Epilogue
Dmitri
We sit back on the beach, drinking mocktails as we enjoy the sun. My beautiful wife’s stomach is starting to get round, and I couldn’t be happier. We’re going to be parents in five months. After I proposed, I didn’t wait more than a week to get her tied to me. Since neither of us has a large network of family and friends, we had a small church wedding across from the piazza.
A week after his threatening call to Cora, Trainor had paid for his crimes. We learned that her stepfather met a tragic end in the Cook County Jail. I reported his fraud to the FTC and the Feds the same day as the call, along with the confession of murder he made to Cora. According to the man I spoke with, someone else had already tipped them off and he was under surveillance. He was arrested and taken to jail until he could get bail. Unfortunately, he came up against the wrong men and had a bad accident, falling to his death.
“Love, the insurance company called and wanted to send me the money,” Cora says, pressing her hand on my forearm. “I told them that I didn’t need the full million, but half would be good.” I stare at her in confusion, wanting an explanation and she doesn’t hesitate to give it to me. “I didn’t want them to have any reason to think it was a hit.”
I smile and kiss her lips, a sense of pride filling my chest. “Baby, you’re learning. Still, I had nothing to do with his death. I only reported the fraud.” I had on good authority that the tip that led to the surveillance was Maurizio, and the fall was of his own making. We had nothing to do with his demise, but we would have after the conviction. Honestly, I wanted in writing that he killed Cora’s mother, but at least she doesn’t have to suffer through a long, drawn out trial.