The Silent Understudy

Vera Lindqvist has spent her career standing just outside the light. Then a black car takes her from La Scala to a penthouse in the Brera, and the Riccis offer her the role of a lifetime: be Alba Ricci in public, wear Alba's coat, walk Alba's route, take Alba's risks. Her handler is Renzo Ricci, who trusts her about as far as the hallway. He watches her eat, checks her phone, corrects her posture. He is also the only person in the house who has noticed that the threats are timed to the family's private calendar. Someone inside the Ricci family is hunting Alba. Renzo has his suspicions and reasons not to voice them. Vera has none of his reasons and all of his instincts. The premiere is in eleven days. On the opera house steps, only one of them can be standing where the bullet is going.