Chapter 4
Samuel remembered more once he understood why Alessio was asking.
The second wildlife camera had been mounted near the greenhouse service entrance.
It captured the narrow side path, part of the planting area, and the doors leading into the greenhouse.
Isabella checked it every few days.
Not because she expected people.
Because she liked watching animals.
But during the final year of her life, something changed.
“She started checking it every morning,” Samuel said.
“Why?”
“She never told me.”
Alessio remembered that year differently.
Hospital visits.
Medication.
Long nights.
Isabella becoming thinner.
Ruby learning to walk.
Family members filling the house because everyone wanted to help.
Claudia had been there constantly.
So had Marco.
Alessio had considered that loyalty.
Now he wondered what he had failed to see.
Samuel opened an old equipment drawer.
Inside were spare straps, batteries, and empty memory-card cases.
One case had Isabella’s handwriting on it.
APRIL–MAY.
Empty.
Another:
JUNE.
Empty.
A third:
GREENHOUSE.
Empty.
Marco spoke from behind them.
“This proves nothing.”
Alessio turned.
“I didn’t say it did.”
“You’re building some fantasy because Claudia changed a garden.”
Claudia looked irritated.
“Stop talking.”
Marco faced her.
“What?”
“You’re making it worse.”
The exchange was quick.
But Alessio heard it.
So did Evelyn, standing near the greenhouse doorway with one of the female staff members.
Claudia noticed her daughter.
“What are you doing here?”
Evelyn immediately stopped.
Alessio looked toward her.
“I asked her to stay with staff.”
Claudia walked forward.
“She should be with me.”
Evelyn took a step backward.
That was twice.
Alessio moved between them.
“No.”
Claudia stared at him.
“She’s my daughter.”
“And she’s frightened of you.”
The words landed harder than the slap had.
Claudia’s face changed.
Evelyn looked at the floor.
Alessio lowered his voice.
“Evelyn, did your mother ask you about Isabella’s camera?”
The girl said nothing.
Claudia answered for her.
“No.”
Alessio kept looking at Evelyn.
After several seconds, she nodded.
Claudia’s breath caught.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“What did she ask?”
Evelyn rubbed her hands together.
“If Ruby knew where Aunt Isabella kept the cards.”
Marco closed his eyes.
Just briefly.
Alessio saw it.
Claudia turned on her daughter.
“You misunderstood me.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“You said if Ruby knew, I had to find out.”
“Enough.”
Evelyn recoiled.
Alessio stepped closer to Claudia.
“You will not speak to her like that again while she’s answering me.”
Claudia looked at him with hatred now.
Alessio did not care.
He turned back to Evelyn.
“Why did she want the cards?”
Evelyn’s eyes filled with tears.
“I don’t know.”
May you like
Then she whispered:
“She said Aunt Isabella hid something before she died.”
