Book 8, Chapter 31 Summary

Kathy makes an unplanned visit to Francesca; she is in the neighborhood. The phone rings and Kathy hands it to Francesca. When Francie learns who it is, she locks herself in the bedroom, punches a hole in the wall with her hand, and then takes the call. It's Billy's mistress, calling because she and Billy had ended things that day. Perhaps she wants payback, because she tells Francesca everything: that the affair had started up after Francesca lost the baby, that Billy had gotten the woman pregnant and insisted she abort the child, and even worse, according to the woman, that Billy was keeping a file in his office on the Corleones, to use against the family.

Without explaining, Francesca lets Kathy ice and bandage her hand, then asks Kathy to take little Sonny out to dinner to his favorite restaurant...