Chapter 8 - Sofia Vescari Was Never in the Grave

Matteo sat down.

For the first time, he looked truly stunned.

"No."

My mother continued through the phone.

"Sofia is alive."

Luca stared.

"Where?"

"Zurich."

"Why did Matteo think she died?"

"Because she wanted him to."

Silence.

Matteo looked broken.

"She staged her death."

Emma—my mother—answered:

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because she discovered you had stopped her from returning to Luca."

Matteo closed his eyes.

That was the answer.

Sofia had not trusted him anymore.

Luca asked:

"Did she contact you?"

"Three years ago."

"Why you?"

"Because we knew each other."

"From the house."

"Yes."

My mother continued:

"She found me in Vermont."

"What did she want?"

"The Zurich records."

Matteo whispered:

"She was building a case."

"Yes."

Luca asked:

"Against Carlo?"

"Against everyone."

Silence.

"Carlo."

"Vittorio's estate."

"James."

Matteo looked at her phone.

"And me."

My mother answered:

"Yes."

James closed his eyes.

Luca asked:

"Why didn't she expose it?"

"She was waiting for one final signature."

"Whose?"

My mother hesitated.

"Rosalie's."

Rosalie froze.

"No."

Luca turned.

"Why hers?"

My mother continued:

"Because one of the shell companies was transferred into her name when she was nineteen."

James whispered:

"The logistics company."

"Yes."

Rosalie stared at her father.

He looked sick.

My mother continued:

"Sofia believed Rosalie's testimony could prove Carlo used children and young adults as fronts."

Luca looked at Rosalie.

"Did Mom contact you?"

Rosalie shook her head immediately.

"No."

My mother said:

"She tried."

Rosalie froze.

"When?"

"Six months ago."

Rosalie's face changed.

Luca saw.

"You got something."

She cried.

"An email."

Silence.

"What did it say?"

"That Sofia was alive."

Matteo covered his face.

Luca stared.

"Six months."

Rosalie nodded.

"I thought it was fake."

"Did you answer?"

"Yes."

"What did you say?"

"I asked for proof."

"And?"

"She sent a photograph."

Luca's breathing changed.

"You knew my mother was alive."

"I knew someone claiming to be her was alive."

"Do not hide behind grammar."

Rosalie cried.

"I know."

Luca stepped away.

No shouting.

Worse.

He looked exhausted.

My mother said:

"Emma."

I looked at the phone.

"Yes?"

"I need you to come to Zurich."

My chest tightened.

"Why?"

"Because the account is in my name."

"You said that."

"And only I can release the original records."

Luca looked at me.

Then at Matteo.

Then Rosalie.

He asked:

"Is Sofia safe?"

My mother answered:

"For now."

"Does Carlo know where she is?"

"He knows the bank."

"Not the apartment."

Luca looked at his security chief.

"Plane."

Rosalie stepped forward.

"I'm coming."

Luca turned.

"No."

She froze.

He continued:

"You knew for six months."

"I can help."

"How?"

"Sofia contacted me."

"So?"

"She gave me a phrase."

Luca frowned.

"What phrase?"

Rosalie looked ashamed.

"Garden door, nine o'clock."

Matteo stood.

Luca turned.

"What?"

His father looked shocked.

"Sofia used that phrase with me."

"When?"

"The night she disappeared."

Luca stared.

Rosalie continued:

"She said if I ever came to Zurich, say it at the bank."

My mother spoke through the phone.

"Then Rosalie has the access phrase."

Silence.

Luca looked at her.

Rosalie whispered:

"I should have told you."

"Yes."

"But if I stay, you may not get in."

Luca closed his eyes.

Then opened them.

"You come."

No forgiveness.

Again.

Only necessity.

Matteo said:

"I'm coming too."

Luca looked at him.

"Why?"

"Sofia is my wife."

Luca stared.

"Was."

Matteo flinched.

Luca continued:

"You let her become a ghost twice."

Matteo lowered his head.

Then Luca said:

"But you come."

George asked:

"And me?"

Luca looked at him.

"Stay."

George nodded.

"With James."

James frowned.

Luca continued:

"Neither of you leaves."

Then he looked at Carlo's forged restructuring papers.

"Police can explain stability to you."

At the airport, I called my mother again.

No answer.

Luca called Sofia's number from Rosalie's email.

No answer.

Then Rosalie's phone vibrated.

Unknown number.

One message.

A photograph.

Carlo Vescari.

Standing outside a Zurich bank.

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Underneath:

HE ARRIVED FIRST.