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Anna turned slightly, her voice lower now, tinged with guilt. “Also… sorry for making you the officer who was in charge of Thomas’s case here. I thought it would be easier for us to walk around and gather information if we had someone with real authority by our side.”

Russo gave a small, tired smile. “It’s alright. I’ve thought about this case more times than I care to admit. Maybe it’s time someone actually did something about it.”

Anna returned a small smile, appreciating his response more than she could say. Without another word, she turned and walked back toward her room, her footsteps quiet against the carpeted floor, the weight of the past settling deeper into her chest.

When they returned downstairs, Charles was waiting, hands behind his back, and led them on a leisurely tour of the estate. He showed them the refurbished banquet hall, the long veranda overlooking the woods, and finally, the expansive garden.

“We usually hold weddings here,” he said with a faint, nostalgic smile. “It's quite the spectacle.”

Amelia tilted her head slightly. “Would you mind showing us around the third and fifth floors later? I just want to get a sense of the layout.”

Charles gave a small nod. “Of course. The renovations didn’t change the structure—only the decor. The bones of the place are exactly the same.”

“Perfect,” Amelia said, her eyes scanning the ornate ceiling. “That’s what I needed to know.”

Charles gestured for them to follow. “We’ll head there after the garden.”

He led them toward a grand staircase tucked behind an ivy-draped archway. As they began to ascend, the worn steps creaked faintly beneath their feet—a lingering echo of the old villa’s bones. Anna ran her fingers lightly along the carved wooden rail, each groove whispering fragments of stories long buried.

“This staircase,” Charles said, glancing back at them, “used to be the only way up. No lifts, no frills. Just this.” He nodded toward the hallway behind them. “The lift is new. Only real structural change we made. Guests expect convenience these days.”