Chapter Twenty-Nine #3
“I’m not listening to you anymore,” Jamie says, shaking his head.
“I don’t care if you degrade me, threaten me.
I’ve seen what’s right. I know the truth.
You helped Alessandro Mancini cover up the murder of Florence Marsten, Gina Tamayo, and Felix Mancini.
Whether it was wiping out records or hiring people to move a body, you’re in deep. And now I’m going to fucking end you.”
For a moment, I’m frightened that his dad is going to stomp over here and choke him out again. The way he’s staring at him tells me he’s considering it.
“Jamie,” I murmur, wanting him to move back.
Just then, the sound of sirens cuts the air, and I finally see flashes of red and blue reflecting behind the Surf Shack. I moan out my relief, knowing that the sheriff has arrived.
Shawn takes over holding Ellis, and I cross to Jamie, tugging on the jacket of his suit to pull him back.
There is an entire crowd of the Collective in front of us.
Toward the back, I see Creed and Mike watching on and looking angry.
It’s clear that some will never believe us. It doesn’t matter the proof.
At the same time, the people who helped us fight the fire at the Surf Shack move closer to our side, glaring at Mancini. Judging him. Distancing themselves from him. I’m stunned by this, but also grateful.
“Clear a path,” Sheriff Castillo announces as he walks over from the parking lot.
Tech is at his side, wide-eyed and worried.
As they round the remains of the Surf Shack with several officers, the sheriff stops to look sideways at the destruction.
When he turns to us, he’s gutted. His mouth downturned, his eyes weak.
I nod, letting him know that I see him. That I’m glad he’s here.
The sheriff swallows hard, then turns to approach the group on the beach.
As he does, Tech comes running over to hug me, murmuring how sorry he is for being late. Ellis limps forward with Shawn to stand with us, also seeming relieved to the see the sheriff.
“Earlier today,” the sheriff announces to the gathered crowd, “my department and I met with the DA and a judge. In the morning, we will hold a press conference to announce an investigation into Alessandro Mancini for the suspected murders of Florence Marsten, Gina Tamayo, and Felix Mancini.”
It’s like my chest breaks open with relief. The shock of being heard. Of the wheels of justice turning, even if I know they’ll be slow. But it worked. The truth is finally coming into the light.
“There’s more,” Jamie adds. He pulls the USB out of his pocket to hold it up for the sheriff. “I’m sure there’s some great reading material on here.”
“What is that?” Mancini asks, squinting as he looks at Jamie. He waves away the concern. “This kid has been causing all kinds of trouble at the resort,” he tells the sheriff. “You can’t trust him.”
But Jamie’s dad seems to know exactly what his son has done. He takes out his phone, and turns away as he calls someone.
“I can testify,” Matteo says as he walks slowly toward the sheriff.
His voice cracks, and I know he’s scared.
I know he’s breaking his life apart right now.
“My father hired people from the Sunset Docks to help him, had a hit out on Ellison Acosta. I saw the papers.” He looks at his father, his jaw flexing. “I know his business,” Matteo adds.
In response, Alessandro tightens his jaw, fists curled tightly at his sides.
“These are the guys who burned down the Surf Shack,” Matteo points out. “They also work for my dad.”
The sheriff notices the two men laid out on the deck, and as one of them starts to get up, his eyes widen. The sheriff quickly pulls his gun, leveling it on the men.
“Don’t move,” the sheriff yells. He touches his radio. “This is Sheriff Castillo,” he says. “We’ve located the detainees. Send backup units immediately to Paradise Beach.” He glances over at the Surf Shack. “And find out where the hell our fire units are.”
When he turns to me again, his face is filled with loss, and I know he’s thinking about my mother. Her dream—at least part of it—is gone.
“This is an outrage,” Mancini shouts as officers start to surround him. He can see he’s in serious trouble. “I had nothing to do with any of this. Any of these false and slanderous accusations. You all need to—”
“Enough, Alessandro,” Cecelia Miles calls out.
I’m surprised to see her, not realizing she had been here all along. She steps out from the crowd, her dress stained with ash. She must have attempted to put out the fire.
“I’ve heard enough,” she says, shaking her head.
“I’ve stood by and watched you saunter through the halls, watched you make deals you tell us nothing about, and now…
” She motions to the Surf Shack. “You just destroyed a symbol of Cape Hope. I am done with your bullshit,” she says, sounding exhausted.
“The board and I will see to it that you’re out.
You will no longer be associated with the Augustus Resort. Or our lawyers,” she adds.
“You will do no such thing,” he shouts. “You can’t just push me out!”
It’s then that Jamie’s dad reaches to touch Mancini’s shoulder, whispering something private. Mancini’s face falls, and he turns back to Cecelia. They stare at each other, and then Mancini begins to quickly hustle his way back toward the resort.
Sheriff Castillo presses his radio again. “Units be advised that Alessandro Mancini is returning to the Augustus. You can go ahead and arrest him there.” When the sheriff turns to Brent Matthews, Jamie’s dad puts up his hands.
“My lawyer is on his way,” he says easily.
“Great,” the sheriff replies. “He can meet you down at the station.”
More sirens and lights, and then it’s a flurry of firefighters and medics rushing toward us.
The two fake detectives are taken back into custody, and I assume Mancini is arrested at the resort when I see lights flashing along the building.
Jamie’s dad leaves willingly with the sheriff, never once looking back at his son.
As the rich folks head up to the resort, a few offer their condolences and their apologies. I’m grateful. And I’m grateful that they got to see what greed accomplishes—destruction.
After offering her own apologies, Jordan says goodbye to Shawn and starts back up toward the resort. She is comforting Hailey, who by now must know her own father and his Sunset Docks are part of a crime syndicate.
I’m surprised, though, when I find Cecelia Miles still on the beach, as if waiting for me. I walk over to her, looking back once to see my father being attended to by EMTs. Ellis is already on his way to the hospital to be treated, along with Jamie for his reinjured arm.
“I’m truly sorry,” Cecelia tells me as I approach.
“I really had no idea about… any of this.” She motions around us.
“And certainly not about my sister’s death.
I’ve been in business with a murderer for half my life, and it took a group of Chasers to set things right.
I should be ashamed. I should have known sooner. ”
I’m not sure how to respond, but I’m not letting her off the hook entirely.
“We’re not just Chasers,” I correct. “We’re locals.
We’ve lived here our whole lives. You knew Mancini was buying up Cape Hope, and you did nothing to stop it,” I tell her.
“And Brent Matthews? He’s involved in the cover-up. ”
At this, she winces. “I doubt Brent can be directly linked to anything, of that I’m fairly certain.
At least, not in a legal sense. You see, people like him are smart.
I’m not saying this lightly,” she adds. “Everyone around him can die or be indicted—but a smart man knows how to make it out unscathed. He’s a virus that stays with you. ”
“What will he do to you?” I ask. She laughs.
“Me? Nothing. Brent Matthews works for me. As for Alex, who can say? It’s sickening, really.
I’m sure that’s why he went into business with my parents in the first place.
He might have killed their daughter, but look?
How could he possibly be guilty if they’re working with him?
He’s always wanted to be one of us,” she says, shaking her head.
“He always wanted that clean money, but to get it, he needed to do the dirty work.”
“Will Mancini get away with it?” I ask. “He has a large family, an entire organization.”
“Oh, no,” she replies, shaking her head. “Alex will do jail time. And when he gets out—if he gets out—his family will welcome him right back. But for now, Alessandro Mancini is gone. I will make sure of it.”
I can’t believe how calmly she accepts this. “And that’s it?” I say. “Life at the Augustus Resort goes on as if nothing happened? Just another hurricane.”
“Of course not,” she snaps, seeming genuinely hurt.
“Not at all. You seem to forget, my sister was murdered, and then we were lied to. There will be an entire investigation to navigate. At the same time… someone has to keep steering the ship. Even in a storm. These are imperfect times, Noa. We stop the ones we can, when we can. Sometimes you just have to take the win.”
I can’t believe she’d say that to me right now, standing on the beach in front of what used to be the Surf Shack.
“Sorry, but I don’t really feel like a winner here,” I tell her, nodding toward the wreckage that was my home. Cecelia’s expression falters, and then she takes a step forward to grip my hands.
“We’ll make this right for your family,” she says. “You have my word.”
I want to tell her that her word means nothing to me, except… I believe her. For whatever it’s worth, I believe her.
She squeezes my hands once before dropping them. “Let your father know I’ll be in touch with him tomorrow. And if you need a place to stay tonight, I can—”
“We’ll be fine tonight,” I tell her, not because I know we will be, but because I don’t want to be anywhere near that resort right now.
Cecelia seems to understand, and turns to leave, sauntering slowly back toward the resort.
There is no way to know if things will change. Even if the charges stick and Mancini goes away forever, what about the other Collective? Someone will need to take his place.
Who knows if we’ll end up with worse.
Over the next two hours, I watch firefighters and police record and photograph the scene from the dock, gathering proof of the arson that destroyed the Surf Shack.
I overhear one firefighter say the earlier rain had wet the wood, slowing the fire’s progression. That we were lucky.
Lucky.
The damage to the Surf Shack is extensive. We’ll need to tear it down completely, and possibly our home. But at least a few of my things might still be salvageable inside. Photos of my mother, old memories. I guess that is a bit lucky.
While both Ellis and Jamie were taken to the hospital, I watch as my father leaves with the sheriff to get his statement at the precinct.
Alongside them is Matteo, which is pretty strange to see, honestly.
But I’m proud that Matteo really is willing to testify against his father.
I know that had to be a tough decision to make.
I say goodbye to Tech when his mother arrives to pick him up. Angela rushes over to give me a big hug, crying just as hard as any of us. She tells me she’ll go to the hospital to check on Ellis. She smiles and says it’s good to have our boy home again.
Eventually, everyone is gone. I walk to sit on the edge of the dock with a wool blanket from the EMTs wrapped around my body.
My feet dangle over the water. The night is quiet, although I can still hear the crackling of hot embers from my home.
There’s the sound of a car turning into the parking lot, and I turn that way. A taxi drives off.
Jamie rounds the corner, back from the hospital.
He pauses a moment to survey the damage to my home, and then he walks down the dock toward me.
He doesn’t say anything as he sits down next to me on the edge.
He’s not wearing a jacket and his dress shirt is ripped and smeared in blood.
His tie is missing. He holds up his newly bandaged arm.
“Only eight stiches had to be replaced,” he says. “I think I’m getting tougher.”
I meet his eyes, those sweet, brown eyes, and then I completely fall apart and cry as he holds me.