Chapter 3 - THE FIRST LIE
Lorenzo lifted both hands.
“Dante, think about this. A four-year-old saw something she didn't understand. You can't accuse me because of a child's story.”
“I haven't accused you. I've asked you a question.”
“You're treating me like an enemy.”
“Then answer.”
Lorenzo looked toward Marco.
“Wasn't the garment bag checked when it came into the house?”
Marco nodded. “It was.”
“Then perhaps the device was planted after it arrived.”
Dante considered that possibility.
“Who had access to my dressing room?”
“Your staff. Security. Me. You know how many people move through this house.”
“Not many without permission.”
Lorenzo gave a humorless laugh. “Are you going to question every employee?”
“If I have to.”
Elena stood near the staircase, holding Lily's hand. She wished she could disappear. She had worked in the Moretti household for only seven months, and she knew that being noticed by powerful people was rarely a blessing.
Dante turned toward her.
“Did Lily tell you anything else?”
Elena hesitated. “She said she saw the man put something inside the tie. I thought she was describing a game.”
Lily tugged at her mother's sleeve.
“He told me it was a secret.”
Every face turned toward her.
Dante crouched again. “Who told you that?”
“The man with the shiny ring. He said not to tell because it was a surprise for you.”
Lorenzo's jaw tightened.
“That is nonsense.”
Lily's eyes filled. “It's not!”
Elena knelt beside her. “It's okay, sweetheart.”
Dante watched the child's reaction. She wasn't inventing a story for attention. She was frightened because an adult had told her to keep a secret and now everyone was looking at her.
He stood.
“Marco, take the device to our technical team. I want to know whether it transmitted anything and where the signal went.”
Then he faced Lorenzo.
“You'll remain in the house.”
“I have appointments.”
“Cancel them.”
“You can't hold me here.”
Dante stepped closer.
“I'm not holding you. I'm asking you not to leave until we clear this up. If you're innocent, you'll have nothing to fear.”
Lorenzo looked at him for a long moment.
May you like
“Of course.”
But when he turned away, Dante noticed his right hand trembling.
