EPILOGUE
Ronan
Three weeks later…
Ronan stood beside Tennyson as Father Jeffries closed the final prayer. One by one Maria’s friends and family dropped red rosebuds into the urn vault. Ten, Ronan, and the rest of the cold case team did the same.
Sofia and her brothers hugged each of them and thanked them all for what they’d done for Maria. No one mentioned Sal and the rest of the Marino crime family.
After Maria died, Tennyson told Ronan and Fitz about the box of evidence in her room.
Working alongside with the Major Crimes unit, they’d built a case and arrested Sal Marino and six of his flunkies on murder and racketeering charges.
It had been Ronan himself, who’d snapped the cuffs on Triple M.
Arresting a piece of shit never felt so good.
Fitzgibbon had made sure the evidence about the hatpin murders made it into the file, but were never spoken of publicly.
Once Sal and his men had been indicted, and the hatpin cases officially closed, Cold Case bowed out of the investigation.
“Tell me, Ten,” Fitzgibbon began as they walked back toward the SUV, “did you know Maria was going to die that afternoon?”
Ten exchanged a guilty look with Ronan. “I knew she was going to die that day, but not at that precise moment. She told me about the evidence, that Reagan Pryce was her lawyer, and made me promise you all would get her father. When I gave her my word, she closed her eyes and slipped away.”
“I’m glad,” Fitz said, wearing a satisfied look.
“You’re glad?” Ten asked, looking stunned. “I thought you were going to fire me or suspend me or make me work with Jude again.”
Jude barked a laugh.
“I don’t admit this very often, guys, so gather around, you won’t want to miss this.
” Fitzgibbon waggled his eyebrows at Greeley.
“I’m an asshole. I put this job before almost everything else.
Sometimes my husband and kids get left behind when we’re in the middle of a big case.
Asking Maria to give us a full confession about the Hatpin Hattie murders was cold and callus.
I’ve felt horrible from the moment the words came out of my mouth.
To be honest, I’m glad you didn’t tell me, Ten.
I would have been a bigger asshole then, as that poor woman lay dying. ”
“I think we’re all guilty of that, Cap,” Ronan said. “I can’t count the times I’ve missed things with Ten and the kids to pursue a lead or do a little more paperwork. Maria showed all of us, once again, that people are more important than paperwork.”
“What about you, Jude?” Ten asked. “Are you an asshole too?”
“Me? Please!” Jude laughed. “I’m never an asshole! I’m the bright, cheery, sexy-”
“Chris Hemsworth of the group,” everyone chorused.
“Exactly. Nice to see you’re all on board. Now, what I suggest is grabbing lunch on the road and getting home in time to get the kids off the bus. We’ll get pizza and ice cream, and whatever else the kids want and we’ll throw ourselves a big old party to celebrate life and family.”
“Sounds good to me,” Ronan said, hoisting himself into the third row seats.
Life was what you made of it. Over the years Ronan had turned his dreams into reality. He had a job that he loved. Friends who were more like brothers. A husband and two amazing kids, who brought more joy and happiness into his life than he ever imagined was possible.
Life was indeed what you made of it and Ronan O’Mara’s was one of a kind
THE END