Chapter 7 - Teresa Knows More Than She Says
Teresa admitted she had suspected an internal leak for months.
She had noticed small inconsistencies.
A door unlocked when it should have been secured.
A meeting moved without explanation.
A confidential appointment appearing on the wrong calendar.
But she had kept quiet.
“Why?” Emma asked.
Teresa looked at Luca.
“Because your father taught me something.”
“What?”
“Never accuse a person because something feels wrong.”
Luca's expression tightened.
“You should have told me.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
“From becoming your father.”
Silence filled the room.
Emma felt she was standing inside a family history she didn't understand.
Teresa continued.
“Your father trusted fear. He believed everyone could be controlled.”
She looked at Emma.
“He was wrong.”
Emma lowered her eyes.
Luca said nothing.
Teresa placed an old key on the table.
“This belonged to your father.”
Luca stared.
“What does it open?”
“The old records room.”
Emma noticed something.
The key had fresh scratches.
“Someone has used it recently.”
Teresa looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Metal gets scratched when a key is forced.”
Luca picked it up.
The scratches were obvious now.
They entered the records room.
Boxes covered the walls.
One shelf was empty.
Luca checked the records.
A single file was missing.
His father's private property records.
Emma looked around.
“Maybe that's what they want.”
Luca shook his head.
“No.”
“Then what?”
He looked at the empty shelf.
“That file contains the original ownership structure of this house.”
Emma's heart sank.
“So whoever has it could claim something?”
“Not legally.”
“Then why steal it?”
Luca's eyes moved toward the door.
“Because someone wants me to believe they can.”
May you like
And that meant the goal might not be money.
It might be control.
