Chapter 7 - Someone Had Been Watching Them Too
For years, I believed surveillance gave me control.
Then I discovered someone had been watching my family before I ever started watching them.
Dominic traced Argent Wing through layers of holding companies.
The business advertised executive security, medical transport, and risk consulting.
In reality, it appeared to function as a private intelligence network.
Drivers.
Security contractors.
Hospital employees.
Data brokers.
Men who could enter places without attracting attention.
Luca owned twelve percent.
Samuel Hayes once owned eight.
His shares were transferred shortly before he vanished.
To whom?
Unknown.
Clara sat across my office while I explained.
She looked physically ill.
“My father hated private security companies.”
“Apparently not enough.”
“There must be another explanation.”
“Maybe.”
“You don't believe that.”
“I believe documents.”
“And documents never lie?”
“People lie more.”
She looked at me.
“Your cousin is also listed.”
“Yes.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“Watch him.”
“Not confront him?”
“Elena wanted proof.”
That surprised her.
“You're listening to her.”
“Fourteen months late.”
It was not forgiveness.
But it was something.
We invited Luca to dinner.
I told him Matteo had begun speaking again.
His reaction seemed genuine.
He arrived carrying an expensive remote-controlled model car.
Matteo looked at it.
Then at me.
“No.”
Luca blinked.
“No?”
“I don't like cars.”
The room chilled.
Luca set the box down.
“Of course.”
I watched every movement.
Every glance.
At dinner, Clara remained nearby under the excuse of helping Matteo.
Luca was charming.
As always.
He asked about rehabilitation.
He praised Clara.
He joked with Dominic.
Then Matteo said, “Do you own a jacket with a silver bird?”
Silence.
Luca's fork stopped.
One second.
Maybe less.
But I saw it.
“What?”
“A silver bird.”
Luca smiled.
“No idea.”
Matteo stared.
“You know the symbol?”
“Can't say I do.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Clara watching him.
So did Dominic.
Luca took a drink.
“Why?”
Matteo looked at me.
I answered.
“He remembered seeing it before the bombing.”
Luca's face changed perfectly.
Concern.
Shock.
Sympathy.
Too perfectly.
“Vincent…”
“Interesting, isn't it?”
“You think someone from Argent Wing was involved?”
There it was.
I hadn't said the company name.
Dominic's eyes hardened.
Clara went still.
I leaned back.
“I said silver bird.”
Luca realized the mistake.
He recovered quickly.
“I assumed that's what you meant. Argent uses a bird logo.”
“You just said you didn't know the symbol.”
“Come on, Vincent.”
His smile faded.
“I've worked with hundreds of vendors.”
“Argent wasn't a vendor.”
He placed his napkin down.
“What is this?”
Matteo looked frightened.
I hated myself for allowing the conversation to happen near him.
Clara noticed.
“Matteo, want to finish that chess game upstairs?”
He nodded immediately.
As she wheeled him out, Luca watched.
Then he turned to me.
“You're investigating me.”
“Yes.”
Dominic closed the dining-room doors.
Luca laughed once.
“You've finally lost your mind.”
“Maybe.”
“You think I killed Elena?”
“I think you knew someone who may have.”
“I loved Elena.”
“So did I.”
Luca stood.
“Then don't insult her memory with this.”
“Sit.”
“No.”
Dominic stepped forward.
Luca looked at him.
“Are you seriously participating in this?”
Dominic said nothing.
Luca's face changed.
“You searched Argent.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“You invested.”
“Five years ago. Passive stake. I exited.”
“Why?”
“Because they were dirty.”
I paused.
“What does that mean?”
“They gathered information beyond what clients authorized.”
“What information?”
“Medical records. Financial vulnerabilities. Affairs. Addictions. Anything useful.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I did not know your family was targeted.”
“You knew Samuel Hayes?”
Luca stared.
“Yes.”
Clara had stopped in the hallway.
I saw her through the doorway.
She had heard.
“How?” I asked.
“He came to me.”
“When?”
“Eight months before the bombing.”
My hands tightened.
“What did he want?”
“Protection.”
“From whom?”
“He wouldn't say.”
“What did you do?”
“I introduced him to someone who could hide him.”
“Who?”
Luca's expression became troubled.
Before he answered, the lights went out.
Complete darkness.
Dominic cursed.
Emergency generators should have activated instantly.
They didn't.
Then somewhere upstairs, Matteo screamed.
I ran.
No lights.
No elevator.
I took the stairs three at a time.
Clara was already in Matteo's room.
He was safe.
But the window was open.
Rain blew across the carpet.
The hidden camera inside the smoke detector hung by its wires.
Someone had torn it loose.
On Matteo's pillow rested a white envelope.
My name was written across it.
Inside was one photograph.
It showed Clara pushing Matteo through the garden earlier that day.
Taken from outside the estate.
May you like
On the back, one sentence was written:
Vincent, your cameras aren't the only ones watching.
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