Chapter 8 - THE LAST NIGHT OF SOFIA RAVALINI
Sofia Ravalini had been thirty-four when she died.
She was a former art history lecturer.
Quiet.
Intelligent.
And uncomfortable with the criminal world surrounding her husband.
Lucas loved her.
But he had not always listened.
In the months before her death, Sofia became increasingly anxious.
She stopped attending social events.
She asked Lucas to spend more time at home.
She wanted to move Matteo out of Manhattan.
Lucas promised they would discuss it.
Then he returned to work.
Detective Shaw reviewed the old case.
The crash occurred on a wet highway outside the city.
Sofia's car left the road and struck a barrier.
The investigation concluded that she had lost control.
But several details troubled Shaw.
The vehicle had recently undergone maintenance.
The maintenance records were incomplete.
And Sofia's phone contained deleted messages that had never been recovered.
Investigators obtained archived records.
One message had been sent to Isabella Ravalini shortly before the crash.
I know what Richard Bellamy did. Lucas needs to know.
Lucas stared at the message.
His mother.
Richard Bellamy.
Again.
He confronted Isabella.
She sat in the penthouse library.
When Lucas showed her the message, her face went pale.
“Where did you get that?”
“Answer me.”
Isabella looked away.
Lucas stepped closer.
“What did Sofia know?”
His mother began crying.
“Lucas—”
“What did she know?”
Isabella covered her face.
Then whispered:
“She found the financial records.”
Lucas felt cold.
“Michael Cooper's records?”
Isabella nodded.
“And Richard Bellamy?”
“Yes.”
Lucas stared.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
She looked up.
“Because I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
Isabella swallowed.
“Of what Richard would do if he knew Sofia had found them.”
Lucas felt the room tilt.
“And did he know?”
His mother began crying harder.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Yes.”
