by Alexie Aaron
“I’ll be there,” I said. I turned to Harry and said, “I want to be there.”
“Antonia Aldana has already sullied your name. She has publically said you were the cause of her daughter’s actions. She will, no doubt, be there,” Harry reminded me.
“I’m still going. If it wasn’t for Antonia, I would have never been killed.”
Victor looked over at me and then at Harry.
“It is settled?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, Harry, if you will excuse Bella and me, I would like to go over the estate with her.”
Harry picked up the bottle and got up. He shook Victor’s hand. “I’ll be on the other side of the door if you need me.”
Victor waited until the door closed behind Harry.
“He is your knight, Bella.”
“He would have been my son, Victor. All that talk about being my lover is wrong. He bears it, but it has to be wearing.”
“Now you have me. We can deal with it if you want to.”
“Thank you.”
“I need you to sign some transfers of property,” he said, picking up a very tall pile of papers.
“You said a small estate.”
“Small in Marco’s eyes. Quite large actually. I may suggest liquidating some properties that would demand too much of your time. The penthouse is, sadly, under the family name, so that will go to the D’Amores.”
The rest I took in with apparent grace. Inside I was shouting, “Shit, shit, shit.” How had a very indiscreet affair turned me into a wealthy woman? I wouldn’t count on it. If Marco’s true Italian heir requested it, I would make arrangements to transfer it over. But if not…
Victor handed me the shoebox I knew contained my slippers. He also gave me a very heavy box, saying that an associate would carry it down to my car for me. I imagined it contained a few books. It would be interesting to see what Marco read. I asked Victor, because of the danger surrounding me, to take care of making me and Harry responsible for the other and, if something happened to me, my estate would be divided equally between Noelle, Alex and Harry.
“I will have the papers for you to sign when I pick you up for the memorial. Bella, I’m not your father nor your lover, but you must eat. Marco would hate that you wasted away because of him.”
“I’ve never been too thin, Victor, but I will eat. Marco had this sauce…”
“I know. I inherited that recipe. When you feel better, you will come over, and my Lisa, she will make you Marco’s sauce.”
“I’d like that. So I better take my notorious self out of here and let you get on with your day.” I rose and gave him a hug. “Thank you, you have eased my pain, and I know we share a love for a man whose name is also an adjective. He is, he was, Marco.”
Famigerato
“So besides the boxes…” Harry led as we drove north.
“He made sure that I would be alright.”
“How alright?”
“Very alright,” I said, dazed. “If I am going to burn for this, then I will burn in style,” I said. “I will give the Italian heirs time to contest it. If they do not, then I think I’ll fund some musical charities in Marco’s name.”
“That’s classy,” Harry said.
“I feel so guilty.”
“You mean because you were screwing Tom on the side?”
“Technically, not while Marco and I were together. At least there’s that,” I said, my voice falling off as I thought. “I could help Tom out. I feel bad about him taking a nosedive.”
“That’s your other brain talking. Tom would want to do it himself. Don’t give him money; loan it to him.”
“I could buy Luke out of the house, except…”
“You don’t want it anymore.”
“How did you know?”
“Yes, you like the pool. No, you don’t like the upkeep, and your room has been soiled by that madwoman. We could get a house or a floor of apartments. No, a loft. Let’s get a loft and a club membership!”
“Okay, wouldn’t a loft be too cold?”
“It’s all about how you carve it up. We could have our office… We are still going to work, aren’t we?”
“Sure.”
“I could protect you better in a loft in the city. This house and the village cops suck.”
“Um, don’t put any money down. I still think the D’Amores aren’t finished with me yet.”
“I hear you. I like Victor.”
“Me too.”
“Cin, what was Marco like?” Harry asked.
“He was pure romance. He was a bit of a chauvinist, but he fully appreciated who I am. He made love to me at the opera. He did that so, when I walked in there, I would think of him and not Kyle.”
“Whoa, when? No, don’t answer that. Whoa.”
“I was surprised when he called Sunday.”
“He didn’t seem the kind of guy who wanted a relationship,” Harry commented.
“He wasn’t. I think he either saw something in me or someone in me. He was so attentive. It would have taken a lot for me not to fall in love with him. In two days, I loved him. But, Harry, he was a scoundrel and thought of himself that way.”
Harry laughed. “Buslowski is pressuring me about who might be the other man in your life.”
“Please don’t tell him.”
“Why?”
“Tom’s in prison. Can you imagine what Buslowski, with his connections, could do to him?”
“Thumbscrews.”
“And the rack. We wouldn’t want Tom any taller. He makes me feel short.”
“He’s old.”
“Harrison Ford is older,” I said.
“And you think he’s a stud?”
“Oh yes.”
“You have father issues.”
“No I don’t, do I?”
Harry laughed. “I like Tom, but he’s married. He’s married to a con, but he is still married.”
“That’s right.”
“Oh, the unavailable male… Like Marco. You don’t want to have the slightest chance of being tied down, do you?”
“What is Bunny paying Dr. Andrews for when I have you?” I asked.
“Don’t tell Luke about the money. Let Bunny pay for the shrink. I think it makes her feel superior.”
“I noticed,” I said, laughing.
“Oh shit,” I said, seeing Tony’s car in the drive. “I’d like to come home and not have one of the cops in the driveway.”
“The police are a bit too territorial, Cin.”
“No, today, I am Bella,” I said with a smile.
“Well, Bella, take a deep breath. Buslowski is behind us.”
“Great, a twofer,” I said. “Let’s leave the boxes in the trunk. But lock it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I, however, picked up the bottle of very expensive scotch. I smiled and walked over and greeted Tony. “Hello, did we have an appointment?”
Tony was a bit taken aback by the nice treatment. He took in my clothing, and his brows knitted together. “No, but I did have a few questions to ask you.”
“Come on in, but excuse the mess, most of the house is still a crime scene,” I warned him.
I sensed his presence and turned around to face him. “Hello, Dave.”
He looked wounded. I’m sure the gossip was getting to him. “I guess I’ll get in line,” he said.
He pushed past me and into the house. “Well, Bella, time to face the music,” I said to myself.
I excused myself, went into the pool house, and changed my clothes. I pulled on some black sweat pants and a black GAP t-shirt Luke had left behind. I didn’t have access to my shoes, so I padded across the pool deck barefoot. I left the bottle behind.
Harry had gone to change out of his suit. The men were staring at each other, not talking.
“Can I get you something to drink? We have beer and iced tea…”
“I’ll take a beer,” Tony said.
Buslowski held up two fingers.
I knew I was going to be drinking later, so I poured myself an iced tea. “So do I have to split you guys up, or can we talk together about what has brought you guys here?”
“Where were you today?” Buslowski asked.
“At my lawyer’s.” I grabbed my purse and pulled out Victor’s card. I handed it to Dave. He jammed it back into my hand. I took it and gave it to Tony. “Jot that number down, just in case.”
“What were you doing there?” Dave persisted.
“As of a week from Friday, when I sign the papers, Harry and I will officially be responsible for the other,” I said.
Harry, who was lurking at the end of the hall, came in grinning. I handed him a beer. “Aren’t you going to congratulate us?” he asked.
Buslowski’s brows unknitted.
“Cin, I’m sorry about Marco,” Tony began, “I understand the two of you were just getting to know each other.”
“Thank you, Tony. I’m smarting a bit, but I didn’t know him that well.”
“The papers have fitted you two up as lovers,” Buslowski spat.
I didn’t say a word. I looked at Tony for a moment before I told him, “I know he was on your list. He didn’t do it. He died how he lived, I guess. Opera is full of tragedies. He loved opera. He almost married Eldora Capella. She was knocked up with someone else’s child, but he still would have married her. Preston hurt Eldora, and she lost the child. It’s a tragic tale. I think it jaded him.”
“He was a scoundrel,” Dave said.
“I like scoundrels,” I countered and turned away and gave Tony my full attention.
“I wanted to return some of your things we picked up. We don’t need them for evidence.” He bent forward and opened his briefcase. He handed me my purse and its contents in separate evidence bags. I looked at the stuff through the plastic. “Tony, that cell phone isn’t mine.” A wave of dizziness washed over me. Harry put a steadying hand on my back. I couldn’t get the words out quick enough. “That’s it. That’s what Preston picked up with his bare hand!”
Tony took the bag back. “Cin, don’t get excited.”
“You’ve got chain of custody,” Harry said. “Print it.”
“It’s going to be hard to convince the DA that Cin saw him pick this up in her out-of-body experience.”
“It’s still evidence. Whose phone is it?” I asked. “It’s a piece of the puzzle. We’ll find the other pieces.”
“She’s right,” Dave said.
“All this time, I wasn’t sure that I could believe myself,” I admitted. “Okay, now who’s here officially to ask me whether I conspired to have Marco D’Amore killed?”
Tony raised his hand.
“I did not. I loved the man. My only contact with Antonia Aldana’s daughter was when Marco helped me put my shoe back on.”
“Did anyone witness your meeting?”
“He did,” I said, pointing at Buslowski.
“I did,” he admitted.
“But the two of you are kind of in this together,” Tony said, frowning.
“No we aren’t,” I said. “I was his bait. He and Preston were fishing.”
I closed my eyes. I could see Marco at my feet. I thought, I’d give anything to be there again, for him to be alive. I opened my eyes. “Sorry, just trying to balance the teeter-totter that is my emotions. Is anyone hungry? God, I’m hungry. Pizza?” I asked.
“I’ve got to get this back to the lab,” Tony said.
Buslowski nodded.
Harry smiled and nodded.
I walked into the den to get the fast-food folder. Tony stopped in, and I could tell he wanted to say something. I nodded for him to the close the door. He did.
“It’s sad to see the two of you like this.”
“Like what? Seems to me, we’re almost back to normal. There never was going to be an us, Tony. It’s not on him. It’s on me. I was married forever, and then I wasn’t. I’m better unattached. It’s dangerous to be around me. I get everyone I love hurt. Father Michael, you…”
“Me?”
“Come on, you’re the detective. Why did you think I was so… bitchy?”
He laughed. “You were bitchy.”
“But it’s not romantic between us. We’re friends, at least I hope we are. When I saw what that monster had done to you at the Avery, I died inside. I had to save you, Tony. Ponder that over your French toast sometime.”
“So you loved this Marco character?”
“I didn’t want to. I was very aware of who and what he was, but I couldn’t help it. He’s the guy my mother and Harry warned me about, but it didn’t matter. He crossed my path. He said, ‘Pardon me, bella signora, for being so bold.’ I made him pick up my shoe.” I started crying. “I’ve become such a bitch.”
Tony put away his cop persona for a moment and held me. “I’m sorry, Cin. Nothing seems to go right for you, does it?”
I released him. “I think it’s my fault. I’m cursed.” I wiped the tears off my face and smiled. “I better get this to the guys,” I said.
Tony opened the door. I know he looked at me for a while before leaving.
I walked in and tossed the local pizzeria menu to Harry. “Order enough, I’m starving. I feel like I haven’t eaten in months.”
Harry looked over at Buslowski and both of them smiled.
“What?”
Harry picked up the phone and ordered.
“Would you like another beer?” I asked Dave.
“This will hold me until the pizza arrives. You’re not drinking? Are you alright?”
“I think I’m getting there,” I said, believing my own words.
Dave took a sip of his beer. He looked at me a few times before he put his thoughts into words, “Cin, there is going to be a memorial for Marco a week from this Friday. The opera singers are going to sing his favorites.”
“I know. I’m going to be there,” I said.
“It’s going to be a rough crowd, for you in particular.”
“I’m going with Harry, maybe Sally, Victor Massotti and his bodyguard.”
“Is he the guy?”
“No. He’s my lawyer.”
“Why would you need a lawyer to attend a memorial?”
I smiled but didn’t answer him.
“I’ve been cleared. Carlos left the workroom and saw me looking for you in the first office. I could not have gotten by him to get to the workroom. It was him who went back and found you and Kyle. He was hysterical.”
“I’m glad you’re in the clear. I didn’t think it was you, but you are a dark horse.”
“Kind of a scoundrel?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow.
“No,” I said and started laughing.
I walked to the car and pulled out the boxes from the trunk. They were heavy to lift together, but I managed to heft them into the house.
Dave took the box out of my hands. “Why didn’t you ask for help?” he complained. “This box is heavy.”
“I used to be pretty strong. As soon as I get the okay, I’m going to take a self-defense course. Harry wants me to get a gun, but I don’t want one.”
“Thank God for that. You with a firearm… Actually, it’s not a bad idea. A small one. I could teach you,” he offered.
“I can’t. I’m not in law enforcement. It goes against my principles.”
Dave looked at me and shook his head. “Where do you want this one?”
“I suppose in the pool house. I’m going to go through it later.”
“What’s in it?”
“My inheritance,” I said.
“Who?”
“You ask too many questions,” I said, opening up the door.
“I want to make love to you.”
“Stand in line,” I said, walking over to the pool house. I opened the door and let Dave in. He set the heavy box on the counter, and I set the small box on top of it.
“What’s in that box?”
“I think, my slippers, but I won’t know until I open it.
”
“Well, open it, damn it.”
“I can’t do that until I read a letter, and the letter is supposed to make me sad or upset or something. That’s what this is for,” I said, pointing out the expensive bottle of scotch whiskey.
“So you’ve got an interesting night ahead of you. Let me make love to you.”
“No.”
He reached out and pulled me to him.
“Please, Dave, I’m very confused right now. I have a role to play at the memorial. I need to get through this in one piece.”
He looked down at me. “Are you still mad at me?”
“Furious, can’t you tell?” I said, opening the door. I waited until he left the pool house before I set the alarm and locked the door. We walked over to the main house in silence.
~
We ate the pizza, the three of us joking about this and that, mostly making fun of me and Harry. I eased off of Dave. I didn’t want to punish him anymore. If Marco had taught me anything, it was that life was too short. Don’t hold on to grudges, and don’t let propriety get in the way of love.
After, I excused myself and walked to the pool house, unlocked the door and turned off the alarm, shutting the door behind me. I turned on the lights and closed the blinds. “Marco, I’m afraid of what you’ve written to me.”
I walked over, opened the whiskey, and poured a measure in a glass and took the little box and opened it. Inside, as expected, were my slippers. I put them on my feet. They were amber silk, simple and elegant. Inside the box was the letter.
Dear Bella,
I’m sorry, my love, but I am gone. I am preparing this letter just in case something happens to me. I hope it is a year from now, but with my cancer, I fear I may not make it that long. My Bella, my beautiful red-haired lover. I love you with my whole heart. I have searched for you since I knew of my fate. I needed to find someone who could carry on my love of music and of romance. You walked out of the washroom and made me grovel on the floor. I was smitten. You were a lot like Eldora, but you were richer, more confident, and kinder. I should not have been so rude to you. I sensed Kyle was circling. I should not have let you go that night.
But it happened, and you survived. God gave you back to me. I vowed to take you to my bed and fill you with love. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, but I have to be kind to my wife and family. You seemed to understand. Here, I could be responsible and have my Bella! Such joy!
