Chapter 3 - VIVIENNE’S FIRST LIE
Vivienne’s first lie was small.
“I never touched the bracelet.”
Dominic had seen her.
Seven-year-olds can be mistaken.
So police looked for corroboration.
A party photographer had captured seventeen minutes before the confrontation.
In one photograph, Vivienne held Matteo while Elena cut the christening cake.
Matteo’s bracelet was closed.
In another, eight minutes later, Vivienne sat with him near the window.
Her thumb and index finger were directly over the clasp.
Still not proof she opened it.
Then video from a guest’s phone.
Vivienne turned Matteo’s wrist.
Looked closely at the band.
Then glanced over her shoulder before moving behind a flower arrangement.
Camera lost her hands for four seconds.
When she reappeared, the band hung slightly loose.
There.
Not perfect.
Enough to challenge denial.
Police asked again.
Her attorney stopped the interview.
Good.
Rights apply to people I despise.
Then Bianca.
“What did your mother tell you before the lunch?”
Bianca stared at the table.
“She said Roman had finally agreed to discuss a family arrangement.”
I almost interrupted.
My lawyer stopped me.
“What arrangement?”
“She has been saying one of the triplets should be raised partly with me.”
Elena’s face went cold.
Bianca continued:
“I said no.”
Then:
“I also said I wanted to be involved.”
There.
Honest enough to hurt.
“What does involved mean?”
“Godmother. Regular time. Maybe overnights when they were older.”
“Did Roman agree?”
“No.”
“Elena?”
“No.”
“Then why did you believe Vivienne?”
Bianca started crying.
“Because I wanted to.”
There.
The answer I trusted most.
Not:
Because Mother fooled me completely.
She wanted the fantasy.
Then the baby at lunch.
“Why did you take him?”
“Mom put him in my arms.”
“You could have handed him back.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you?”
Bianca looked down.
“I thought Roman would finally have to talk about it.”
That was not kidnapping.
It was still betrayal.
Then:
“Did you know about the bracelet?”
“No.”
“Did you know Vivienne had asked how hospital bands worked?”
Bianca froze.
I saw it.
The detective did too.
“When?”
“Two days after they came home.”
“What did she ask?”
“She asked whether the bands could be removed without cutting.”
My hands tightened beneath the table.
“And you said?”
“I said I didn’t know.”
“Anything else?”
Bianca’s voice dropped.
“She asked Owen.”
May you like
Owen looked up.
That was new.
