Shocked expressions duplicate in the men and women who surround the oak desk. Giulio is the only one who stands as I brush myself off and rush to his side, at this point stumbling with one heel off.
This is so not a good look.
The newspaper is partly soaked from the warm beverage, but I’m lucky it missed the article completely. “You have to see this. You have to!” I insist, slapping the paper on his desk.
Giulio takes one look at my wide eyes and turns to his associates. “Please excuse me for a moment. Lance, continue and brief me later.” Giulio grips the newspaper and I retrieve my heel before he escorts me outside with his hand laced in mine.
Preoccupation outlines his previously composed façade when we come to a halt. “What’s going on, Valencia?”
“Look!” I plead, letting go of his hand to continue whirling through the pages with each turn more violent. “They say there is a new lead in the case! They say somebody saw her, read this! Please Giulio, read this!”
Thursday, 17th September 2016
NEW LEAD—THE POSSIBLE SIGHTING IN THE WINDOW CASE:
The investigation of missing two-month-old Addilyn Giannotti is predicted to resume following Seattle Police increasing their reward to $20,000 for information on the disappearance. The infant was abducted from her nursery window on March 1st, 2016 from her parents’ Madrona home and has been missing for six months. Seattle Police also recently released an updated computer-generated sketch of how Addilyn, who would be eight months old now, would look today.
Security cameras were active at the time, catching a masked intruder unlawfully forcing her window open while her mother, Valencia Giannotti, and close family were in the front yard. The intruder was seen rushing Addilyn to a get-away car moments after Mrs. Giannotti and close family entered. Father, Giulio Giannotti, the successful founder of leading architecture and interior design company Notti Designs, was in London at the time.
Nobody is yet to be arrested or identified for the crime.
Yesterday afternoon, a witness on her daily walk passed an infant with a unique identifying birthmark similar to Addilyn’s being held by a young woman. The witness slowed to converse, but the woman began to act suspiciously. Seattle Police are adamant to speak to the young woman and call on the public’s help to locate her. She is described as Caucasian, early twenties, with short, blonde hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a white sweater and jeans at the time. Security cameras within the area have been checked, but no clear images have been found and no further leads have been made. The witness, who does not want to be identified, filed a police report early this morning.
Anybody with any information concerning the whereabouts of Addilyn Giannotti or on the possible sighting is urged to contact Sergeant Steve Flynn or their local SPD precinct.
This is our life. Something Giulio and I have been struggling with for so long, but this right here is reaffirmed hope—something that is set to heighten my farfetched efforts.
In late March I stopped watching the news and had to refrain from searching her name. It was too overwhelming. I know SPD would contact either Giulio or me with any new information which is why it surprises me that they didn’t regarding this.
“Just because there was a possible sighting doesn’t mean it was actually Addilyn. This doesn’t mean anything. The witness account is lacking and they still have no leads.”
“But don’t you see? The letters and now this. This is fresh hope for us!”
Giulio works his jaw and looks to the side. He provides no comfort in carrying my heavily weighted heart. I know it isn’t his job to console me, but any form of encouragement would help me in this fragile and delicate moment.
“Valencia…we still don’t know if the letters are legitimate or a hoax. There’s still no hope, only further unsettling uncertainty.”
I shake my head at his refusal. “Let’s go to the precinct and ask about this article. They may know more. Even if it’s a little thing they failed to publish, maybe they can give us something else.”
“That’s not a good idea.”
“Why? It’s the right thing to do. Giulio, please listen to me. It could be her. Somebody saw her. Somebody saw our baby girl and the police didn’t even contact us! They didn’t even call!” My urgency has me grasp the paper tighter. “Let’s go to them. Maybe they have something tha—”
“They called me.”
What?
No.
He wouldn’t do this.
He wouldn’t hide this.
The air is pressed from my lungs by the heavy weight of betrayal in my chest. “Pardon?”
Giulio can’t avoid my gawking expression any longer. “They called me early this morning with the news. You were still asleep. The description the witness gave isn’t strong enough to confirm the sighting, however the police can’t rule it out just yet. After the call ended, as you already know they’re obligated to call your cell too because with our legal separation we’re considered separate parties…They called you, but I…I answered because I didn’t want to wake you up early after last night. I told Sergeant Flynn it wasn’t a good time…that you’d call them back, because…I wanted to tell you first.”
“How did you expect me to call them back if you didn’t tell me about the call in the first place? When you dropped me off at Helena’s I checked my recent call list in case I missed out on anything, there was nothing from SPD. Did you delete it from the list?”
“Valencia, I…yes.”
“Why would you do that?” I screech, “When were you going to tell me about the call?”
His silence says it all.
When
