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M r. Lombardi? My name is Julia Pritzker. I’m calling about Emilia Rossi.”

“I’m delighted to hear from you. I have been trying to reach you, Ms. Pritzker.”

Miz Preet-zker? Julia thought Lombardi’s accent sounded Italian, but she couldn’t tell if it was real or fake. “Are you really a lawyer?”

“Of course, yes. I am one of the most well-respected estates attorneys in Milan. I wrote to inform you that you are a beneficiary of my client Emilia Rossi.”

Yeah, right. “So this is real?”

“Certainly. Why not?”

“I don’t know Emilia Rossi.”

“Pardon me?”

“I have no idea who Emilia Rossi is. I don’t know anyone by that name.”

Lombardi fell silent a moment. “She has bequeathed you a very considerable sum, a villa, and property.”

“She can’t have, I don’t know her.”

“A distant relative, perhaps?”

“No, it must be a mistake.”

“Ms. Pritzker, there is no mistake.”

This has to be a scam. “What do you want from me? Money?”

“No. On the contrary, I’m obligated to send you a distribution after probate is complete.”

This guy is good. “How do I know you’re who you say you are?”

“Ms. Pritzker.” Lombardi’s tone stiffened. “If you wish to review my bona fides, please consult our website, Lombardi & Palumbo, Studio Legale.”

Julia typed it into her laptop, and a website popped onto the screen, showing two older lawyers in a modern office in front of a cityscape. Still, she made websites for a living, so she knew it could be fake. “This doesn’t prove anything.”

“Ms. Pritzker, I assure you, I am genuine.”

“But I don’t know any Emilia Rossi.”

“There must be someone in your family you can ask.”

Julia blinked. “My parents have passed, and I’m adopted. I don’t know anything about my biological family.”

“So you cannot say you are not related to Emilia Rossi.”

“Well, no,” Julia said, realizing it was theoretically possible. “But in Italy? How could I be related to someone in Italy?”

“In any event, I intend to see that distribution is made to you as soon as possible. Probate will take several months under Italian law, due to taxation and such. In total, your bequest amounts to three million, two hundred thousand euros.”

Wait, what? Julia gasped, stunned. She must’ve heard him wrong. “How much?”

“Your bequest is three million two hundred thousand euros, which is roughly the same in dollars.”

“Are you serious ?” Julia’s mouth dropped open. Her mind reeled. It was like she won the lottery if it was true, which it couldn’t be. “That’s impossible!”

“Ms. Pritzker, I have a meeting and I cannot be late.” Lombardi cleared his throat.

“You may take possession of the villa immediately, and I will draft the necessary papers. If you wish, I will have my assistant fly you to Milan and book you at a hotel near my office. You could sign the papers, then travel to your property. I could arrange a car.”

Oh my God. Julia’s head was spinning. “Where’s the house again?”

“The villa is in Chianti, and the property is twenty hectares, about forty acres.”

“ Forty acres?” Julia asked, trying to get a grip. “Plus I thought Chianti was a wine.”

“Chianti is a province in Tuscany, outside Florence. Sangiovese grapes are grown in Chianti province. Authentic Chianti can be made only there. My wife is Tuscan.” Lombardi’s voice warmed. “Tuscany is very beautiful, and we go often.”

“I can’t believe this.” Julia shook her head, unable to process it fast enough.

“Should you wish to sell the villa, I can engage a realtor for you. He can ascertain the value of the property better than I.”

“And I get a house on top of the money?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Holy shit!” Julia blurted out, dumbfounded. It was an enormous inheritance, if a total mystery. “But I don’t know Emilia Rossi.”

“I could also assist you to investigate your familial connection to her. I have a family investigator I use. I can include him in our meeting, if you wish.”

“I wish!” Julia felt a surge of excitement. The prospect of learning about her biological parents made her heart race. She’d wondered about them her whole life.

“Ms. Pritzker, I must go now. Please let me know when you wish to visit. I’m available this week but not the next few.”

“Thank you very much.”

“My pleasure. Good evening.”

“Goodbye.” Julia pressed End in a sort of shock.

She found herself rising and looking out the window.

Sunlight flooded through the glass, so bright she couldn’t see outside.

She stared into the light, trying to get through her head what had just happened.

She was inheriting millions of dollars, a villa, and land from a stranger who might be a blood relative.

Her horoscope said her luck would change today, and it was right again .

Still, for a lead in Mike’s case, she would’ve given all the money in the world.