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J ulia wiped her eyes, trying to regain emotional control.

Her windshield wipers beat in time with her heart.

Her fingers clenched the wheel, and the Ferrari sped through the rain.

There was traffic on the highway, and she had to keep her wits about her to follow the route on GPS.

She didn’t want to get lost or be later than she already was.

Her mind raced, full of second thoughts. She regretted not asking more questions at the scene. She grabbed her phone, pressed Gianluca’s number, and held it to her ear while it rang.

“Ms. Pritzker?” Marshal Torti answered, his tone surprised. “Can I help you?”

“Yes, I’m on my way to the hospital, but I have questions. Gianluca wasn’t the type to drive fast in bad weather. He was sensible. Doesn’t it seem odd to you?”

“A motorcyclist going too fast is not odd.”

“It would be for him. Were there witnesses?”

“No. People are not out at night, in this weather.”

“Any CCTV cameras along the road?”

“No. Perhaps he was drinking.”

“No, he wouldn’t.”

“Then perhaps he was in a hurry to get to your villa.”

“He wouldn’t drive that carelessly. Could you be wrong?” Julia had a darker thought, one in the back of her mind. “What if it wasn’t an accident?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Put it in context,” Julia said, thinking aloud. “I’ve been followed by two different men, and Gianluca and I chased one of them, the man in the white Fiat. What if Gianluca’s accident is related to that?”

“I don’t understand how it could be. There was no other vehicle involved in his accident, whether a white Fiat or not.”

“But you don’t know that for sure, since there are no cameras or witnesses.

” Julia felt like she was getting institutional responses, like with the Philadelphia detectives.

“The driver of the white Fiat knew what Gianluca looked like. He knew the motorcycle, too. So maybe he had something to do with the accident tonight. You have to admit it’s possible. ”

“Well, it’s speculation, but I suppose it is possible. What is your view, then?”

“The driver of the white Fiat could have followed Gianluca and driven him off the road. He could have caused the accident.”

“But you saw the skid mark.”

“I couldn’t see it in the rain, but no skid mark tells you why Gianluca skidded.” Julia felt horrified at the pictures flashing through her mind. “What if the Fiat driver followed Gianluca and scared him so much that he sped up and skidded off the road?”

“I understand, but there is no evidence of that. No skid marks or the like.”

“If it happened the way I said, the Fiat driver didn’t skid. There would be nothing to show you what he’d done.”

“Why would the Fiat driver do such a thing?”

“I don’t know, for whatever reason they’re following me. Please, go talk to that Fiat driver. We gave you the license plate, and I’m telling you right now, I’m suspicious.”

“Okay, we will do so. We will investigate and determine where he was tonight, as well as the reason he may have been following you.”

“Thank you.” Julia almost cried with relief.

“But I must note that I am suspicious too, of Mr. Moretti’s driving. If you recall, he admitted that he drove between the lanes and on the shoulder, chasing the Fiat. That is hardly the conduct of a sensible, cautious driver.”

Julia felt her stomach flip-flop. “He did it only because I asked him to.”

Marshal Torti sighed. “Ms. Pritzker, I have decades of experience in law enforcement, and I am also a father of two sons. I will not allow them to buy a motorcycle. Do you know why? Because I have seen many motorcycle accidents and I know firsthand that young men often take chances they should not.”

Julia could hear the conviction in his voice, but she still couldn’t agree. “But what if this is tied to the villa and the underground cell? Were you able to find the names of any missing children?”

“We have just begun to investigate. We don’t have the answer yet.”

“Then again, what if this is connected to the cell, the villa, my inheritance? To me ?” Julia didn’t know if she was making sense, but wasn’t about to stop now.

If her theory was correct, Gianluca was targeted because of her.

She felt the same guilt she had with Mike, as if the worst thing she could imagine was happening all over again.

“Wait, Marshal Torti, did you get a call tonight from Detective Malloy of the Philadelphia police? In homicide? He was going to talk to you about my husband’s murder. ”

“No.”

“You need to call Detective Malloy. I can give you his number. You should talk to each other. These things could be related, even though they’re in different countries.”

“Fine, we will do so. Kindly call me at the office tomorrow with the number. Now, please, I must go.”

“Okay, thank you.” Julia hit the gas, her gut churning.