Chapter8
933 Words
Elena's POV
The police station smelled like stale coffee and desperation. Detective Cross led me into an interrogation room without a word, his face unreadable. I'd called Izzy on the way over. She was bringing a lawyer.
"Dr. Moretti, let's start with how you knew Dante Blackthorne would be at that private facility," Cross said, settling into the chair across from me.
"I didn't. I was called in as a surgeon."
"By whom?"
"The hospital coordinator. Standard protocol for emergency cases."
"Except it wasn't standard, was it? You were specifically requested. By name." He slid a document across the table. "This shows someone paid extra to ensure you were the operating surgeon."
I stared at the paper. The request had come through an encrypted account, payment made in cryptocurrency. Untraceable.
"I didn't know about this."
"Convenient." Cross leaned forward. "Mrs. Blackthorne claims you've been stalking her husband. That you faked your death five years ago to escape fraud charges."
"What fraud charges?"
"Medical malpractice. A patient died under your care at Mercy General. The family was preparing to sue when you conveniently disappeared."
My hands clenched under the table. "That patient had a brain aneurysm. It was inoperable. The family knew the risks."
"Then why did you run?"
"I didn't run. I left."
"Semantics, Doctor." He pulled out another file. "Here's what I think happened. You faked your death, changed your identity, and waited for your chance at revenge. When Dante was injured, you saw your opportunity. You were alone with him in that OR for six hours. Plenty of time to finish what someone else started."
The door opened. Izzy walked in with a sharp-dressed woman I didn't recognize.
"Catherine Walsh, Dr. Moretti's attorney. This interview is over unless you have actual evidence."
Cross smiled thinly. "We have motives, opportunity, and a suspicious death certificate. That's enough to hold her."
"On what charge?" Catherine asked.
"Fraud. Identity theft. We'll start there." He stood. "Dr. Moretti, you're under arrest."
***
The holding cell was freezing. They'd taken my phone, my jacket, everything except my watch. Three hours passed before Catherine returned.
"Bail hearing is tomorrow morning. I've already started building our case, but Elena, you need to tell me the truth. All of it."
I told her everything. The pregnancy, the threats, the faked death, Aiden. She listened without interrupting, taking notes.
"Cassandra's playing a dangerous game," Catherine said when I finished. "But she's made mistakes. The fraud charges won't stick—I've already pulled your medical records from Mercy General. That case was closed due to lack of evidence. And the identity theft charge is shaky at best."
"What about Dante's attempted murder?"
"They have nothing concrete linking you to the attack. Cassandra's testimony is circumstantial. But we need to find out who really paid for you to be at that facility."
"Dante's looking into it."
"Dante can't help you right now. He's technically a victim in this case, and any contact between you two will look suspicious." She paused. "There's something else. Cassandra's lawyer leaked your arrest to the press. It'll be everywhere by morning."
I closed my eyes. Aiden. He couldn't see this.
"Where's my son?"
"Safe with Izzy. I made sure of that before coming here."
The relief was temporary. If this went to trial, if Cassandra pushed for custody hearings, if Dante demanded paternity rights—everything I'd built would collapse.
"Get me out of here," I said. "Whatever it takes."
**************
Dante's POV
I found out about Elena's arrest from the news. Cassandra's face filled the screen, tears streaming as she described the "dangerous woman" who'd tried to murder me.
I called my lawyer immediately. "Get Elena Moretti released. Now."
"Mr. Blackthorne, you're the victim. You can't interfere—"
"I'm dropping all charges. She didn't try to kill me."
"You don't know that."
"Yes, I do. Someone else orchestrated this, and they're using Cassandra to cover their tracks."
I hung up and called Marcus. He answered on the first ring.
"Saw the news," he said. "Your ex-wife is quite the actress."
"What do you know about Elena's arrest?"
"Only what everyone knows. She's a fraud who faked her death."
"Cut the bullshit, Marcus. You've been circling my company for months. You tried to sabotage the Castellano deal. And now suddenly Elena's arrested for trying to kill me? Too many coincidences."
Silence. Then, "You were always paranoid, Dante."
"And you were always ambitious. What's your endgame? My company? Cassandra? Both?"
"I don't need to scheme for what's already falling apart. Your marriage is over, your business is bleeding money, and your miraculous surgeon is locked up. I'm just watching the pieces fall."
"Stay away from Elena."
"Or what? You'll protect her? Like you did five years ago?" Marcus laughed. "We both know how that ended."
I hung up, fury building. He was right about one thing—I'd failed Elena before. I wouldn't make that mistake again.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number. I answered.
"Dante Blackthorne?"
"Who is this?"
"Someone who knows the truth about the attack. Meet me at the old warehouse on Fifth. Midnight. Come alone, or Elena Moretti dies in that cell."
The line went dead.
**********
Elena's POV
The guard appeared at my cell at eleven PM. "You made bail."
I blinked. "How?"
"Anonymous benefactor. You're free to go."
Catherine was waiting in the lobby. "Don't ask questions. Just leave before they change their minds."
Outside, a black car idled at the curb. The window rolled down.
Lucian Blackthorne smiled at me. "Get in, Doctor. We need to talk about my brother.”
- Writer
