Chapter 18 - THE WOMAN ARTHUR FEARED
Elena almost refused.
Luca wanted her to refuse.
Instead, she went.
The meeting took place behind reinforced glass.
Arthur looked smaller than before.
Prison clothing had stripped away the last illusion of authority.
“You look like her.”
Elena frowned.
“Who?”
“Isabella.”
“I look nothing like her.”
“Not physically.”
Arthur leaned closer.
“You make Luca question himself.”
“She did too.”
Elena remained silent.
Arthur claimed one person had helped Isabella create Maya’s trust.
A lawyer named Evelyn Shaw.
Shaw had disappeared after Isabella’s death.
Officially, she retired to Arizona.
In reality, Arthur believed she had taken copies of financial and medical evidence.
“Why tell me?”
“Because Luca won’t believe anything I say.”
“He shouldn’t.”
Arthur smiled faintly.
“But he believes you.”
Elena stood.
Arthur tapped the glass.
“There’s more.”
Elena stopped.
“Isabella suspected Luca’s poisoning much earlier than the letter suggests.”
“How much earlier?”
“Before his collapse.”
Elena turned slowly.
Arthur explained that Isabella noticed Luca’s balance problems.
She had confronted Bell.
Bell lied.
But Isabella secretly ordered another blood test.
Evelyn Shaw received the results.
If those records still existed, they could establish that the poisoning began while Arthur was actively transferring control of the businesses.
It would destroy his remaining legal defense.
Elena left without promising anything.
Vincent located Evelyn Shaw within two days.
She was seventy-three and living under her married name in Santa Fe.
When Luca called, she already knew why.
“I wondered when Maya would find you.”
Luca froze.
“You knew her?”
“No.”
“But Isabella did.”
Evelyn mailed a sealed package overnight.
Inside was Luca’s original blood analysis.
Proof of neurotoxic exposure dated three weeks before his collapse.
There was also one photograph.
Elena standing outside her apartment.
Pregnant.
On the back, Isabella had written a sentence.
FIND HER IF I FAIL.
Luca sat quietly.
His mother had not simply known.
She had been trying to reach Elena.
Arthur had intercepted her.
The final piece of Luca’s stolen past had fallen into place.
At trial, Arthur’s defense collapsed.
Mercer testified.
Bell testified.
Vincent testified.
Evelyn testified.
The recordings played.
Arthur was convicted on multiple charges tied to the conspiracy.
When the verdict was read, Luca felt no triumph.
Only distance.
Twelve years could not be returned by a judge.
But outside the courthouse, Maya ran toward him.
Luca looked at his cane.
May you like
Then at the twenty feet separating them.
And he made a decision.
