Chapter 4 - THE INVESTIGATOR'S REPORT
The private investigator arrived that afternoon with his attorney.
His name was Peter Shaw. He was in his fifties, neatly dressed, and visibly uncomfortable when Daniel led him into Luca's office.
Luca placed the account statement on the desk.
“You were paid twelve thousand dollars by Vanessa Bellini.”
Shaw nodded.
“She hired me to verify a family matter.”
“What did you find?”
Shaw opened his briefcase and removed a folder.
“Ms. Bellini provided a name and a birth date. I located a hospital record, a baptismal entry, and a letter written by Giovanni Moretti.”
He placed the documents on the desk.
Luca studied them.
The hospital record listed Elena Mitchell as the mother and Giovanni Moretti as the father. The date matched my birthday.
The baptismal entry listed only Elena.
The letter confirmed what Luca had already told me.
But there was something else.
Shaw placed a final page on the desk.
“This is a copy of a trust instrument. It was created by Giovanni Moretti shortly before his death.”
Luca's expression changed.
“What trust?”
“A fund established for any child he had outside his marriage. The beneficiary was not named directly. The document specified that the beneficiary could claim the fund after proving parentage.”
I stared at the page.
“What does that mean?”
Luca read the paragraph again.
“It means my father left money for you.”
I shook my head.
“I don't want it.”
“You don't have to decide now,” Luca said.
Shaw continued.
“Ms. Bellini asked me to determine whether the trust could affect the planned marriage and the family's business holdings.”
Luca looked up.
“Why would it?”
“The trust contains voting shares in Moretti Holdings. If the beneficiary is confirmed, those shares transfer to her.”
The room became quiet.
I looked at Luca.
“How many shares?”
“Eight percent,” he answered.
Shaw nodded.
“Enough to affect certain board decisions.”
Luca closed the folder.
“So Vanessa found out that Grace was my sister and that she could inherit part of the company.”
“Yes.”
“And she used the money meant for Elena's care to investigate the trust.”
Shaw looked down.
“That is correct.”
Luca's voice hardened.
“Did she ask you to hide the report?”
“She asked me to send all findings directly to her attorney.”
“Did she ask you to alter anything?”
Shaw hesitated.
“She asked whether the birth record could be challenged.”
Luca leaned forward.
“Could it?”
“No. Not on the evidence I found.”
Shaw pushed another envelope across the desk.
“There is also a message she sent me after I confirmed the relationship.”
Luca opened it.
The message was brief.
Do not tell Luca until after the wedding. We need the marriage completed before the trust becomes an issue.
Luca read it once.
Then again.
He handed it to Daniel.
“Keep a copy. Give everything to the attorneys and the authorities.”
I looked at the trust document.
“I don't want a company. I wanted my mother.”
May you like
Luca's face softened.
“I know.”
