Chapter 10 - THE FIRE WASN'T AN ACCIDENT The catering manager remembered the courtyard.
At first, he had been reluctant to speak.
Then federal investigators showed him the photographs.
He finally admitted something.
“The fire pit wasn't supposed to be there.”
Mateo stared at him.
“What?”
“It was moved.”
“By whom?”
The manager swallowed.
“Eleanor's assistant.”
“Why?”
“He said Mrs. Rinaldi wanted the courtyard to look warmer.”
Mateo's blood ran cold.
The fire pit had been placed directly beside the area where Clara and Luca were expected to greet guests.
Rebecca looked at the timeline.
The false agreement had been prepared.
The council resolution had been activated.
The lender warning had been hidden.
And then the fire pit had been moved.
Clara remembered the moment.
Julian had smiled.
He had taken Luca.
He had said something about respect.
At the time, she had thought it was madness.
Now she understood.
It had been intimidation.
A demonstration of what happened when she refused to obey.
Mateo sat silently.
Clara touched his shoulder.
“You saved him.”
“I almost didn't.”
“You did.”
“I should have protected you sooner.”
Clara looked into his eyes.
“You can't rewrite the past.”
“No.”
Mateo looked toward the window.
“But I can make sure it never happens again.”
For the first time, Clara saw something change in him.
He wasn't promising violence.
He was promising vigilance.
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There was a difference.
And it would take him years to learn it.
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