had helped him commit fraud."

Luca crossed his arms.

"That sounds like a legal problem."

Maria looked at him.

"He also said he would take you."

Luca's jaw tightened.

Maria continued:

"Your father told me to go."

"He sent you away."

"Yes."

"Then stayed with me."

"Yes."

Luca looked hurt.

"Why?"

"Because one parent had to remain."

"Why not tell me?"

"You were thirteen."

"I deserved something."

Maria nodded.

"You did."

She looked at him.

"I failed you."

No excuse.

Luca sat again.

June looked toward the hallway.

"Maria, why did you tell me last week?"

"Because Richard found me."

Luca turned.

"When?"

"Last year."

"The same time Vanessa's father requested the records."

"Yes."

"What did he want?"

Maria's hands trembled.

"An old document Antonio left me."

Luca leaned forward.

"What document?"

Maria stood.

Went to a cabinet.

Removed a metal box.

Inside:

A hospital bracelet.

A passport.

An old cassette.

And one legal envelope.

Luca picked up the bracelet.

Patient name:

DAVID HALE.

Maria whispered:

"Antonio wore that."

"Why?"

"Because David had no legal identity left in the United States."

Luca stared.

"What are you saying?"

Maria looked at him.

"Antonio used David's identity to get him admitted."

June frowned.

"For what?"

Maria swallowed.

"A gunshot wound."

Silence.

Luca stared.

"Who shot David?"

Maria looked toward the envelope.

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Then at Luca.

"Your father."