Chapter 2
A nurse hired for the charity event examined Nico in the performers’ lounge.
The boy had no serious injuries, but the bruising around his upper arm concerned her.
“He should be checked by his pediatrician tomorrow.”
“He will be.”
Nico sat quietly while she adjusted his cardigan.
The wooden airplane stayed in his lap.
Claire had helped him start the project months earlier through an adaptive preschool art program.
After she died, one of Nico’s therapists helped him finish it.
He had spent three weeks sanding the soft pine with a block strapped around his hand.
The gift had been his idea.
“Aunt Bee likes airplanes,” Nico had told Vittorio that morning.
Vittorio had forgotten why.
Bianca and Claire had once traveled constantly together for foundation events.
That had been before Claire became ill.
Before every family dinner started feeling carefully arranged.
Before Bianca began referring to Claire’s work as “that little music project.”
Daniel closed the office door.
“You need to understand the legal problem.”
“Owen swung first.”
“I saw that.”
“And Bianca grabbed Nico.”
“I saw that too.”
Daniel sat across from him.
“I also saw you slap her after you’d already removed her hand.”
Vittorio looked at Nico.
“I know what I did.”
“Good. Because witnesses are going to give statements.”
Vittorio nodded.
“No one pressures them.”
Daniel studied him.
“That includes donors, staff, security and your sister.”
“I said no one.”
Outside, the concert had been delayed.
The foundation’s program director, Rachel Morgan, appeared at the door.
Rachel had worked beside Claire for seven years.
Her eyes went immediately to the broken airplane.
“What happened?”
Nico answered before Vittorio could.
“Aunt Bianca broke it.”
Rachel closed her eyes briefly.
Then Nico added:
“Uncle Owen said Mommy was trash.”
Rachel looked directly at Vittorio.
Something in her face bothered him.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
“You’ve heard him say that before?”
Rachel hesitated.
“No.”
It was not a convincing answer.
Vittorio stood.
“What do you know?”
“I’m not doing this in front of Nico.”
That was fair.
Rachel looked toward the boy.
“Can I get you some hot chocolate?”
Nico nodded.
When a staff member wheeled him toward the catering room, Rachel waited until the door closed.
Then she said:
“Claire and Bianca hated each other by the end.”
Vittorio stared at her.
“My wife never told me that.”
May you like
Rachel’s expression tightened.
“I think she tried.”
