The Gift
Page 32
“Hey, kiddo,” he said.
“Hey, Big O,” she replied, the tears of relief coming quickly as he bent over and hugged her as best he could.
“Good job,” he whispered into her ear. He left a kiss on her cheek before pulling back, so much pride shining in his tear-filled eyes. “So proud of you.”
She shook her head. “No, we did this together, bud.”
“Nope.
“Yep.”
“Not a chance.”
“Absolutely.”
Breaking into laughter, they shared a second hug. He slowly stood erect again before Ally helped him sit back in the chair, the detective already looking exhausted. “Word has it someone’s nominated you for a Medal of Valor,” he said conversationally.
“Oh, Catania,” Antonia said, clapping her hands together.
She chuckled, turning to her mother. “Mamma, it was Oscar who did it.” She turned back to look at him. “Didn’t you?”
He grinned and shook his head before nodding toward the hospital room door, which was pushed open. Catania took in the tall figure in full dress uniform, hat tucked under his arm.
“Sergeant Price?”
****
“A strange case to tell you about tonight,” the news anchor explained. “Pueblo serial killer Jason Ross was shot and killed by his own half-sister, Pueblo Homicide Detective Catania d’Giovanni, who was unwittingly assigned to hunt down the killer.
“Ross has now been linked to the triple murder of Anastasia Luhan, her son Eric Gomez, and the four-year-old’s father Aaron Gomez in November, as well as that of Kevin Tanner, a friend of the couple, the following month.
“He has also been linked to the 2015 murder of Megan Murphy, an Arizona woman said to be involved romantically with Ross more than a decade ago. Her body had lain frozen for two years before it was found dumped along Hwy 50 in late November. The discovery of teenage prostitute Olivia ‘Liv’ Gleason on an abandoned property in the town of Boone led to the shooting of Pueblo Homicide Detective Oscar Riley, who, along with his partner d’Giovanni, was pursuing the missing girl. The teen was another of Ross’s victims.
“Ross was shot and killed by Detective d’Giovanni Saturday evening in his home while she was rescuing kidnap victim Alexandra Findley. Detective d’Giovanni was shot twice by Ross, and she is recovering in a local hospital. Also found in Ross’s home was the body of his biological mother, found frozen in a basement freezer.
“Amy Zucker is thought to be Ross’s first victim, a family friend and only sixteen when she disappeared in 1983. Her remains and that of her beagle Brewster were excavated from the grave Ross buried her in on the d’Giovanni lake-front property, and finally laid to rest in the family plot on the same property when Zucker’s family could not be located.
“Authorities are looking into other cases they suspect Ross is linked to.”
****
The late July sun shone high overhead, the cheerful voices of kids running around chasing each other, enjoying the last of their summer break.
“Connor, be nice to your sister!” their dad yelled out.
Catania, who sat on a glider on the porch of the lake house with Ally, glanced over at him. “I still can’t get over how much weight you’ve lost, Paul.”
He looked at her from where he sat on a lounger, a bottle of water in his hand. He smiled and shrugged a shoulder. “Well, after everything that happened last year, it made me take a long look at myself.”
“I know Mamma and Papa are glad you’re coming around a lot more, bringing the kids,” she said, her fingers absently running over the smooth skin of Ally’s shoulder where her hand rested. “I’m proud of you.”
Paul gave her a sheepish grin before looking down at his own hands, which fiddled with the plastic bottle. “I’m proud of you, too, Nia,” he said softly. “I know I’ve been a real asshole for a lot of years, and I’m sorry. I know I never would have had the guts to do what you did with…Jason. You inspire the hell out of me.” He cleared his throat. “But anyway, how’s the new place? I hear Matteo is loving his apartment above the garage.”
“He’s doing great,” she said, meeting Ally’s gaze and loving smile before turning back to him. “We love it.”
“I finally got my renovation project.” Ally grinned.
Catania rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”
Ally laughed, reaching over and playfully pinching Catania’s side. “Oh, you love me.”
Catania leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on soft lips. “With all my heart,” she whispered.
“And, you still work for Karen?” Paul asked, rubbing the back of his neck at the show of affection between the two women.
“Yup. I’m managing her properties now. Still cooking, too.”
“Poor woman,” he muttered. “Christ, can’t even imagine.”
“She’s a good woman,” Catania said gently. “I’m glad she chose to stay in our lives, even if she did move back to be close to her family.”
“Alright, come eat!” Melanie’s voice boomed from the back door, her hand resting on her pregnant belly. “Oscar and Linda are here!”
“Come on, kids!” Paul called out, pushing up from his chair and heading inside.
Catania planted her feet on the patio to stop the slow movement of the glider before standing up and taking Ally’s hand to help her up.
“By the way,” Ally said, tugging on Catania’s hand to stop her from heading to the house. “I got something in the mail this morning.”
“Oh?” Catania asked, eyebrow rose in curiosity. “Do tell.”
Ally’s smile was slow and beautiful. “It’s over. I am officially a divorced woman.”
Catania grinned, turning to her and pulling her to her by the hips. “You don’t say?”
****
The Super 8 film jumped and skipped in places, the teenage girl sitting on the couch at the center of the frame. She smiled shyly at the camera, her dark eyes filled with mischief even as she exhaled dramatically to blow shaggy brown bangs out of them.
“Okay,” said a man’s voice from behind the camera. “What’s your name?”
“My name is Amy Zucker,” the girl said, making a funny face. “You know that, Mr. D.”
He laughed. “How old are you this year?”
“I am sixteen years old. Finally!” She brought her hand into frame, fingers cradling a laminated card, which she pushed into the face of the camera, the smiling image and lettering on the card blurred at the closeness. “Driver’s license, yeah, yeah, yeah,” she sang.
The man laughed again. “Yes, congratulations, Amy. What do you want to do with your life? When you grow up?”
She looked at the camera like the man operating it was nuts. “I’m just a kid!” She laughed, running a nervous hand through her hair. “Okay, okay. Well, I want to be Kristy McNichol. Well, like her best friend, anyway.” She grinned. “Nah, well yeah, but I want to do something really cool, really special. I want to change the world, Mr. D. I mean,” she added with a shrug, “we’ve only got so much time, right? Make the most of it, ’cuz you never know when it’s over.”
“Wise words, Amy. Very wise. Anything else?”
The teen became very serious, a look crossing her eyes that was far beyond her years. “I don’t know who will end up watching this, but live life to the fullest and love with all your heart. Always be there for those who you care about.” She gave a blinding smile. “I’ll always be there for you. Life’s a gift, so don’t blow it. Bye!”
About the Author
Kim has spent her life in Colorado and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She’s been writing since she was 9 and stumbled into her first book being published in her mid-20s. She’s worked in the film industry as a writer, director and producer, but now enjoys the quiet, happy life of a professional author. She can be reached on Facebook and on her website at, www.kimpritekel.com
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