The Deadly Disguise

By Nora Valetta

What if the person you trusted with the most precious part of you was the person who brought an agony too frightening to imagine in your life? And what if revenge is the only thing that will ease your pain? In The Deadly Disguise, the worlds of three families collide with the culmination of a horror that will bring a community to its knees. Francesca, recently widowed as the result of a tragic accident, is a social worker assigned to the case file of Julian Griffin, the eighteen-month-old son of Lia. When Julian suffers a horrendous act at the hands of his parents, Francesca must remove the young child from home for his safety. Years later, circumstances once thought to be benign eventually climax into the commission of an act of retribution that shakes a family to its core. Unbeknownst to the players in this evil game, another little boy in town has connections to the crime. As a result, another family is lured to the evil lurking just around the corner. Will someone get away with the ultimate revenge, or will the mysterious circumstances surrounding one little boy reveal the clues needed to solve a murder?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Feb 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781645756064

Nora Valetta

Nora Valetta began writing poetry at the age of eleven after discovering her passion for the craft through an excellent teacher. She continues to write poetry and has since added children’s stories, short stories, and crime fiction to her repertoire. The Deadly Disguise is her first novel. Nora lives in London, Ontario, with her two daughters.

Book preview

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About the Author

Nora Valetta began writing poetry at the age of eleven after discovering her passion for the craft through an excellent teacher. She continues to write poetry and has since added children’s stories, short stories, and crime fiction to her repertoire. The Deadly Disguise is her first novel. Nora lives in London, Ontario, with her two daughters.

Dedication

I would like to dedicate this book to Ryley and Ayla—you are my everything. Always remember that dreams really do come true!

I would also like to thank my family and friends who have encouraged and supported me along the way and who have been fans of my work since the very beginning.

Copyright Information ©

Nora Valetta (2021)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Valetta, Nora

The Deadly Disguise

ISBN 9781645756057 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781643788081 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781645756064 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020951040

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Chapter 1

February 2013

Happy Anniversary, Francesca whispered as she slowly dressed in the long mahogany, Victorian-style mirror. No one was in the room with her, and the soft sound of her voice seemed to echo through the intimate space. She looked at her reflection as she zipped up her black pencil skirt, gently tucking in the green silk blouse she was wearing, and gave a small smile. The mirror she peered into wasn’t just a mirror to Francesca, it was a window to a wonderful memory.

She and Troy had excitedly picked it out together in an old antique store several years before. She remembered that day vividly as it had been their second wedding anniversary and they had just recently purchased their home on Walnut Street, the house she stood in now. The excitement of owning their very first home christened the red-brick, two-story home with a warmth that resonated from each of its walls. The first time Francesca and Troy saw the charming little house, they had fallen in love with it and had immediately envisioned raising a family and growing old together there. With their anniversary approaching soon after moving into the home, they had decided to celebrate with a weekend away and, in the interest of being cost-efficient, accepted Troy’s parents’ offer of their cabin by the lake. The cabin was located in a fairly remote area, approximately a three-hour drive north from where they lived, with the nearest town only a ten-minute drive from the cabin itself. The journey up to the cabin had been one of the best parts of the whole trip for Francesca. She fondly remembered the two of them singing along with the radio, talking about their plans for the house and about how excited they were to get away together. They sipped hot coffees and chided about having to leave the cabin in pristine condition when they left, as Troy’s mother was very particular about her sanctuary by the lake. Francesca remembered the warmth of the crackling fire as they sat by the fireplace each evening and the crisp fragrance of the balsam fir trees surrounding the rustic log cabin that had been in Troy’s family for generations. The first night that they were there, she remembered that a soft, whimsical snowfall began as they peered through the cabin windows, sipping their favorite red wine. Troy had turned on an old dusty radio he had found in one of the closets and they danced to Adele’s Make You Feel My Love. She didn’t think it was possible at the time, but that night, she fell even deeper in love with her husband. It was a sensational start to an astounding weekend away.

The next morning, after a breakfast of hot coffee and strawberry danishes, they decided to get out and tour around before heading back to the cabin to go snowshoeing through the magnificent picturesque trails. They had been walking through the quaint village, exploring the offerings of the rustic shops and local artisans when they came across the antique store that Francesca insisted they check out. Troy wasn’t much of an antique connoisseur, but he humored his wife and followed her inside. The small but busy shop was practically bursting at the seams with treasures of all kinds. Old record players, lighting fixtures, artwork and sculptures covered a fair amount of the boutique’s floor space. In one corner stood a glass showcase exhibiting various pieces of antique jewelry collected from evidently countless estate auctions. Francesca had gushed over an emerald and copper bracelet on display, and Troy took note of the sparkle in his wife’s eyes. As she roamed each nook and cranny within the store, Francesca spotted her reflection in a full-length mirror across the room. She headed over to it for a closer look and was immediately drawn to the intricate details in the masterpiece before her eyes. The wood had been delicately carved with beautiful precision, the pattern expressing fluid curving lines with a flowering patchwork so elaborate Francesca couldn’t begin to imagine the painstaking and meticulous work the expert wood worker would have invested in creating such beauty. The mirror stood upon a pillared stand which allowed it to be adjusted to different angles. Francesca thought the mirror would be the perfect addition to their new home, and called for Troy to come and see the precious find that had gotten her so excited. She didn’t want to take the chance of walking away from it and giving someone else the opportunity to buy the mirror before her. Troy followed the sound of his wife’s eager voice beckoning him to the other side of the shop and found her standing in front of a large wooden mirror, beaming with pride. Right away, she got busy pointing out all of the beautiful details and reminding him that it would look perfect with the bedroom furniture they had purchased recently. Troy had admitted that the woodworking on the mirror was superb and simply couldn’t wipe the smile off of Francesca’s face. They purchased the mirror on the spot, loaded it in the back of their ancient, but still running, SUV and left the store smiling and excited about taking it home at the end of the weekend.

Later that same night, Francesca was brought to tears when, to her surprise, Troy presented her with the emerald and copper bracelet she had been drawn to at the antique store. She hadn’t wanted to even mention the thought of buying it, because she knew they had a lot of purchases to make for the house, but she had fallen in love with it on the spot. The fact that her husband had paid attention and purchased the bracelet without her knowing, made Francesca’s heart swell with emotion. Troy was beyond delighted that his wife was so happy, and he told her they could easily cut a few other corners in order to afford the piece of jewelry. Besides, she remembered him saying to her, when we have a daughter someday, you’ll be able to pass it on to her. And I’ll be able to remind her that only a man who loves her like I love her mother is worth her giving a second glance to.

When they had returned from their weekend away, Francesca and Troy carefully carried the mirror upstairs to the bedroom on Walnut Street and stood before it, embracing. It was symbolic to them of the wonderful time they shared together and emitted a warmth throughout the room that made Francesca feel grateful and excited for the wonderful life ahead of them.

How things change, Francesca murmured to herself as she fiddled with the emerald and copper bracelet on her wrist. The place she once called home was not what it had once been. It no longer exuded the warmth Francesca had savored. Now the house was just a shell to her. A hollow, lifeless box that was robbed of its soul. Even with Brodie there to kiss her goodnight, cuddle with her and play the sly hide-and-seek games that made him giggle with glee, it just didn’t feel like home anymore. Home, she thought to herself. How she longed to feel at home again. She never realized it before, but now she knew that home wasn’t this city, the swanky neighborhood, or this house. Her home was in Troy’s arms and in his heart. She tried to make the place feel like a real home for Brodie. She decorated, baked, and made memories with him but it was never the same again. Her son’s giggles attempted to fill the hallways with joy but succumbed to the undeniable vacancy of the dwelling in which they lived. Brodie’s laughter, though an echo of Troy’s, wasn’t enough to fill the void Francesca felt for the last two years, since her husband’s tragic death.

Today would have been their eighth wedding anniversary. Troy always had an affinity to cheesy displays of affection, and getting married on Valentine’s Day was definitely in his arsenal. If that storm hadn’t hit two years ago, if they had put winter tires on the car instead of scrimping to save for a new washer and dryer, if he hadn’t been in a rush to get home and play with Brodie – so many ifs.

The memory of that day still replayed in her mind over and over again, like a broken record. Every day for the last two years, she painfully relived the horrible events that transpired on that icy road. Those horrific still-frames in time would be tattooed on her soul for the rest of her life. She had been making Troy’s favorite dinner, chili with homemade sourdough rolls, when the phone rang. She had been humming to her favorite eighties’ tunes, dancing around the kitchen and sipping an exquisite Rioja while Brodie played with some pots and pans on the floor beside her. He loved to use the wooden spoon to pretend he was stirring something yummy that he had made and then feed it to his stuffed rabbit, Ralph. Troy had brought Ralph home shortly after Brodie was born, and the two had been inseparable.

Hello?

Hey there, beautiful. Just wanted to let you know I’m running a bit late. Just left the office but I should be there in twenty minutes tops. How’s things on the home front? Troy never missed an opportunity tell his wife she was beautiful or that he loved her. It was something she admittedly took for granted at times, until of course her girlfriends reminded her that they had to practically beg to pull a compliment from their husband’s mouths.

Everything’s good here, Casanova, Francesca giggled, you just take your time. The roads can’t be in great shape with all the snow that’s come down today. I have a special surprise for dinner and it’s all ready to go and simmering. Brodie’s been playing chef here with me.

Mmmm, I bet I know what it is too – I can’t wait. The roads are pretty slick but I want to get home in time to play with Brodie for a little while. He falls asleep so early and I haven’t had much time with him all week. I miss him. I better go, but I’ll see you soon, okay? I love you… Troy planted sloppy kisses into the phone, as Francesca shook her head and smiled.

I love you too.

Approximately one hour later, Francesca was on her second glass of the aromatic Rioja, her stomach growling and a dizzy glow enveloping her, while Brodie lay asleep in the next room. Troy still hadn’t arrived, but she brushed off the feeling of foreboding that washed over her. She had just turned on the local news channel and the reporter on the screen was commenting on the record snowfall, saying that traffic was slow going due to icy roads and snow accumulation. Troy was probably stuck in traffic or he likely had to drive a lot slower than he had originally anticipated. He was going to be so disappointed that Brodie was asleep. If there was one great quality about Troy, it was that he was a wonderful and loving father. When he loved, he loved with everything he had. Brodie was his world and their son looked up to his dad with nothing but pure adoration in his eyes. Every time Troy would walk into the house, Brodie would reach his arms out for his daddy to pick him up and throw him up in the air, as was their usual manner of greeting one another. Every time Troy caught Brodie in his muscular arms, their son would squeal with delight. It warmed Francesca’s heart every time. The way that Troy doted over their son was just another tick on the list of traits that made him attractive to her. It definitely wasn’t lost on her that she had hit the proverbial father (and husband) jackpot. No matter how long of a day Troy had at work or what was going on in their lives, he always made sure he was involved as a dad, and never came up short on affection for his son. From the very day Brodie was born, just over a year ago, Troy was determined to change diapers, wake up for nighttime feedings and get down on the floor to play and connect. She felt very blessed.

Another hour had passed, and Troy still hadn’t arrived. Francesca tried calling his phone but it was going straight to voicemail. Hopefully he wasn’t stuck in a ditch somewhere. Maybe he was on the phone with a towing company. As she ran through every possible scenario in her head, Francesca looked out the window. The snowfall had turned to ice pellets since her last conversation with him, and now she was really beginning to worry. The sun had set and darkness blanketed the sky. It wasn’t like him not to keep in touch if he was late. The doorbell rang and Francesca exhaled. Troy often rang the doorbell instead of using his key – he liked to scoop her up in the doorway and twirl her around. She smiled to herself and made her way to the front door in anticipation of his embrace. The wine was giving her a slight buzz and she was eager to kiss her husband and smell his intoxicating cologne. It was one of the first things she noticed about him when they had begun dating. He always smelled impeccable. His cologne had a provocative aroma – sweet and spicy with a subtle hint of mint. It had cast its spell and completely captivated her on their first date, and she refused to allow him to wear any other cologne ever since. Troy gave the best hugs in her opinion. Whenever he would wrap his bulky arms around her, she felt untouchable and on top of the world. He had a way of making her feel secure beyond her wildest imagination and she knew their son felt the same way about his dad. Francesca’s favorite place to be was in Troy’s arms – it was only there that she felt truly safe.

Oh, I wonder who that could be— Francesca swung the front door open with a playful smile, but instead of her husband, two uniformed police officers stood on her front stoop. The ice pellets that