Page 79 of The Unraveling of Julia

“Where’s the car that hit him?”

“There was no other vehicle involved.”

“There wasn’t?” Julia asked, confused. “Then how did it happen?”

“We believe he lost control of his motorcycle, coming around the curve. He failed to complete the turn and skidded off the road. That curve, you see?”

Stricken, Julia tried to see in the rain. The curve was a sharp left turn, obscured by trees and bramble along the roadside.

“On a night like this, caution is required. You can tell how long he skidded from the mark.” Marshal Torti pointed to the road, but Julia couldn’t see the skid mark in the rain.

“So how was he hurt? What injuries were there?”

“He skidded off the road and into those rocks.” Marshal Torti pointed again, and she squinted into the shadowy periphery of the floodlights, spotting large, jagged rocks on the other side of the road.

“Oh no.” Julia felt sick to her stomach.

“I don’t know the extent of his injuries. I believe he sustained a head injury.”

No, no, no.“So it’s serious?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know.”

“Which hospital did he go to?” Julia asked, already in motion.

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Julia wiped her eyes, trying to regain emotional control. Her windshield wipers beat in time with her heart. Her fingers clenched the wheel, and the Ferrari sped through the rain. There was traffic on the highway, and she had to keep her wits about her to follow the route on GPS. She didn’t want to get lost or be later than she already was.

Her mind raced, full of second thoughts. She regretted not asking more questions at the scene. She grabbed her phone, pressed Gianluca’s number, and held it to her ear while it rang.

“Ms. Pritzker?” Marshal Torti answered, his tone surprised. “Can I help you?”

“Yes, I’m on my way to the hospital, but I have questions. Gianluca wasn’t the type to drive fast in bad weather. He was sensible. Doesn’t it seem odd to you?”

“A motorcyclist going too fast is not odd.”

“It would be for him. Were there witnesses?”

“No. People are not out at night, in this weather.”

“Any CCTV cameras along the road?”

“No. Perhaps he was drinking.”

“No, he wouldn’t.”

“Then perhaps he was in a hurry to get to your villa.”

“He wouldn’t drive that carelessly. Could you be wrong?” Julia had a darker thought, one in the back of her mind. “What if it wasn’t an accident?”

“What makes you say that?”

“Put it in context,” Julia said, thinking aloud. “I’ve been followed by two different men, and Gianluca and I chased one of them, the man in the white Fiat. What if Gianluca’s accident is related to that?”

“I don’t understand how it could be. There was no other vehicle involved in his accident, whether a white Fiat or not.”

“But you don’t know that for sure, since there are no cameras or witnesses.” Julia felt like she was getting institutional responses, like with the Philadelphia detectives. “The driver of the white Fiat knew what Gianluca looked like. He knew the motorcycle, too. So maybe he had something to do with the accident tonight. You have to admit it’s possible.”

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