„How long before she comes to?“
Nooo. Again she wanted to whimper, again no voice. It was Edwards. He was here. Dammit. She wasn’t dead.
„Looks like she’s awake now. The drug should fully wear off in an hour.“ The other voice was new. Who? What drug? „Until then she won’t move or speak.“
„Good.“ There was satisfaction in Edwards’s voice. She’d heard it often since he’d stolen her from her apartment. „I want her to be able to claw and scream.“
There was silence from the other man and then Edwards’s cruel chuckle.
„You’re not paid to like it. You’re paid to just do it.“
A sigh. „If we take out the padding, they both will fit.“
Padding? Frantically, she tried to look around, but her head wouldn’t move. She strained her peripheral vision to the left. And her breath hitched.
It was a coffin. She wanted to scream.
„I don’t care how you accomplish it,“ Edwards said. „Just do it.“ His face appeared above her and a wave of nausea threatened to choke her. He smiled, the same predatory smile she’d seen in Conti’s office. When had that been? What was today?
„You asked for an interview with Jacob, Miss Richardson,“ he said mockingly. „Unfortunately, Mr. Conti is occupied this afternoon. It’s his son’s funeral. He has, however, arranged for an alternate interview. Talk as long as you like.“ He moved her head, turning it so that she could see his body to her right. „It’s Emmy material.“
He moved away, laughing softly, allowing her full view of what lay to her right.
Zoe’s heart froze in her chest. It was a body in a black suit. With no face.
It was Angelo Conti. They were going to bury her with Angelo Conti. She screamed and screamed, but the sound echoed only inside her head.
Saturday, February 28,
11:15 a.m.
It was the first time Kristen had been in a Catholic church and she had no idea what to do. Luckily there were a lot of Reagans present, so all she had to do was follow along. There were benches on which to kneel and congregational readings to recite. There was the sacrament of Communion and the thundering organ. There was a priest in full regalia, swinging incense and a gold baptismal font next to which stood a beaming Sean and Ruth.
There was family. So much family it made Kristen’s heart ache. There were also more than a dozen cops in the pews, all carrying firearms. Friends of Kyle, Aidan, and Abe, all there to ensure there was no trouble from Conti or anyone else. Mia came, as did Spinnelli. Todd Murphy was even there, his suit freshly pressed.
Kristen watched as the priest took the baby, smiling into her little face. The deep breath she drew didn’t go unnoticed by Abe at her side. „Beautiful, isn’t she?“ he murmured.
Kristen felt the sting of tears. „Yes.“
„This is where the godparents are recognized,“ he whispered. „Annie is godmother and Ruth’s cousin Franklin is godfather.“
Abe watched as Annie and Franklin took their places. He’d been the first choice as godfather for Jeannette, who was now five, but he’d just gone undercover and couldn’t take full responsibility for his vows. Reagans took their vows seriously, after all. Aidan got to be Jeannette’s godfather and Abe missed out on the joy of watching her grow from infancy to the happy child she was today.
He and Debra had chosen Ruth and Sean as their son’s godparents. Of course they’d never gone through the ceremony. Perhaps they could be called on when he and Kristen christened their first child. Warmed within, he took her hand, squeezed it lovingly.
She looked up at him with a smile that didn’t come close to reaching her wet eyes. She’d been through so much this week. It was hard to know what lurked in the shadows behind her brittle smile. So much pain. He thought of the little girl, Savannah. Thought of the pain Kristen must feel every year when a new photograph arrived in the mail. He knew it. It was the same pain he felt every year when his son’s birthday came and went without celebration. He thought of the night before, how she’d told him she loved him. How natural it had been to love her. He looked down at her profile, felt his body stir. He’d come inside her last night with no barriers between them. She’d been so sure they were safe, that it was the wrong time. He smiled. He was Catholic after all. Half the people he knew got their start during the „safe“ time of the month. Maybe she’d be wrong, too.
He slid his arm around her shoulders, pulled her close. And imagined the day they would stand next to the priest and the baby he held would have tiny red curls and big green eyes. His life had finally begun again. He felt reborn and Kristen was the reason.
Saturday, February 28,
12:00 p.m.
Drake slid into the pew next to Jacob and Elaine. Elaine sat numb, stoned out of her mind. Jacob held her hand and shouldered the grief for them both as he stared at the coffin. Perhaps the fact that a portion of his vengeance was complete would be a balm.
„It’s done, Jacob,“ he murmured.
Jacob didn’t move a muscle, just sat staring at the coffin. „Good.“
Saturday, February 28,
12:15 p.m.
„Nice party, Abe,“ Mia said, walking up to him with a cup of punch in her hand. „Would be nicer if the punch were fortified, but it’s still nice.“
„It’s a christening, Mia,“ Abe said with a smile.
„Hey, everybody’s got to learn to party sometime.“ She looked around the church hall, her eyes sharp. „I think you’ve got enough coverage. I just got a call from Miss Keene, the hat lady. She found her high school annuals, and they have pictures of Robert Barnett.“
Abe’s pulse leaped. „Maybe we can finally figure out what ties Paul Worth, Robert Barnett, and those bullets to Leah Broderick. Do you want me to come?“
„Nah, you’ve got family stuff. I can handle Miss Keene. She likes me, you know.“
Abe gave her a steady look. „Lots of people do.“
Mia looked away. „Ray would have liked you, Abe. I’ll bring the yearbooks back here.“
Abe stared after her as she walked away, knowing approval from her former partner was one of the highest forms of praise he could ever expect. Then his own cell phone trilled, and he let the moment go. „Reagan.“ He listened, every nerve ending suddenly buzzing. „We’ll be there as soon as we can.“
He looked around and found Kristen talking with Aidan.
He made a beeline and watched her expression change as she read the urgency in his face.
„What now?“ she asked, her tone low.
„You got another envelope. Aidan, can you tell Sean and Ruth how sorry we are? Let’s get our coats and go.“
Saturday, February 28,
12:50 p.m.
Kristen stood on her front porch, frowning at the envelope. „It’s not a box. He always leaves a box.“
A car pulled up behind the cruiser and Jack got out. „It’s not a box,“ he said.
„We know, Jack,“ Abe said. „Let’s open it and find out why.“
„I hope this is fast,“ Jack muttered, waving to his car where Julia sat waiting. In the back was a small boy in a car seat. Jack blushed. „We’re going to the circus.“
Kristen’s smile was weak, but sincere. „I’m glad, Jack. Let’s get this over with so you don’t disappoint him.“
Jack stopped abruptly at the sight of her gutted kitchen. „Did you do this?“
„Only part of it. I had some help.“