EPILOGUE
Three months later
Alison walked hand in hand with Derek through the cemetery. She looked to her left to see James crouched by Emma's headstone on the other side of the cemetery. Also, I had been to see her sister many times, and so had her father, but they had not often been together.
"The trial starts next month," Derek said. "I just got confirmation this morning. It’ll be a long trial, and there’ll be a lot of media coverage. You still don't think you’ll attend any of it?"
"I don't need to," Alison said. "I did what I set out to do, and I know he’s going to jail for the rest of his life. The evidence is there. It’ll go on for some time, and that’s a good thing, and at the end of it, a jury will decide that he’s guilty, and he’ll be where he rightfully belongs. That’s all I need to know."
"All right," Derek said. "Five life sentences is the main aim, and then there are numerous other charges, but it doesn’t really matter about them. I mean, he did shoot a cop in the chest, so attempted murder will be one of the charges, but they’re all just for show on top of the life sentences.
I can't believe it’s finally happening."
"I’m glad for Dad," Alison said with a smile. "He wanted to leave the past in the past because he didn’t want to feel the pain anymore, but he never really got to do that, no matter how hard he tried to push it all down. He finally gets to do that. He can enjoy his retirement now."
Alison stopped and turned, crouching down and beckoning Rex to catch up. When he got to her, she rubbed both ears and then produced a treat from her pocket that she fed to him on her palm.
"I thought your dad said Rex was getting too far," Derek commented with a sly smile.
Alison stood up and kissed Derek. "Don't you know that I’m a role breaker?
" She wrapped her arms around Derek and squeezed him tightly. It hadn’t sunk in yet.
The relief from catching her killer had washed over her at first, but it was like the ocean, the waves coming and going.
It had been twenty-two years, and it would take some time for it to finally sink in.
"You can't just kiss and hug me so that I’ll let you get away with breaking the rules," Derek said.
Alison smiled and coked her head to the side. "Oh, yeah? What’s it going to take this time?"
Derek laughed. He held out his arm, and Alison took it.
"I need to keep an eye on you," he said as they walked together. "Oh, I meant to say, there’s a house up on Swallow Road that just came up. I can make an appointment to go see it later this week. What do you think?"
"I think," Alison said, taking a deep breath, "that there is going to be a lot of media coverage with this trial, and I don't want to think about it anymore. How about we go away for a while? Just you and me?"
"Where would we go?" Derek asked.
"I don't know," Alison said. "It doesn’t matter. Just away somewhere where we can be alone and not have to think about daily life. I know if you talk to your boss, he’ll give you some time off. You have the best record in the FBI."
"Yeah, thanks to you," Derek said. "But, yeah, that sounds nice. I’ve always wanted to go to Costa Rica."
"Costa Rica, it is then," Alison said, taking a skipped step.
They made their way back to the grave, Alison smiling as James rearranged the flowers in the stone vase until he was satisfied.
"That looks good, Dad," she said. "Emma always liked carnations, didn't she?"
"They were her favorite," James said as he stood with a groan. "I could do a hundred squats when I was with the force. Now, I’m lucky if I can do one. Half a one is easy; it’s the getting back up that’s the hard part. Doubly hard for Rex with four legs."
"Are you ready to go?" Alison said, chuckling through her nose.
"She’d be proud of you," James said. "Both of them would.
Emma and your mother. You never gave up.
I did, and so did everyone else who touched the case.
And this man of yours"—James clapped Derek on the shoulder—"I remember when you and Emma brought boyfriends home, and I never liked any of them, but that was only because I was afraid of them taking you both from me. Not this one. He’s brought you closer to me. You made a good choice."
"Yeah, he’s a very lucky man," Alison said, squeezing Derek’s arm.
"She would have liked him, too," James said, glancing back at the headstone, too. "Your mother, too."
"Let’s go see her before we leave," Alison said. "And they would be proud of you, too, Dad. You didn't give up, not really. You were always there for me when I was trying to be there for Emma. I’m glad you were." She bent down and scratched Rex on the top of the head. "Both of you."
He looked up at her, expecting another treat, and she placed a finger on her lips. It was their little secret. Well, Derek’s, too, but he wouldn’t tell. Not if he wanted to make it to Costa Rica.
Alison took her dad’s arm with her free hand, and the three of them walked together with Rex padding behind.
Another wave of relief washed over her.
It was done.
Her life could finally start.