Absence of Alice

by Sherry Harris

  “She overdosed. I took that as a sign it was time to move forward with my plan.”

  That was what had set off this chain of events—a breakup and an overdose? It took a sick mind to be inspired by that. Maybe Diego had helped with Crystal’s overdose. “Why Alice in Wonderland?”

  “It was always my favorite story as a kid. I love all the layers to that story. Like I told you on the phone. It’s an adventure story, and you gotta admit this has been one heck of an adventure for you.”

  “Who helped you? You couldn’t have done everything by yourself. You don’t know me or Ellington well enough.”

  “You know how many times Mike has dragged us out here? It isn’t hard to get to know a little town and its goings on. Just go to the coffee shop, or the barber’s or DiNapoli’s. People in this town love to talk. And a kid I met at Danucci’s didn’t mind following you around.”

  The kid with the old eyes. Yeah, I’d seen him around. But it was a small town, and it hadn’t ever struck me as unusual. That explained how Diego had ended up using Victoria and Gabe, since they both worked at Danucci’s too.

  “You are damned hard to kill,” he said to me.

  My dying easier wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for Diego to say. “What are you talking about?”

  “I thought Elmer would take you out at the auction in a fit of temper, but, in case he didn’t, I had a backup plan or two in place. You evaded the drug dealers in the cemetery. I was really hoping you’d be with Alice Krandle in her house.” He shook his head again. “Even when God sent me the fortuitous gas leak. You escaped.”

  Since we were talking about God all of the sudden I’d go with that angle. “Maybe God doesn’t want me dead. Maybe you should just put the gun down and walk away.” Walk right out into Pellner’s arms. “Maybe if you try to shoot me the gun’s going to jam or explode and kill you.” Maybe I should shut up. Maybe I should be begging and trying to appease Diego. But I didn’t think that would work. In fact, I thought he’d enjoy it.

  Diego glanced at the gun. “Naw. God wants you dead, and, even if he doesn’t, I do. But actually, watching you suffer was almost as much fun as watching you die is going to be. All those times you dragged yourself up the stairs after I sent you on an adventure gave me joy. And not only that, but just look at Mike right now.”

  I did. His face was almost purple. He fought against his restraints.

  “Mike made me suffer for years,” Diego said. “It’s great for him to get a little taste of what it’s like.”

  I flicked my head toward Mike. “He’s still your brother. Are you going to kill all of us? Kill him?” There was nothing in the kitchen I could grab to use as a weapon. I didn’t have the hairspray in my pocket or the wine bottle in my purse. I had thought I’d be safe.

  “He’s going to watch you die. If he’s learned his lesson, then we’ll talk.” Diego raised his gun. Pointed it at me.

  I didn’t want to die. I looked at Seth. “I love you.”

  The door to the right of Diego burst open. Pellner charged in wearing full SWAT gear. Diego swung the gun around and shot. Pellner fired too and fell back. Diego looked shocked. Blood spread across his chest. But he somehow lifted the gun again. Mike dove at his brother, chair and all, knocking him down.

  The room filled with cops and noise. I glanced back and forth between Seth and Pellner, not knowing which one to check on first. Seth jerked his head toward Pellner. I ran over to where Pellner lay on the floor. Pushed past one of the other officers leaning over him and dropped to my knees.

  Pellner moaned and opened his eyes. “Son of a bitch, that hurts.”

  I could see the bullet imbedded dead center in his Kevlar vest. “Oh, thank heavens you’re okay.” Another cop helped Pellner up. I’d known Pellner was part of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council’s SWAT team, but I’d never seen them in action. I hoped I never did again.

  I stood and turned back to see someone helping untie Mike. Tears streamed down his face. His brother. Mike leaned against a kitchen counter, pale and somehow looking smaller than normal. I couldn’t begin to imagine what he was going through. I could barely stand to look. Diego had had no Kevlar vest to protect him from Pellner’s shot. And Pellner’s shot had been just as dead center as Diego’s had been. Another cop was untying Seth. I ran to him, and we wrapped our arms around each other. I shook so hard I was surprised the dishes weren’t rattling in the cupboards. Mike joined us.

  “I’m sorry. I never thought he’d get here first. I didn’t think he’d show up,” Mike said. “I thought he’d headed out of town. To somewhere people couldn’t be extradited from.”

  “Did you call the cops?” I asked Mike. Diego had found out somehow that we were going to be here.

  “I didn’t. But I’m sure glad they showed up.”

  “Me too.” I couldn’t think about what the outcome would have been if not for Pellner. I turned to survey the room.

  “Diego must have heard me on the phone with Seth,” Mike said. “I can’t imagine another way he would have found out we’d be here.”

  “What made you think he was involved?” I asked.

  “Several things. I found out about the Alice in Wonderland costume this afternoon through a contact I have.” Seth and I glanced at each other. Who would have told Mike that? “Diego always loved that story as a kid. It creeped me out. I started to think through things. Remember that day I said Diego had terrible taste in women and asked you to set him up?” I nodded. “I knew he was mad because he turned bright red.”

  “I thought he was blushing.”

  Mike shook his head. “He stormed out a few minutes later. He’s been on edge lately, but I chalked it up to the breakup. Then he was so nice to you the day your client’s house blew up. I loved my brother, but that just seemed out of character for him. Of course, I was hoping he was changing. Couldn’t have been more wrong.”

  I didn’t know Diego well enough to know what he was really like.

  “But the final thing was seeing a picture of his ex and seeing how much she looked like you, Sarah. I wanted to meet with both you and Seth to talk this out. I held out some hope I was wrong. But if you both thought I was right, I was hoping to find a way to capture Diego without bloodshed.”

  We all glanced toward Diego. I wished there’d been a different outcome too. Sometimes it seemed like death was the easy way out.

  I walked back over to Pellner. He was talking into his shoulder mic.

  “You can release Harriet and Emil now,” he said, then he clicked off the mic and looked at me.

  “Release them?” I asked.

  “I had them taken in for questioning about the kidnapper. I wanted to keep them safe and out of the middle of this.” His dimple was deep, deep, deep.

  “Thank you.” I gestured at everyone. “Thank them for me. How did you know Diego was in here?”

  “A tree. A man. Binoculars and a crack in the curtain. Basic police work.”

  “You called in the cops.” I didn’t add “after I asked you not to,” because if he hadn’t there would be three people dead right now.

  He lifted his chin, looked down at me. “Them, I trust.” He walked away, rubbing the spot where the bullet had hit.

  He didn’t have to add the “you, I don’t.” I got it. And it broke my heart a little.

  * * *

  When Troopers Kilgard and Rodriquez showed up, I knew we were in for a long night. For once I thought I detected a modicum of sympathy as Kilgard looked over the scene and at me. Two hours later, Seth, Mike, and I had been questioned and given permission to leave. Diego had been put in a body bag and taken away. We walked out to the street. A black SUV was idling at the curb, presumably to pick up Mike, because that was what he always rode in. We all looked at one another.

  “I’m sorry.” We said it in unison.

  “You two have nothing to be sorry about,” Mike said.

  “I convinced you to work with me,” Seth told Mike.
<
br />   “I’m the one always asking you for help,” I said.

  “I was in the minute you asked, Seth. You know that. And Sarah”—he gave a small chuckle—“my world can be a dangerous place, and you provided a way to help someone who’s a good person.” Mike shook his head. “My brother used all that as an excuse. I should have seen his bad side, but I ignored any warning signs, and it almost got us all killed. I’m the one who’s sorry.” He shook his head again and walked to the SUV. He climbed in without looking back.

  “My car’s across the street,” Seth said. “Let’s go.” He grabbed my hand. His hand was warm and reassuring. “I can’t believe I asked Mike and his brothers to stay next door to you. To protect you.”

  “How could you know? I saw Diego every day and didn’t figure it out.” My heart hurt for Mike. But Seth’s hand reminded me that, even in the dark, there was always some light.

  * * *

  I showered quickly Friday morning, hoping Mike was still next door. Seth had left at five and I’d gone back to sleep. Things still felt a little off between us. After he’d left he sent me a text saying an investigation determined that there was a faulty pipeline to Alice’s house, but that it also showed signs of having been tampered with. Diego had lied yesterday when he tried to blame Alice’s death on God. Instead it was an opportunity he’d latched on to. He somehow found out about the gas leak and I’d always wonder if he really had something to do with Alice passing out. What he hadn’t said, and what I believed, was that if that hadn’t worked, he would have killed Alice another way, if he had thought it would get to me. Get to Mike.

  I had realized that Diego had been laying out a trail of clues for me to follow. Like leaving my address on the form at the auction house. If only I’d figured it out sooner. Alice might be alive.

  I went out my door. A man I recognized from prior interactions sat on the folding chair in the hall. He was one of Mike’s trusted men. His nickname was Two Toes. I still didn’t want to know why. He wore an old T-shirt that pulled tight across his paunch. Sweatpants and running shoes with no socks, like he’d gotten dressed hastily. His gray hair was in disarray. His arms tattooed. He stood as I walked toward him. Eyes red, skin blotchy like he’d been crying.

  “I need to see Mike,” I told him. “How’s he doing?”

  “Not good.”

  I tried to prepare myself for a Mike I wasn’t used to seeing.

  Two Toes knocked on the door and opened it. “She’s here.”

  I guess Mike was expecting me. I went into the living room. Francesco was slumped on the couch. Mike stood by the window. Dressed in slacks and a sweater. Clear eyed. Now that I was here, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say. “I’m sorry” or “are you okay?” seemed inadequate. “You’re still here.” Was that the best I could do? I knew how it felt to think your brother had turned against you. What Diego had done was way worse than anything mine had done to me.

  “We will be for a few more days while we clean house in Boston and figure out who was helping Diego.”

  I nodded. “I’m glad you’re staying.” It would be nice to have someone next door.

  “I found out that Diego killed Jimmy and dumped him in the harbor.”

  From what Mike had told me about him last January, Jimmy had been easily manipulated. And the Titones were all expert manipulators when they wanted to be.

  “Why would Diego do that?”

  “Because Jimmy knew that Diego was hatching a plot to take over.”

  “How sad. I’m sorry.”

  “Do you know what the name Diego means?”

  I shook my head no.

  “Supplanter. One who replaces. I should have seen it coming.”

  Mike must be carrying a lot of guilt around because of his brother’s actions. “You’re a victim here too.”

  “Yeah. And I don’t even know how to be one.”

  “No one does. It will take time to learn how to live with it.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Saturday morning the sun was warm on the town common. It was the perfect day for a garage sale. Yesterday had been a blur of finishing pricing and organizing for today. Harriet had come over to help and let me know that Emil hadn’t been involved in any of this. But Harriet still thought his obsession with The Phantom of the Opera was creepy. I’d been sure it wasn’t him. Relieved that no one had to tell Rosalie that her nephew wasn’t the man she thought he was.

  I’d also had to go to the police department to give another statement. I’d found out through Seth that Diego had not only been dating Crystal, but also a woman in Seth’s office and blackmailing someone in the police department.

  Towns like Ellington have such small police departments that Diego really would have known if I’d contacted anyone there. I shuddered at the thought. Maybe he had hoped I would. It bugged me that I wouldn’t ever know for sure if I’d saved Stella on my own or if Diego had led me to her. In the end I guess it didn’t matter since she was safe.

  I had some guilt to deal with. I’d thought back wondering why Diego would go after Alice. But the morning of her sale I’d invited all of the Titones to attend. They hadn’t shown up, but it was probably why of all the people I knew, Diego had picked Alice. It would take a long time to get over that.

  It turned out the kid from Danucci’s with the old eyes was the son of the realtor who had the listing for the Ghannams’ house and the empty store where Diego had left the Alice in Wonderland doll. It was how Diego had known the properties were empty. The kid claimed he’d only made calls. That he had thought it was all a joke and didn’t realize Diego was actually kidnapping and killing people.

  However, the kid’s phone records showed he had known about the drug deal going down. The police had also found out that he worked part time at the auction, so he had helped set that up. And he’d been the one to follow me after the auction to try to scare me. He’d never know how well it had worked.

  Damaris had gotten hold of me and told me that the anti-Sarah group had disbanded and that she was confident she’d convinced them to make sure they didn’t blame the wrong person for the actions of their loved ones. It confirmed what Louisa had said. I just hoped they were both right. Damaris had also told me I was a lucky woman to be dating Seth. I had gotten the impression that if we ever broke up she’d move in faster than Freud could analyze someone.

  I redirected my thoughts to the sale. Tables were loaded with goods to be sold. It was exactly two years since I’d organized a garage sale for Carol. Two years since I’d started a new life. The women from the base stood at the ready. All we needed were customers. It was oddly quiet. I’d never done a sale before where there weren’t a few annoying early birds trying to get the jump on everyone. Harriet was talking to one couple when there should be twenty. A few people had stopped by, but I was worried this fund-raiser wasn’t going to raise any funds.

  “Rebecca, I’m sorry,” I said a few minutes later. “I can’t imagine why more people haven’t stopped by yet.” I’d checked my calendar when I had first started planning this event to make sure there weren’t any conflicting events that would keep people from coming.

  “It’s okay,” Rebecca said.

  Zoey had wanted to have the event on base, but I’d convinced the group that more people would come if we did it on the town common. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was wrong about Zoey being involved in Stella’s kidnapping too. That was a relief, but I hoped she hadn’t somehow sabotaged this event. Rebecca looked over my shoulder. Her eyes got wide, and her mouth opened. I whirled around, wondering what now.

  People were pouring out of the old town hall, led by the DiNapolis. It wasn’t an angry mob coming to boot me out of town. The people carried signs that said “Congratulations on two years of business” and “We love you, Sarah.” I clapped my hands to my mouth. Rebecca tapped my shoulder and pointed to the Congregational church. Its doors were flung open. People were carrying tables out and putting them up. A band set up, and an upbeat
tune soon blasted across the common. Other people brought food out of the church.

  “Did you know about this?” I asked Rebecca.

  She smiled. “I did.”

  “Here I was having a panic attack, and you knew all along.”

  “Yep. I just love a good surprise.”

  The DiNapolis reached me and pulled me in for hugs. We were surrounded by people I loved.

  “Thank you,” I managed to choke out. My throat had a lump the size of a serving of Bedford Farms ice cream.

  “I’m sorry I tried to set you up with Emil earlier. You’ll always be part of our family, no matter what,” Rosalie said. She looked at Angelo. “He gave me a little talking to about that.”

  “We love you, kiddo,” Angelo said. He hadn’t called me that in a long time.

  A happy tear rolled down my face. “I love you both too. Thank you for doing all this.” I swept my hand around until it struck a hard chest. Seth. I hadn’t seen him in the crowd.

  “It was Seth’s idea,” Angelo said. “He knew what a rough time you’ve had.” Angelo stood looking back and forth between us.

  “Let’s give them a moment,” Rosalie said.

  “I have a story I want to tell Sarah,” Angelo protested.

  “Come on, Angelo. Let’s go make sure the lasagna is hot.” Rosalie winked at me.

  “They’d better be hot, or they’re going to find out they messed with the bull.” Angelo put his hands on either side of his head and pointed his index fingers like they were horns. He’d done that one of the first times I had met him. “They don’t want to get the horns,” he said as they walked off.

  I turned to Seth. We hadn’t seen each other since yesterday morning. And I’d been worried about how things were between us. While this was a lovely gesture, I realized it might take Seth a while to completely trust me again. “Thank you. I’m almost speechless, and you know that doesn’t happen often.”