Tell him to look beneath the old clock.
Your loving father,
Daniel.
Elena read the letter again.
Then she lowered it.
"An old clock?"
Lorenzo's expression changed.
He knew exactly which clock Daniel meant.
***
The clock stood in Vittorio Moretti's former office.
It was an antique grandfather clock imported from Italy decades earlier.
Vittorio had placed it beside the fireplace.
After his death, Lorenzo had ordered the office preserved.
He had never examined the clock closely.
When they returned to the estate, he went directly to the office.
Elena followed.
Matteo closed the door behind them.
Lorenzo crouched beside the clock.
He examined the wooden base.
There was a narrow panel at the back.
It had been carefully concealed.
He pressed against it.
Nothing happened.
Then he noticed a small metal fitting.
He inserted the second key.
The panel opened.
Inside was a leather document case.
Lorenzo removed it.
It was heavier than expected.
He placed it on the desk.
Elena stood beside him.
"What's inside?"
"Something my father wanted hidden."
He opened the case.
The first document was a property deed.
The second was a bank statement.
The third was a photograph.
Lorenzo stared at it.
His father was standing beside Adrian Voss.
Daniel Marin was between them.
But this time, there was a fourth person.
A woman.
Elena recognized her immediately.
Her mother.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten sentence.
THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE BEFORE THE FIRE.
Lorenzo turned to the documents.
The first page described a transfer of ownership.
The second listed several payments.
The third was a signed confession.
Vittorio Moretti had known about Adrian's financial scheme.
He had also known that Daniel intended to expose it.
Instead of helping Daniel, Vittorio had arranged a meeting with Adrian.
The meeting had taken place at the warehouse.
The fire had not been an accident.
It had been intended to destroy the records.
And Daniel had been taken before the building burned.
Lorenzo read the document twice.
Then he lowered it.
"My father knew."
Elena looked at him.
"Knew what?"
"That Adrian was planning to kill Daniel."
She stepped backward.
"And he let it happen?"
Lorenzo did not answer.
He could not.
The man who had taught him everything had left behind a secret that made every lesson feel like a lie.
Elena picked up the confession.
There was a final paragraph.
Vittorio had written that Daniel's wife and daughter would be protected.
In exchange, Daniel would surrender the original ledger.
The agreement had never been honored.
Elena looked at Lorenzo.
"Your father traded mine."
Lorenzo closed his eyes.
"Yes."
"And you knew nothing?"
"No."
She placed the paper on the desk.
"How convenient."
Lorenzo looked at her.
"You think I knew?"
"I don't know what to think."
"Then don't decide yet."
She laughed bitterly.
"You want me to believe that you're different from him?"
"No."
"Then what do you want?"
Lorenzo looked at the photograph.
"I want to know why my father kept this."
He picked up the confession.
"And I want to know why Adrian allowed it to remain here."
***
The answer came that evening.
Matteo entered the study with a telephone.
"Sir, there's someone on the line."
"Who?"
"He says his name is Daniel."
Lorenzo froze.
Elena stood.
"Daniel who?"
Matteo looked at her.
"Daniel Marin."
The room became silent.
Lorenzo took the telephone.
"Who is this?"
A pause.
Then a familiar voice answered.
"Lorenzo."
Lorenzo gripped the desk.
"Daniel?"
"Yes."
For a moment, Lorenzo could not speak.
Then he said the only thing that mattered.
"Where are you?"
"Somewhere I should have left a long time ago."
"Are you alive?"
A quiet laugh came through the telephone.
"Unfortunately."
Elena reached for the phone.
"Father?"
Silence.
Then a breath.
"Elena?"
She covered her mouth.
"Father?"
"Oh, sweetheart."
Her knees weakened.
Lorenzo caught her before she fell.
Daniel's voice broke.
"I'm sorry."
Elena began crying.
"Where are you?"
"I can't tell you yet."
"Why?"
"Because Adrian is listening."
Lorenzo took the phone again.
"Daniel, listen carefully. We have the records."
"Which records?"
"The confession. The ledger. Everything."
A pause.
"Then you know."
"Yes."
"About Vittorio?"
"Yes."
Daniel exhaled.
"Then you know why I couldn't come home."
Elena pulled away from Lorenzo.
"Why didn't you contact me?"
"I tried."
"When?"
"Several times."
"Then why didn't you?"
Daniel's voice became strained.
"Because every time I tried, someone got hurt."
Elena wiped her face.
"Mother waited for you."
Silence.
Then Daniel whispered.
"I know."
"She died waiting."
A long pause followed.
"I know, Elena."
She looked at the floor.
"Do you know how much I hated you?"
Daniel did not defend himself.
"I deserved it."
"Do you know how much she suffered?"
"Every day."
Elena pressed her hand against her chest.
"Then why didn't you come back?"
"Because Adrian told me that if I returned, he would kill you both."
Lorenzo took the phone.
"Where are you?"
"Not far."
"Give me a location."
"No."
"Daniel."
"Listen to me. Adrian has been waiting for this moment. He knows the records are missing."
"We can protect you."
"No, Lorenzo. You don't understand. Adrian isn't working alone."
Lorenzo looked toward the window.
"Who is helping him?"
Daniel's answer was quiet.
"Someone inside your organization."
The line went dead.
***
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Matteo checked the telephone.
"Disconnected."
Lorenzo looked at him.
"Trace the call."
"Already trying."
Elena sat down.