Chapter 39
39
M arco and Theresa served dinner to their guests. They enjoyed the meal together, laughing and telling stories. Their guests asked for a recounting of the events of last night and Marco obliged. It took a while, as a lot of things occured.
Jace asked, "What happens with the police now? Are you in trouble?"
Marco shook his head, but Mitch responded. "I believe I smoothed things over. Theresa still must go in and give her statement. I called today and asked if she could have the day off. But tomorrow she'll have to go in."
Marco glanced at Theresa, and she nodded.
His stomach twisted though. Would she be a sitting duck in the police station? They didn't think anyone on the Blossom Springs Police Department was dirty. But then again, they didn't think Kelsey was dirty either.
Theresa sighed after Marco repeated Kelsey’s involvement. "Believe me, I was shocked to see her there. She said she was there in her father's place and that he owned a paper company that supplied the cardboard boxes to PCK Meatpacking. Since I was wired, Mitch's team did some quick checking and said she was lying."
Jace's jaw tightened. "Is that how you got that bruise on your face?"
Theresa shrugged slightly. "Yes. She spun me around by my hair and my face hit the stall wall."
Margo spat, "That bitch."
Jace reached over and lay his hand over Margo's. "Of course, she's not welcome at the Sandbar any longer."
Theresa nodded. "Of course not. I hope she sits in jail for a good long time."
Marco responded. "It's doubtful. If it's her first offense, battery doesn't get you much jail time these days."
Margo's brows furrowed. "But if she's involved in the money laundering..."
Marco nodded. "We believe she is. We don't have proof. Yet. And we aren't sure how long she's been working with them. It does explain how they found Theresa's phone number though. Kelsey had it. And Theresa recognized some of the men from PCK Meatpacking at the Sandbar. They likely stumbled on the fact that she worked there and then found someone, Kelsey, to help with what they needed. Remember that ticket she needed help with? I think she used that new attorney in town, who is most likely a front for the Celtics. So, perhaps he helped her with the ticket if she did him a favor or two. This is pure conjecture on my part, but it's all I've been thinking about since last night."
Margo looked across the table at Theresa. "Honey, I'm so sorry."
Theresa smiled. "It's not your fault. None of us knew anything. Not until last night."
As the conversation continued, Marco was reminded of what’s really important in life; having people you enjoy spending time with and having a person in your life that you love and who loves you. This is what a full life looked like.
He realized all of it now.
He stopped mid-story as he was talking.
Theresa took his hand. “Marco, are you all right?”
He shook his head slowly.
“Uh, yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I just realized that I didn’t have a PTSD attack last night. It didn’t dawn on me till just now.”
Theresa smiled and squeezed his hand. “That’s wonderful.”
“It is, and I’m not complaining, but I’m surprised. They’d been getting bad for a while, and then when I started working at the Sandbar, they had ceased for the most part. Once in a while, a loud bang would make me jump or make me feel as though an attack was coming on, but during all the fighting last night and the shooting, I didn’t have an attack.”
Theresa grinned at him. “I’m so happy for you.”
He squeezed her hand. “Thanks.”
Jace grinned. “It’s amazing when they stop, isn’t it? But be cautious; they don’t always stop. It could come back. Just keep doing your therapy and what you need to do to stay healthy. Keep loving and being loved.”
He grinned. “I absolutely plan to do that.”
He stared into Theresa's eyes. It wasn't a hardship at all. The smile she bestowed on him was so worth it.
They finished their meal, and a pinging started, sounding like it was coming from Mitch. He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out Theresa's old phone.
He scrolled and stopped. Text messages were coming through. His face grew stone cold.
“Looks like you've hit a nerve with the crime family. They're texting and want to know what information you still have.”
Theresa quickly looked at her watch. “Oh, the last exposé released.”
Jace replied, “It’s good to know they’re reading it.”
Theresa glanced at Mitch. “But what are they saying?”
Marco squeezed her hand and listened as Mitch read the texts.
* You think you're so smart. We demand you give up what you have or your life is in peril.
* Meet me tomorrow to hand over the remaining documents you have.
* I mean it. We demand all documents in your possession or you won't know a moment's peace.
Marco pulled his phone up and checked the website that Theresa was posting the exposés on. He saw so many comments from a great many people, good comments, congratulating her on taking the steps to bring this all to light. Stories of people who had had experiences with certain folks here and there. And then they started coming in, sounding different.
“I just left an encrypted message for you in the private email that you posted. I have some information on some people I think are involved.”
That similar type of message... posted over and over and over again.
He turned to her and grinned.
“Well, you may have the cartel rattled, and part of that reason is people are coming forward. Your inbox is filling up according to these comments.”
She ran to the coffee table where she had placed their laptops, and she pulled hers open. Typing in the passwords, she started reading.
“Oh my gosh. These stories corroborate Keely's story. They corroborate some of the ledger accounts I have. Oh my God. We can actually bring them down. If these people are still willing to come forward, we can bring them down.”
Marco rushed over to the sofa and sat next to her as they started reading email after email. People who had names, dates, and similar stories of things that had happened to them. Family members who were mysteriously killed. Family members whose personalities changed one hundred percent after an encounter with this person or that person, and then after their death, finding accounts being used to launder money.
“Oh my God,” Theresa whispered. “This is... this is unbelievable.”
Marco bent and kissed her lips.
“You’re unbelievable. Look at what you’re doing. Look at the change you’re going to make. Look at the people who have been affected that you're helping get their story out. See, you don’t have to just write Keely’s story. You could have a different chapter about every one of these people, even if you change their names. You’ve got to write this book, Theresa.”
She smiled and looked into his eyes. He didn’t have to say anything more. He didn’t want to push her into it, but he knew she could make some big differences if she did, and he wanted her to be happy. He wanted her to realize her potential. Waiting tables was fine, and managing the restaurant was wonderful; she was doing a great job, but she had more to offer, and people to help. She could do that.