Page 74 of The Hidden Heir

“And that leaves us with the impossible, doesn’t it, Victor?”

The implication is insane, even as a theory. But if I’m to follow Victor’s reasoning and the information available, it doesn’t sound theoretical anymore, and it scares the hell out of me. An even crazier thought crosses my mind in my sudden urge to get to the truth before this situation pushes me to do the unthinkable: to leave with my son and never look back—this time, for good.

“How can we know for sure?” I ask him, “that it really was Stefano who was killed at the nightclub?”

“There were some items of his found close to his body, which Luca confirmed as belonging to Stefano,” he says. “And that’s what the police used to positively identify him as the victim in the black bag they brought back from the club.”

“No DNA testing, nothing else?”

“No.” He pauses, a thought crossing his mind. “I might have an idea on how to get an undeniable confirmation. Valentina, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go.”

Immediately, I shoot up from my seat with a determined scowl. “No. No way you’re doing any of this on your own.”

“Valentina—”

“No. First, if Luca still suspects you and you go to him with this particular nugget, he’ll need me to confirm. I was with you every step of the way. He trusts me. I’m his wife, after all.”

His gaze softens slightly, and his shoulders drop in defeat. “I guess you’re right.”

“Second, if Stefano is still alive by some… I don’t even know what to call it, because it doesn’t sound as if it’s a miracle… I deserve to be the one who uncovers the truth. He’s my child’s father, after all, and the reason I’m here. I need to know.”

Victor thinks about it for a moment, then looks around. A twinkle of amusement dances in his eyes. “I guess we’ll have to get Susie down here to take care of Michael while we’re out.”

“Excellent answer,” I reply with a cool grin.

I can’t sit on my ass and wait for this situation to resolve itself. No matter how crazy our options may seem at this point, I have to explore every avenue, every angle, until every possibility is exhausted.

Until only the truth remains.

23

VALENTINA

With Luca busy investigating his own people in light of Lanny’s confession, I’m able to accompany Victor, along with two of our security guards, to the city’s medical examiner’s office. To my surprise, Victor has access to pretty much any building in Chicago, and he’s always greeted with a polite smile and a nod.

Where Luca’s heritage makes him fearsome and dangerous, Victor’s warm and diplomatic demeanor opens different kinds of doors, doors we desperately need open right about now.

“Mr. Ellison!” exclaims Dr. Cooper, the city’s chief medical examiner, upon seeing us in his office. “What a surprise. What brings you here?”

“Dr. Cooper,” Victor replies and shakes his hand. “I never imagined I’d have to do this, to be perfectly candid. But I need your help, no matter how crazy it may sound.”

“You have my attention.”

“You were in charge of the nightclub bombing that killed my previous employer, Stefano Petrucci,” Victor says.

Dr. Cooper nods once. “Only in charge. I didn’t perform the actual autopsy.”

“But you have access to the complete case file, the autopsy report, the evidence catalog, all of it.”

“I do, yes.”

“I need you to run through everything for me, piece by piece, page by page,” Victor says, but the doctor politely resists and his face is cast in doubt.

“With all due respect, Victor, while I certainly enjoy our Sunday brunches and tennis matches, along with the fact that you always let me win, I can’t hand over any of that information without you being a law enforcement professional with an open investigation. You know that.”

“I know,” Victor sighs. “But our current situation demands it.”

Dr. Cooper shakes his head. “I can’t, Victor. It would be considered obstruction of justice.”