Chapter 11 - The Car Behind MarcoDetective Hayes arrived at the townhouse within twenty minutes.
She studied the photograph beneath a portable evidence light.
"Could be real."
"Could be altered."
"We'll test it."
Luca paced near the window.
"If Adrian was behind Marco that night—"
Hayes interrupted him.
"Don't finish that sentence."
Luca looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because right now you have a photograph."
"You don't have proof of a crime."
Emma sat beside Grace.
"Who left it here?"
Daniel checked the entry logs.
"No forced entry."
"No camera footage."
"The exterior system was offline for eleven minutes."
Hayes frowned.
"Convenient."
Luca looked at Daniel.
"Who can disable it?"
"Me."
"You."
"Two technicians."
"And Marco knew the access code."
Emma looked toward the photograph.
"Someone wants us to see this."
Hayes nodded.
"That's what worries me."
Luca stopped pacing.
"If Connor wanted Adrian blamed, this fits."
Emma looked at him.
"But Connor is in custody."
"He could have arranged it before."
"Or someone else did."
Hayes put the photograph into an evidence sleeve.
"We need to separate facts from bait."
Emma looked at Grace.
"Facts."
"Connor came to the hospital."
"Someone altered my records."
"Someone stole Marco's notebook."
"Someone followed us."
"Someone entered this townhouse."
"That's a lot of facts."
Hayes nodded.
"And every one points to somebody who knows your movements."
Luca's phone rang.
Vincent.
He answered.
"What?"
His expression changed.
"Where?"
He listened.
"We're coming."
Hayes immediately stood.
"What happened?"
Luca ended the call.
"Adrian is missing."
They drove to Vincent's house.
Emma did not want to go.
She also refused to remain alone somewhere another stranger could enter.
Vincent's estate sat behind iron gates in Lake Forest.
Police vehicles lined the driveway.
Inside, Vincent stood near a fireplace.
He looked ten years older than he had that morning.
"Adrian didn't show up for a board meeting."
Luca frowned.
"That's not unusual."
"He left this."
Vincent handed him a folded note.
Luca read it.
Then passed it to Hayes.
I won't take the blame for Marco.
Look at the person who benefited.
Hayes frowned.
"Benefited from what?"
Vincent looked at Luca.
"Marco's death."
Emma noticed Luca stiffen.
"What does that mean?"
Vincent did not answer.
Emma repeated the question.
Luca finally spoke.
"When Marco died, his voting shares transferred to me."
Emma stared at him.
"How much?"
"Enough to give me control of the company."
The room became silent.
Hayes looked at Luca differently.
"So you benefited."
"Financially."
"Did you know the shares would transfer?"
"Of course."
"Did Marco?"
"Yes."
Emma looked at Vincent.
"And you?"
"Yes."
Hayes folded the note.
"Then Adrian just introduced another suspect."
Emma hated the word.
She looked at Luca.
For the first time since the hospital, doubt entered her mind.
Luca saw it.
"You think I had something to do with Marco's death?"
Emma shook her head.
"I don't know what to think."
"Then don't guess."
"I'm trying not to."
Hayes stepped between them.
"Good."
"Nobody guesses."
"We investigate."
A detective approached Hayes.
He whispered something.
Hayes turned toward Vincent.
"We found Adrian's car."
"Where?"
"Near O'Hare."
"Any sign of him?"
"No."
"But there was blood inside."
Emma's breath caught.
Luca looked sharply at Hayes.
"How much?"
"Not enough to know what happened."
Hayes continued.
"We also found a phone."
"His?"
"Looks like it."
"There's a draft message."
"To who?"
Hayes looked at Emma.
"You."
Emma froze.
"Me?"
Hayes read it aloud.
Emma, Marco was right to trust Luca.
But Luca is trusting the wrong person.
Luca stared at her.
Emma whispered.
"Who?"
May you like
Hayes looked back at the message.
"There isn't a name."
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