Chapter 7 - The Message Isabella Never Sent
Rocco did not tell Mia about the new suspicion.
He did not tell Dr. Reed.
He told only Gideon and Detective Mara Ellis, the financial crimes investigator who arrived that evening with two other officers.
The local police had already been notified about Mia.
The financial investigation expanded quickly.
But Isabella's death was different.
It required caution.
The original investigation had concluded that her vehicle lost control during heavy rain.
No mechanical defect was identified.
No other vehicle was proven to be involved.
Rocco remembered every page.
He had read the report until the words became meaningless.
Detective Ellis sat in Isabella's old office.
"What did your wife know about Bernice's finances?"
"Almost nothing."
"Did she ever express concern?"
Rocco thought.
"She became quieter around Bernice near the end."
"Anything specific?"
"No."
Then he remembered something.
A disagreement.
Isabella had wanted Bernice removed from the foundation's household access.
Rocco had dismissed it as administrative conflict.
At the time, Isabella said something.
"I don't like people who make themselves necessary."
He had laughed.
Now he hated himself for it.
Detective Ellis asked, "Did she leave personal devices?"
"Her phone was destroyed in the crash."
"Computer?"
"Old laptop. It was archived."
"Where?"
Rocco looked at Gideon.
"Company storage."
The laptop arrived after midnight.
Most of the files were ordinary.
Photographs.
Foundation budgets.
Letters.
Medical forms.
Then a technician recovered drafts from an email application.
One unsent message was addressed to Rocco.
Date stamped four days before Isabella died.
Rocco opened it.
Rocco,
I need to talk to you when you get home. I found payments I don't understand. They connect to Bernice through a company using Ralph's old business address. Please do not ask anyone at the house until we speak. I may be wrong, but something feels wrong.
Rocco stopped reading.
Gideon looked away.
Detective Ellis remained still.
There was more.
I also think someone copied your authorization token. I am taking the original ledger out of the office tomorrow.
The message ended there.
Rocco stared at the date.
The ledger had later disappeared.
Bernice had it.
Detective Ellis spoke quietly.
"This does not prove anything about the accident."
"I know."
"But it gives us reason to reopen certain questions."
Rocco nodded.
His hands were steady.
His voice was not.
"Do it."
Upstairs, Mia woke from a nightmare.
The nurse called Rocco.
He left immediately.
Mia sat in bed crying.
Rocco lifted her.
"I thought you left."
"I'm here."
"You went downstairs."
"I'm still here."
"You promise you're not going on a trip?"
Rocco looked at her.
"No trips."
"For how long?"
"As long as you need me."
She rested her head against him.
"Forever?"
Rocco smiled sadly.
"That's a long time."
"Yes."
"Then forever."
Mia closed her eyes again.
Rocco remained beside her for almost an hour.
When he returned downstairs, Detective Ellis had new information.
Ralph was missing.
Rocco frowned.
"He was in the east sitting room."
"Not anymore."
One of the bodyguards stepped forward.
"He escaped through the terrace service window."
Rocco's expression hardened.
"How?"
"The latch had already been loosened."
"By whom?"
Nobody answered.
Then an officer entered carrying a cream colored scarf.
They had found it near the open window.
Laine recognized it immediately.
"It's my mother's."
Everyone turned toward Bernice.
Bernice remained seated in the dining room with an officer beside her.
She stared at the scarf.
Then at Laine.
"You stupid girl."
Laine's face changed.
"You helped him leave?"
Bernice said nothing.
Detective Ellis stepped forward.
"Where is your son?"
Bernice smiled.
"I have no idea."
But Laine knew her mother.
She knew that smile.
And suddenly she remembered a property that had not appeared in any of the financial files.
A fishing cabin near Lake Wentworth.
Owned under Isabella's maiden name.
A cabin that Rocco did not know still existed.
May you like
Laine looked at him.
"I know where Ralph might go."
