Chapter 6 - THE RED BACKPACK
Carmine was outside before Marcus finished calling the gate.
Helena's car reached the main drive.
The iron gate stayed closed.
Two guards approached.
Helena leaned on the horn.
Carmine walked into the headlights.
She stepped out.
"Move."
"Give me Leo's backpack."
Her eyes narrowed.
"It's mine."
"No."
He held out his hand.
"You're really doing this?"
"Yes."
For a second, neither moved.
Then she threw the backpack at his chest.
"There. Happy?"
He caught it.
It felt too heavy.
Helena saw his expression.
Something flickered in her face.
Carmine unzipped the main pocket.
Inside were Leo's school books.
A sweatshirt.
A small wooden airplane.
Then a manila envelope.
Carmine opened it.
Copies of Elena's death certificate.
The accident report.
A photograph of the wrecked Mercedes.
And a sealed evidence summary Carmine had never seen.
"Where did you get this?"
Helena's face went blank.
"I found it."
"Where?"
"In storage."
"That report was never in storage."
Carmine knew because the original case file remained with the family's private investigator.
"You're being paranoid."
He pulled out the evidence summary.
One sentence was highlighted in yellow.
BRAKE LINE SHOWED SIGNS OF DELIBERATE DAMAGE.
The official police report had called the failure "mechanical."
His private investigator had never told him this.
Or Carmine had never received the final report.
"Why did you have this?"
She reached for the car door.
Marcus blocked her.
"Ma'am."
She snapped, "Get away from me."
Carmine held up the paper.
"Did you know Elena?"
Too long.
"You said you met me two years after she died."
"I did."
"Then why do you have an evidence summary from her accident?"
Helena's voice dropped.
"Carmine, don't do this in front of employees."
"Answer me."
Then back at him.
And said, "Because your wife wasn't the woman you thought she was."
Carmine felt the night tilt.
Before he could ask another question, Helena's phone rang.
May you like
The screen lit up.
ANTHONY MORETTI.
