Chapter 8 - The Woman in Wisconsin
Samuel Pritchard had not disappeared.
He had changed his name.
Marco found him through an old property transfer in Wisconsin.
Samuel Price.
Age seventy-six.
Retired carpenter.
Widower.
Living outside Lake Geneva.
Dominic wanted to go immediately.
Marco argued against it.
“If Vittorio is watching the estate, he may be watching you.”
“He already knows we found something.”
“That doesn’t mean we show him what.”
I stood by the library window listening.
Then Dominic turned toward me.
“You’re coming.”
I blinked.
“Why?”
“You notice things.”
“That is becoming a dangerous compliment.”
Rosa spoke from the sofa.
“Take her.”
I looked at her.
“Thank you for volunteering me.”
“You’re welcome.”
Three hours later, I was sitting in the back of a black SUV with Dominic Caruso while Marco drove north.
Normal Wednesday.
Samuel Price lived in a modest white house surrounded by bare trees.
No guards.
No gate.
No marble columns.
He opened the door before we knocked.
The moment he saw Dominic, his face collapsed.
“You have her eyes.”
Dominic froze.
Samuel let us inside.
The house smelled like coffee and sawdust.
Family photographs covered the walls.
Dominic looked at every one.
Samuel sat at the kitchen table.
“I wondered how long it would take.”
“Thirty-one years,” Dominic said.
Samuel looked ashamed.
“I know.”
“Was my mother in that coffin?”
“No.”
The answer landed like a physical blow.
Dominic sat down.
Samuel rubbed both hands over his face.
“Maria survived the crash.”
Marco leaned forward.
“Was it an accident?”
“No.”
Dominic’s eyes closed.
Samuel continued.
“Her brakes had been cut.”
“She knew someone would try something.”
“She arranged a second car.”
“My sister Evelyn helped her.”
“What happened after?”
“We hid Maria for three weeks.”
“Where?”
Samuel looked toward the window.
“Here.”
Dominic slowly lifted his head.
“My mother lived in this house?”
“For twenty-three days.”
“Why didn’t she come for me?”
Samuel looked devastated.
“She tried.”
Silence filled the kitchen.
“Your father refused.”
Dominic’s face hardened.
“Explain.”
“Maria contacted Franco.”
“She told him Vittorio had tried to kill her.”
“She told him Gabriel’s death was connected.”
“She asked Franco to bring you to her.”
“What did he do?”
“He told her never to contact you again.”
Dominic stood so quickly the chair fell backward.
Samuel flinched.
“He chose Vittorio?”
“He chose the family.”
“That is not an answer.”
“In your father’s mind, it was.”
Dominic walked away from the table.
I could see his hands shaking.
Samuel reached into a drawer.
“Maria left something.”
He removed a sealed envelope.
On the front was written:
DOMINIC, WHEN YOU ARE READY TO KNOW WHY I STAYED AWAY.
Dominic stared at it.
Samuel pushed it across the table.
“She made me promise not to find you.”
“Why?”
“Because she believed Vittorio would watch anyone who approached.”
Dominic picked up the envelope.
“Where did she go?”
Samuel looked at me.
Then Marco.
Then back to Dominic.
“That is the part you are not going to like.”
Dominic’s jaw tightened.
“Tell me.”
Samuel swallowed.
“Your mother didn’t disappear alone.”
“She took someone with her.”
“Who?”
May you like
Samuel answered.
“Vittorio’s wife.”
