Contents
Day 16
Overview
Luca races back to London to protect Liv, misfires by accusing Monsieur Philippe, and learns Philippe’s past crime has no link to Telma. A sudden lead ties the late nurse Christine Lebeau directly to Dr. Cerqueira. After a menacing encounter and car attack, Luca and Liv flee and hide. Reviewing documents, Luca discovers the Milan transfer shows no sale price, deepening suspicion, before a shocking text upends the night.
Summary
A taunting letter pushes Luca to act. He calls Liv, warns her to stay inside, grabs his mother’s file, and rushes out. On the bus he confronts Monsieur Philippe, accusing him of abducting Telma out of revenge. Philippe instead reveals a past fatal hit-and-run and prison time, saying he’s been trying to make amends and denies any role in Telma’s disappearance.
On the Eurostar to London, Luca contacts Christine Lebeau but reaches her daughter, who says Christine hanged herself the previous day. Luca learns Christine had been a nurse who once worked with Dr. Cerqueira, reinforcing Cerqueira as the key figure.
In London, Luca reunites passionately with Liv. She reports a disturbing visitor at the pub who claimed, “Your man will never look at you the way I do,” and promised to return. Fearing for Liv, Luca refuses to involve police and urges immediate flight.
They flee by bicycle. A car with a non-UK/FR plate nearly hits them; they evade it by darting through Brydges Place and ride to the outskirts, then toward the countryside. They take shelter in an apparently abandoned house, wash, and rest together, briefly finding solace.
While Liv sleeps, Luca studies his mother’s papers and notices the Milan property transfer contains no sale price, suggesting an irregular or non-sale transaction. As he considers confronting Cerqueira upon his return in 48 hours, a new text arrives that shocks him, ending the night on a fresh, ominous twist.
Who Appears
- LucaProtagonist; confronts Monsieur Philippe, returns to London, protects Liv, flees attackers, reviews Milan deed, receives shocking text.
- LivLuca’s girlfriend; targeted by a stalker, nearly hit by a car, flees with Luca, shares refuge in an abandoned house.
- Monsieur PhilippeNeighbor/informer; accused by Luca, confesses past fatal hit-and-run, claims he’s making amends, denies involvement in Telma’s case.
- Dr. Joseph CerqueiraDoctor linked to Telma’s leukemia and Milan house; further implicated via nurse Christine Lebeau; due back in two days.
- Christine Lebeau’s daughterInforms Luca that her mother, ex-nurse who worked with Cerqueira, died by suicide the previous day.
- Unknown stalkerMan who menaces Liv at the pub and seems to pursue the couple through London.
- Car driverUnknown driver with non-UK/FR plate who nearly hits Luca and Liv during their escape.
- JoeLuca’s friend; calls Luca as he returns to London, concerned and confused.