61
They pulled up in front of Weaverton police station, which was alive with activity.
Every light burned inside the building, illuminating the night, while newsvans, regular cars, TV trucks, and police cruisers clogged the parking lot, idling chalky exhaust fumes.
Reporters yakked into phones and camera crews milled around setting up TV lights, temporary tents, and other equipment.
Klieg lights ran on thick black cables that snaked to thrumming portable generators.
A slew of uniformed cops tried to maintain order and keep entrances and exits to the station open.
“There she is!” Julia spotted Courtney leaving the police station with Paul, and her heart leapt. Courtney was back in her suit with her little bow undone, but at least she wasn’t in a prison jumpsuit anymore.
“She looks good!” Gianluca grinned. “Thank God!”
Bennie parked and cut the ignition. “Before you get out, we need a plan. You guys go to Courtney and Paul, and I’ll run interference with the press. Keep moving, don’t answer any questions, then head back to Paul’s car. I have to run inside for some papers before I leave. Understood?”
“Yes, thanks!” Julia got out of the car with Gianluca and Leni, who woke up in the commotion.
They beelined for Courtney and Paul, who were coming down the steps, and heads began to turn among the media, who started to recognize them.
Reporters and cameramen surged toward them, and Bennie fended them off as they shouted questions and raised phones, microphones, lights, and cameras to film them.
“Ms. Pritzker, are you alleging a police cover-up?” “Ms. Horan, any comment on your indictment? Why were you charged with your grandmother’s murder?” “Are you suing the Buckley police?” “What’s your relationship to Alex Dudek? Why was he at the prison?”
Julia left Gianluca to run to Courtney, throwing open her arms, and Courtney left Paul to run to Julia. The two women met in a glorious hug, and Julia burst into joyful tears. “Courtney, thank God! I’m never letting you go!”
“Me, neither! You got me out! You did it!”
Bennie took off for the station, followed by reporters, who kept asking questions. “Ms. Rosato, will you be filing suit against Buckley for official corruption?” “Bennie, please, a comment!” “Bennie, how did you get involved? Will Mary DiNunzio be co-counsel?”
Julia released Courtney, then Gianluca hugged her, too, with Leni falling back to sleep in his arms, despite the reporters who kept shouting questions.
“Julia, how did you know they were manufacturing ghost guns?” “Give us a quote!” “Courtney, look over here, look over here!”
Meanwhile Paul hurried to Julia, shouting over the din. “Thanks for all you did, but come with me to the car!”
“Okay!” Julia and the others tried to move as uniformed officers and their staff gathered around them, squeezing the media aside and forming a beaming circle. Suddenly the cops and their staff burst into applause, and Julia didn’t understand what was going on.
Courtney grinned. “Jules, this is for you! You saved all those people! It’s incredible!”
Whoa. Julia felt overwhelmed. “Thank you!” she said, her face flushing.
Gianluca looked around the circle, his eyes shining. Leni woke up.
Bennie emerged from the station and hustled toward them through the throng, smiling and waving a set of papers. “Courtney, you’re officially a free woman!”
“Thank you so much!” Courtney gave her a hug, then Paul hugged Bennie, too.
“Yes, thank you, Bennie! You sure you can’t come back with us?”
“Thanks, but I have to go.” Bennie hugged Julia and Gianluca. “Goodbye, it was great meeting you. We have to stay in touch.”
“Yes, thank you,” Julia said, meaning it, as Bennie headed off.
Courtney caught Julia’s eye, and they held each other’s teary gaze for a moment.
There was so much to say, and Julia wondered if they’d have the chance to say it, now that they weren’t alone.
She experienced a deep sense of loss over so much death, and she knew Courtney would be feeling even worse, having lost her beloved Kay, and Alex.
Meanwhile the cops were still applauding, like a standing ovation.
It looked like a proverbial happy ending.
But oddly, it didn’t feel like one.