Daniel Rossi had been brought to a private clinic with severe injuries.
The record showed that he had been unconscious for several days.
Then, beside his name, somebody had written:
TRANSFERRED — PRIVATE FACILITY.
There was no further information.
Elena looked at Matteo.
"Was he alive?"
Matteo studied the document.
"Yes."
"Where did they take him?"
"We're trying to find out."
Carlo cleared his throat.
"There is a physician who worked at the clinic. He's retired now. We found his address."
Elena looked at the record again.
"Take me to him."
Matteo hesitated.
"It may not be safe."
"He's the only person who might know where my father went."
"I'll come with you."
"No."
"Elena—"
"I said no."
Matteo studied her.
Then he nodded.
"All right. Carlo will drive you."
She looked at him.
"Why are you letting me go?"
"Because you asked me to."
It was the first time anyone in the Moretti family had given her an answer without adding a condition.
***
The retired physician lived in a small house near the coast.
His name was Dr. Samuel Harris.
He was eighty-two years old, with thin white hair and a slight tremor in his left hand.
When Elena showed him the hospital record, he immediately recognized the name.
"Daniel Rossi," he whispered.
She nodded.
"You remember him?"
The doctor looked toward the window.
"I remember the night he arrived."
"What happened?"
"He had been shot. He was unconscious. Two men brought him in and paid cash. They told me not to ask questions."
"Was he alive?"
"Yes."
Elena stepped closer.
"Where did he go?"
The doctor closed his eyes.
"I treated him for almost three weeks."
"Then?"
"He woke up."
Elena's breath caught.
"He woke up?"
The doctor nodded.
"He asked for his wife and daughter."
She covered her mouth.
"What did you tell him?"
"That nobody had come."
The room became silent.
The doctor looked at her.
"He cried."
Elena could no longer stand still.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
"Please."
The doctor shook his head.
"The men who brought him were connected to a private security company. They transferred him to another facility after he recovered enough to travel."
"Which facility?"
"I never knew."
"Did you see the men again?"
"One of them returned."
The doctor reached into a drawer.
He removed an old photograph.
It showed three men standing outside the clinic.
Elena recognized one immediately.
Vincent Bellini.
The second man was a stranger.
The third was Alessandro Moretti.
Elena stared at the photograph.
"Alessandro knew."
The doctor said nothing.
"He knew my father was alive."
"I believe so."
Elena looked at him.
"Did he visit?"
The doctor nodded.
"Once."
Her voice became barely audible.
"When?"
"Two days before Daniel was transferred."
Elena lowered the photograph.
For twenty years, she had imagined that Alessandro had simply failed to find her father.
Now she knew that he had found him.
And then he had disappeared again.
***
When Elena returned to Manhattan, Matteo was waiting.
He saw her face and understood that something had changed.
"What happened?"
She handed him the photograph.
He examined it.
Then he looked at the date.
"That's impossible."
"Why?"
"Because my father told me Daniel disappeared before the hospital could treat him."
"He lied."
Matteo studied the photograph again.
"Where did you get this?"
"From the doctor who treated my father."
Matteo said nothing.
Elena stepped closer.
"Your father visited him."
"Elena—"
"Don't defend him."
"I'm not."
"He knew my father was alive."
Matteo looked at the photograph.
"Then we need to ask him why."
Elena shook her head.
"No. I need to ask him."
***
Alessandro was in his study when Elena entered.
He stood immediately.
"Elena."
She placed the photograph on his desk.
"Explain."
He looked down.
His face changed.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he pulled out a chair.
"Sit."
"No."
Alessandro remained standing.
"Where did you get this?"
"From the doctor who treated my father."
The old man looked at the photograph again.
"You found Samuel."
"Yes."
"How is he?"
"Alive. Unlike everyone your family has hurt."
Alessandro accepted the insult.
Elena's voice shook.
"You visited my father."
He nodded.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Alessandro looked toward the window.
"Because I discovered that Daniel had been taken to the clinic."
"Then you knew he was alive."
"Yes."
"Did you speak to him?"
"Yes."
Elena stared at him.
"What did he say?"
Alessandro's eyes lowered.
"He asked me to protect you."
She laughed bitterly.
"And what did you do?"
"I told him I would."
"But you didn't."
"No."
"Why?"
Alessandro took a long breath.
"Because Vincent told me Daniel had confessed to killing Lorenzo."
"He couldn't have."
"I know that now."
"No. You knew then. You just chose not to believe him."
Alessandro did not answer.
Elena stepped closer.
"What happened after you visited him?"
The old man looked at the photograph.
"Vincent told me Daniel was dangerous. He said that if Daniel recovered, he would expose the organization. He told me the safest thing was to keep him away from you."
"So you agreed?"
"Yes."
"Where did they take him?"
"I don't know."
"You were the boss."
"I thought I was."
Elena looked at him.
"Do you know what my mother did after you disappeared?"
Alessandro lowered his eyes.