Chapter 3 - The Man Outside the Gate
Dominic Costello arrived the next morning.
He did not call first.
He never had to.
For twelve years, the gates opened when Dominic’s car approached.
That morning they remained closed.
Dominic stepped out of the sedan wearing a charcoal overcoat and the calm expression of a man accustomed to being welcomed.
Marcus met him outside.
Luca watched through the security monitor.
Dominic smiled.
“Since when do I need permission to visit my cousin?”
“Since today.”
The smile remained.
But his eyes changed.
Ten minutes later, Luca allowed him into the study.
Dominic walked in alone.
His gaze moved first to Luca.
Then Elena.
Then Maya.
It remained on Maya half a second too long.
Luca noticed.
“So the rumors are true,” Dominic said.
“What rumors?”
Dominic smiled again.
“That you’ve suddenly become interested in fatherhood.”
Elena stood beside Maya.
No one had publicly discussed the paternity test.
Luca kept his voice calm.
“Who told you?”
Dominic shrugged.
“People talk.”
“No one here had permission to.”
“Then perhaps your house is less secure than you believe.”
Luca leaned back.
“Perhaps.”
Dominic approached the desk.
“I heard you’ve also been ordering medical tests.”
Luca watched him carefully.
“People talk.”
For the first time, Dominic’s smile weakened.
Luca slid a photograph across the desk.
Maya leaving school.
The message on the back.
Dominic read it.
His reaction was flawless.
Too flawless.
He frowned in exactly the right place.
He expressed outrage with exactly the right amount of restraint.
He promised to find whoever was responsible.
Then Maya spoke.
“Were you watching my mom twelve years ago?”
Dominic turned.
Every adult in the room froze.
Maya held the old security report.
Dominic stared at it.
Only for a second.
But Luca saw recognition.
“I don’t know what that is.”
Maya handed it to Luca.
Dominic glanced toward the door.
A man who had nothing to fear would not have looked for an exit.
Luca saw it.
So did Elena.
Dominic straightened his coat.
“You’re making dangerous assumptions.”
“No,” Luca said.
“I’m asking dangerous questions.”
Dominic’s expression hardened.
“You should be careful.”
“Is that advice?”
“Family concern.”
Luca smiled without warmth.
“You never cared about my legs until they started waking up.”
Dominic’s face finally lost its composure.
Only for a fraction of a second.
But Luca had spent twelve years studying men from a wheelchair.
He had become very good at noticing what happened when they believed he could not reach them.
Dominic left without another word.
An hour later, Marcus entered with security footage.
“The sedan from yesterday came back.”
“Where?”
“Across from Elena’s apartment.”
“Did you identify the driver?”
Marcus placed a still image on the desk.
Luca recognized the man.
Dr. Peter Vale.
May you like
The physician who had managed Luca’s daily medication for eleven years.
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