Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
“Yes.” Sam sighed. She understood how Alice felt.
“He claims he only found out that Steven’s shooting was connected to Gallagher and the others a year before my dad was shot, but he knew all along that they were behind my dad’s shooting.
He’s the one who tipped Gallagher that my dad was looking into Steven’s shooting, hoping to finally solve that case before he retired. ”
Alice wrapped her arms around herself, her body trembling violently. “Brings it all back,” she whispered. “Like it just happened.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry to do that to you.”
Alice’s eyes flashed with anger. “Don’t you apologize to me. You’re as much a victim of their evil as I am, as Steven and Skip were.” She began to cry. “Two of the best men I ever knew.”
Sam wrapped her arms around Alice and held her as she sobbed.
Her own emotions were all over the place, pinging from rage to sadness to despair and then, when she noticed Nick watching her intently, to hope.
As long as she had him and Scotty, the twins and the rest of her family and friends, she would survive this.
She could survive anything with them on her side.
“How could Paul have done this?” Alice asked.
“I don’t know, but without him coming clean, we might never have gotten Gallagher and the others.”
“Roy was Steven’s friend.” She hiccupped on a sob. “Steven trusted him, looked up to him, even.”
“We may never understand this, Alice, but they’re going to pay for what they did to Steven, my dad, Frank Davis, Kevin Viera and who knows who else.
As we speak, the FBI is raiding their offices, their homes, their businesses.
The Feds will build an airtight case against them.
They’ll never see the light of day again. ”
“Doesn’t bring Steven or Skip back, though, does it?”
“No, but at least we’ll get justice for them. Finally.”
The back door slammed shut, startling Alice. She sat up straighter, wiped her face and made a visible effort to pull herself together. “That’ll be Jimmy, home from work.”
“Alice?”
“In here.”
“What’re all those cars in the street for?” Jimmy came into the room, stopping short at the sight of Sam and Nick. “What the…”
“Jimmy, this is Sam Holland, Skip’s daughter, and her husband—”
“I know who they are. What’s going on?”
“They’ve arrested the men behind Steven’s murder. And Skip’s.”
“Oh. Well. That’s good news, isn’t it?”
Alice nodded and dabbed at the tears that continued to spill down her cheeks.
“I, um, I’m sorry about your dad,” Jimmy said. “Alice… She said he was a good man.”
“Thank you. He was.”
“I’ll, ah, I’ll give you a minute. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me, Alice.”
After he walked away, Alice wiped her face and seemed to shake off the despair. “It’s hard for him to see me upset about Steven. He’s always felt second best, like the runner-up or something. I tell him that’s not true, but Steven… He was…” Alice grimaced.
“I know.”
“I so appreciate you coming to tell me this yourself. It means the world to me. It’s what your father would’ve done.”
Sam took Alice’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Hearing that means the world to me.”
They stood, and Alice hugged her for a long time. “People have used the word closure over the years. That’s what you brought me today, and I’m thankful to you and everyone else who worked on Steven’s case. Will you pass along my thanks to them?”
“I will. And I’ll keep you posted of any developments.” Sam was struck with an idea too powerful to resist. “I met a woman this week, someone like you—newly married, madly in love with her husband, a DEA agent who was shot and killed.”
“I read about that.”
“I’m starting a support group for victims of violent crime. If you’re willing, perhaps I could introduce you to Roni. As someone who’s taken the same journey, you might be able to help her.”
“I’m not sure if I could do anything for her, but I’d be happy to try.”
“I’ll call you about it.”
Alice walked them to the door and held out a hand to Nick. “I’m honored to have had you visit my home.”
“The honor was all mine. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll wait for you outside, Sam.”
When they were alone, Alice smiled at Sam. “Got yourself a handsome one there.”
“He is that.”
“Hold on tight to what you have with him and enjoy every minute.”
“I will.” Sam hugged her again, feeling closer to her dad in Alice’s presence, knowing how important she and her late husband had been to Skip.
“You stay safe, you hear me? Nothing is more important than your life, and if you’re in the area, come by and see me.”
“I’ll do that.” Sam left her with a smile and went out to the front porch where Nick waited for her. “And I’ll be in touch about the group.”
“I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”
Sam took hold of the hand Nick held out to her.
“Let’s go home.” Her dad wouldn’t be there, but her house was full of people who loved her, and she would carry Skip in her heart everywhere she went for the rest of her life.
His voice would be in her head every day, his hand on her shoulder, guiding her the way he always had.
He wouldn’t want her to get sucked into the rabbit hole of despair and grief.
He’d tell her to quit her moping and get back to doing the best job ever.
So that’s what she’d do even if she’d miss him every step of the way.