Chapter 6 - The Night the Cameras Went Dark
Dominic demanded that Bennett be brought back to the estate.
Norah stopped him before he could send armed men to drag the doctor from his clinic.
"Don't turn this into a revenge operation," she said. "We need records, independent medical review, and evidence that can withstand scrutiny."
Dominic looked at her as if she had suggested inviting Bennett to dinner.
"He could be responsible for my sister's death."
"And if he is, you need proof. Not another body."
The words hung in the room.
For once, Dominic didn't argue.
He ordered Leo to preserve the medication vial, secure the remaining medical supplies, and arrange an independent review. He also instructed his security team not to threaten anyone connected to the investigation.
Leo seemed surprised.
Norah was more surprised still.
The following afternoon, Dominic was transferred to a private medical facility for further evaluation. Norah accompanied him, remaining at his side while specialists assessed his infection and adjusted his treatment.
For the first time, Dominic allowed someone else to take charge.
He complained, of course.
He complained about the food, the lighting, the nurses' questions, and the fact that the hospital curtains were an offensive shade of beige.
Norah ignored most of it.
When a young nurse approached to check his vital signs, Dominic's expression darkened.
The nurse froze.
Norah stepped closer.
"She's doing her job."
Dominic looked at the frightened woman, then at Norah.
He forced his shoulders to relax.
"Sorry," he muttered.
The nurse blinked.
"Thank you, Mr. Rossi."
When she left, Norah raised an eyebrow.
"Was that an apology?"
"Don't make it a habit."
"Too late. I'm documenting it."
For a brief moment, he laughed.
It was the first genuine laugh she had heard from him.
That evening, Leo arrived with information about the security footage from the night Elena died.
The estate's original system had recorded a vehicle leaving the property shortly before the accident. The footage had supposedly been erased during a technical failure.
But Leo had kept an offline backup.
They watched the recording in a small conference room.
Elena stood beneath the front portico, holding Mateo's hand. She appeared upset, speaking rapidly to someone just outside the camera's field of view.
Then Victoria Whitmore entered the frame.
She approached Elena and said something that made the younger woman step back.
The audio was damaged, but one sentence remained clear.
"Dominic must never know."
Elena shook her head.
Victoria grabbed her wrist.
Mateo began to cry.
Then a third person entered the frame.
Dr. Bennett.
He took Mateo by the hand and led him toward a waiting vehicle.
Elena followed, struggling to keep pace.
The footage ended.
Dominic stood motionless.
"That's my nephew," he said.
Norah watched the frozen image of the little boy.
"Where did they take him?"
Leo shook his head.
"I don't know. The next camera was disabled."
Dominic turned toward him.
"You knew this footage existed?"
"I suspected it did."
"How long?"
Leo lowered his eyes.
"Three years."
Dominic struck the table with his good hand.
"You let me believe my sister died because of me while you sat on this?"
Leo didn't defend himself.
"I was afraid."
"Of whom?"
Leo looked at the screen.
"Victoria."
The room fell silent.
He explained that Victoria's family had financed several Rossi businesses. When Elena died, Victoria threatened to expose sensitive financial transactions and implicate Dominic in crimes that could destroy the organization.
Leo had hidden the recording because he feared Dominic would start a war without knowing whom he was fighting.
Instead, he had allowed the lie to survive.
Dominic's anger was frightening, but beneath it Norah saw something more painful.
He had spent three years believing he was responsible for everything.
Now he had to face the possibility that someone had used his guilt to control him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.
Leo's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I knew what you'd become if you found out."
Dominic looked away.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Norah noticed something in the lower corner of the video.
A reflection in the window of the waiting car.
A silver star pendant.
She leaned closer.
"Can you enlarge that?"
Leo adjusted the image.
The reflection sharpened enough to reveal a hand reaching through the open window.
The person inside the vehicle was wearing Elena's necklace.
Dominic stared at it.
"That's impossible."
"Why?" Norah asked.
"Because the police returned her personal effects after the accident. The necklace was in the sealed property bag."
Norah felt the room tilt.
If Elena's necklace had been inside that car, someone had either taken it before the crash or placed it there afterward.
Either possibility suggested the scene had been manipulated.
Dominic turned toward Leo.
"Find the original police evidence inventory."
Leo nodded and left.
Norah remained beside Dominic as he sat down.
"She didn't die because of you," she said quietly.
He looked at her.
"You don't know that."
"No. But I know someone has worked very hard to make sure you never ask the right questions."
His eyes were wet.
He looked furious about it.
Then his phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unknown number.
Dominic answered.
A child's voice came through the speaker.
"Uncle Dom?"
Dominic stopped breathing.
"Mateo?"
A sob followed.
"She said you weren't coming."
Then a man's voice interrupted.
"That's enough, son."
The call ended.
Dominic stared at the screen.
Norah watched the color drain from his face.
Because she recognized the man's voice.
May you like
It belonged to Dr. Bennett.
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