45
Half an hour later, Julia was in the car driving to McGlinchey’s.
Her cell phone rang, and she checked the screen to see Gianluca’s smiling face.
She realized with a stab of guilt that so much had been going on, she hadn’t called him.
She picked up. “Gianluca, hi, I’m sorry I didn’t call. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” Gianluca answered, tense. “My lawyer’s been in touch with the authorities.
The meetings are getting scheduled for late next week, so I bought you some time.
Leni’s still not sleeping well, she’s missing you and worried about you, but that’s not why I’m calling. I want to know how you are.”
“I’m fine.”
“Julia, really? Tell me the truth.” Gianluca’s voice went hushed, so Julia knew he was getting upset.
“I swear, I’m fine.”
“But I see you were at a prison riot, and there were two murders. Injuries, police. Is that the prison where Courtney is?”
Oh shit. “How do you know that?”
“I checked your location on the app. I googled it and got the news. Julia, what’s going on? I’m asking, are you truly okay?”
“I’m fine. Paul and Courtney’s lawyer were there, too, and we weren’t in any danger.” Julia didn’t want to lie to him anymore or tell him half the truth. “But a friend of Courtney’s was murdered, Alex Dudek.”
“Oh no, how horrible. Is he an inmate, too?”
“No, he was with us.”
“But I thought you just said you weren’t in any danger.”
“We weren’t. We were there for a legal proceeding when the riot broke out. Alex ran off to see about Courtney, got involved, and was killed in the melee.”
“Oh no, that’s so tragic.” Gianluca moaned. “And what about the woman who was killed? I saw her name online.”
“She was Courtney’s cellmate.”
“Her cellmate? Was she in the melee, too? Was Courtney?”
Julia braced herself. “No, the cellmate’s murder was a case of mistaken identity. She was biracial, too, and I think someone was trying to kill Courtney.”
Gianluca gasped. “Why? Why would they do that?”
“I think there’s a conspiracy trying to stop her from looking into her grandmother’s murder. That’s why they framed her, too. She had a medical emergency last night, so she wasn’t there when her cellmate was murdered.”
“So it could’ve been her? These people are that dangerous?
” Gianluca’s voice stayed quiet, but he talked faster, his frustration raw and undisguised.
“Julia, what are you doing? You’re getting too involved, and it’s getting more and more dangerous.
This is worse than what I worried about, worse than I feared would happen.
Are you getting more visions, using your gift—”
“Only a little,” Julia interrupted, but even she knew it sounded lame.
“You’re a little psychic now? Julia what are you thinking?
What are you doing? Please stop now, please come home.
” Gianluca paused, collecting his thoughts.
“It’s not the time you’re taking anymore, or even that Leni needs you, or that I need you.
It’s that you’re putting yourself in danger, willfully.
Why would you do that? Can you think of no one but yourself? ”
“I’m not thinking of myself.”
“Yes, you are. You’re acting like a free agent, but you have a family, me and Leni.
You’re a mother. Remember, you told me when I became a father that I shouldn’t ride motorcycles, it was too dangerous?
So I sold my bike. The same principle should apply to you.
You’re a mother now. You can’t put your life in jeopardy any more than I can. ”
“It’s not the same thing, Gianluca.” Julia’s thoughts began to clarify. “Riding motorcycles was a hobby, and this is not. This is me trying to get to the bottom of what’s going on, to get Courtney out of jail. If I can help free her, Gianluca, I have to try.”
“But at what cost? I thought we understood each other. I thought we loved each other.”
“We do!”
“What does love mean to you? You gave me your word. Can’t you just stop? Can’t you listen to me, the way I listened to you?”
“No, I can’t.”
“Why not? Tell me, what are you doing right now? It’s afternoon there, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I’m going to watch a reenactment, a public event that will probably have a hundred people. There should be no danger.”
“Reenacting what?”
“The War of Independence, for the country.”
“Since when an interest in American history?”
“It’s for the case, I admit it.”
Gianluca groaned. “Who’s with you? Paul?”
“No, he’s at the prison.”
“What about the lawyer?”
“In Philadelphia. I’m alone, in the car. The lawyer’s investigator will be here Monday, but I don’t want to lose the weekend. The end is in sight, I’m trying my best to make it be.”
“Julia, please, stop now. Don’t do whatever you’re about to—”
“Just trust me.”
“I don’t trust you anymore, Julia. I don’t. I think you knew this would happen. You just wouldn’t admit it to me.” Gianluca fell silent, and Julia realized he was partly right. She hadn’t admitted it to herself, either. She had a sudden revelation, and it was time to face it herself.
“Gianluca, I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do, and it’s more right than all the other things I have to do. You, Leni. This is right for me, right now. You have to understand.”
“Well, I don’t understand,” Gianluca said, his tone carrying a final note, like a weight.
Julia felt her gut wrench. She didn’t know if he was right, but she didn’t have time to parse her emotions. She knew what she was doing, finally in full possession of her senses, even her sixth sense. She spotted a sign for McGlinchey’s Plateau ahead. “I’m sorry, I love you, but I have to go.”
Gianluca hung up without another word.