by Kate Collins
“A good man,” Sonny said, cutting me off. “Who do you think has been following you in the black SUV?”
The news hit me hard, but I wasn’t about to let Sonny see it. “I knew it was him,” I shot back. “He told me.”
“Ah,” Sonny said, “he told you. Did he also tell you that he caused your accident and broke into your shop to get the documents? Did he happen to mention who ratted out your new boyfriend?”
I stared at him in shock. If Kevin would do those things for Sonny, he really had turned against me.
“Now Mr. Donnelly is going to prison for killing Harry, and guess who his prosecutor will be? My good friend John Glasser.”
Cold fear gripped my spine. The DA was on Sonny’s payroll, too.
I could hardly hold back my tears. First my husband had let me down, leaving me feeling unlovable and worthless, and now Kevin had gone so far as to hand me over to a killer. The one man who hadn’t let me down, who had encouraged me to stand up for myself, who’d shown me that my decisions mattered, would now be caught and tried for murder, and there was nothing I could do to help him. I had let Case down.
“There’s the look I was waiting for,” Sonny said, his mouth shaping into a crooked grin. “Almost makes this whole damn mess worthwhile.” Still watching me, Sonny called to Kirkland, who’d stepped out the back door, “Hurry up, will you? We’ve got to get to the front before the Boy Scout shows up.”
“Too late for that,” came a voice from behind him. “Untie her, Mr. Talbot.”
Sonny twisted around to see who was talking, and there was Kevin standing in the front doorway pointing a compact handgun at him. Kirkland was nowhere to be seen.
I wanted to shout Hallelujah! “Kevin, thank God!”
“I heard what he told you, Athena,” Kevin said, “and everything he told you is a lie. I had no idea what he did to his father and Harry or I would’ve called the police. And I didn’t break into Spencer’s or hit your car. That was Kirkland.” He aimed the gun at Sonny’s chest. “What are you waiting for, Mister Talbot?” Kevin asked with a sneer. “I said to untie her.”
As Sonny loosened the cords he said, “You’re making a big mistake, Kevin. You can make millions if you stick with me. All you have to do is walk away from here. You didn’t see a thing.”
“He’s a psychopath, Kevin,” I said, rubbing my sore wrists as Sonny straightened. “Don’t listen to him.”
“Untie her ankles, too,” Kevin said.
I watched as Sonny knelt in front of me and began to work on the knots, all the while thinking, hurry, hurry. I knew he was planning something. He fumbled with them for so long, Kevin finally came to see what the problem was.
“Kevin, he’s stalling,” I said. “Make him stand back and I’ll do it.”
“You heard her,” Kevin said. “Stand back.”
But just as I bent down, Kevin collapsed in a heap onto the floor. I straightened with a gasp, and my stomach twisted in fear as I saw Kirkland standing beside Kevin holding a hypodermic needle. “That should keep him out for a while.”
“It took you long enough,” Sonny said. He picked up the gun and stuck it inside his belt in the back of his pants. “Stupid kid. Tie him up next to her.”
“Grayson,” Kirkland said, packing up his bag, “I’m washing my hands of this. The police could be on their way right now.”
“Tie him up next to her,” Sonny shouted, “or so help me I’ll make sure you stay here with them.”
The implied threat was enough to get the coroner moving. As Sonny returned to my chair to bind my wrists, I put them behind me, then struggled with him to keep my hands free only to have Kirkland grab my arms from behind and pin them down. I fought both men, but I wasn’t strong enough to stop them.
I saw something out of the corner of my eye, another man silently approaching, his wavy dark hair and dark beard slowly emerging from under the red glow of the exit sign. Tears of joy and relief welled in my eyes. My Greek hero had come.
Case put his fingers to his lips, warning me to be quiet, then he grabbed the gun from Sonny’s belt and backed away as Sonny whirled around. He would have charged Case but then he heard the click of the trigger and it froze him in his tracks.
“Back against the wall,” Case ordered. “You, too, Kirkland, stand beside him. Leave your bag where it is. The police are right behind me.”
I quickly untied my ankles and knelt down beside Kevin, feeling for a pulse in his neck. “He’s alive,” I said. “They were going to leave us both here to die.”
“That’s not going to happen.” Case carefully removed his jacket and handed it to me to tuck under Kevin’s head. “An ambulance is on its way.”
Sonny started to move toward us, but Case aimed the gun straight at his head. “Have I mentioned that I’m an expert marksman?”
Maguire was the first officer to enter, weapon drawn, with at least five officers behind him. He took stock of the situation and started issuing orders.
Case handed over Kevin’s handgun to Maguire. “This belongs to him,” he said, indicating Kevin’s prone figure. Then he came over and wrapped his arms around me, enveloping me in a warm hug. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
For a moment all I could do was hold tightly to him, my cheek pressed against his solid shoulder. Then I lifted my head to gaze at him. “How did you get out of jail?”
He looked down at Kevin, sprawled out on the floor, a peaceful expression on his face. “Imagine my shock when this guy showed up at my cell. He said he knew something was wrong when he found your SUV in an abandoned property owned by Sonny Talbot.”
“How did he know to look there?”
“He put a tracker on your car.”
“Kevin?”
“Yep. He never struck me as the jealous type—or the intelligent type for that matter—but whatever you said to him earlier must have had some impact because he came to me and wanted to hear my side of the story. He was able to get me released and we’ve been searching for you ever since.”
“How did you know to come here?”
“We’d looked everywhere else,” Case said. “Your parents even formed a search party that spread out all over town. Then I remembered what someone at the meeting had said about Fatsis’s art gallery being cleaned out and I figured it’d be the perfect hideout.”
“First to be demolished, too,” I said, glaring at Sonny, handcuffed and standing between two officers.
“The ambulance is here,” Maguire said to the other officers, putting away his walkie-talkie. “Are you okay, Athena, or do you want them to examine you?”
“I’m fine, just shaken.”
He gave me a thumbs-up, then turned to the other officers. “They’ll be bringing a stretcher through the front, so take these two out through the back door.”
I watched as Kirkland and Sonny were led away, then I said, “Talbot and Kirkland committed the murders together, Maguire. I know how they pulled it off.”
“Don’t worry about that now,” he replied. “We’ve got enough evidence to arrest them. Come down to the station tomorrow morning and we’ll get your statement then. And by the way, Athena, good job.” He gave me a high five.
“Thanks, Bob.” Turning to Case I said, “I’m about ready to pass out from hunger.”
“I know just the place to go,” Case said.
CHAPTER THIRTY
We stepped back as the EMTs passed us, and then I leaned on Case. He put his arm around me and walked me out the door. And there gathered along the sidewalk on Greene Street were friends and neighbors who let out a cheer as we appeared. They lined the sidewalk all the way down the block to The Parthenon, greeting us warmly and offering their well-wishes.
Barb and Nancy ran up and threw their arms around us in a big group hug. “We’re so glad you’re safe,” Barb said.
“Thank you,” I said. “I’m overwhelmed by all of this.”
“Go see your family,” Nancy added, dabbing her eyes. “We can talk tomor
row.”
All along the sidewalk people applauded Case and me as we passed. I felt my hand tighten around Case’s and he pulled me just a little bit closer to him.
When we reached the diner, Delphi was the first in my family to greet me, running out the front doors to throw her arms around me and squeeze me tightly, whispering, “I was so afraid I’d never see you again.”
“Stand back and let Mama in,” I heard my mother say. And then I was enveloped in her warm arms. She stroked my hair, murmuring, “My moró, my precious moró.” She leaned back to gaze at me as my father moved in to hug me.
“We were so worried about you, Thenie,” Dad said. “The whole community has been searching for you for the last day and a half.”
I’d been out that long?
Mama took my hand and led me toward the diner. “Come, come. Niko is waiting to see you.”
I glanced back at Case and motioned for him to come with us.
The air was redolent with the smells of oregano, basil, garlic, lemon, and mint as I stepped inside, reminding me of how hungry I was and how good Pappoús’s food smelled. It hit me then that I’d come a long way, when before, Greek food was the last thing that sounded appetizing. At that moment, however, I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more.
Another cheer went up as my big Greek family crowded around, aunts, uncles, and cousins, too, everyone wanting to hug me at once. I was so overwhelmed by their outpouring of love that tears misted my eyes, but I kept them at bay as I was squeezed, hugged, kissed—smothered—as I might have called it before.
Now, surrounded by my loving family, uplifted by a community of friends, I felt so incredibly grateful and honored that I didn’t mind it at all. I had wanted so badly to escape all the Greekness, I hadn’t even considered making a permanent home for Nicholas and me in Sequoia. Now I couldn’t imagine leaving.
When I saw Nicholas run out of the kitchen, with Yiayiá and Pappoús right behind him carrying enormous platters of food, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.
“Mama!” he cried, and threw his arms around my neck as I knelt down to hug him. Then he held me at arm’s length and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Mama, it’s okay. Come sit by me.”
I glanced around for Case and saw him standing alone by the door. “I’ll be right there, Niko. Save me a seat.”
A big smile spread across his face, filling my heart with joy. “Hey, you remembered!”
I also remembered I was nearly faint with hunger. But I had something to do first.
Still glowing with joy, I said to Case, “Care to join us?”
“Thanks, but you should be with your family. They need you now. And I have to pack.”
That stopped me cold. “Why?”
“I’ll be leaving first thing in the morning.”
“You’re leaving town?”
“Our work here is done, Athena. Little Greece is safe, and I have the statue’s certificate of authenticity.”
I was stunned. “How did you get it?”
“Kevin had it.”
“Then he did break into the garden center!”
“No,” Case explained. “Sonny hired someone to break in, then he turned the file over to Kevin to hold on to. The document canceling the condo project signed by Talbot Senior, the statue’s certificate, the sales receipt—it was all there. After Kevin heard my story, he went to his office and got it.”
“I can’t believe he finally came through.”
“He’s not such a bad guy after all.” Case gazed at my face as though memorizing it. “Athena, you really came through for me. Thank you for trusting me. You’re an amazing woman, warrior goddess.”
I could feel myself blushing from my neck to the top of my head, and all I could think to say was “Thank you.”
“So I’ll see you around then. Take care of yourself.”
“What are you going to do about the Treasure of Athena?”
“She belongs with you. My goal was to make sure the statue was with someone who deserved it in a place where it would be appreciated. I made a promise to my grandfather to find the statue and make sure it had a good home. I can’t think of a better home for her than where she is now.”
Tears of gratitude filled my eyes as I searched for something to say. “Thank you for entrusting us with your family’s valuable treasure. I know my pappoús will be amazed and so very grateful when he hears the story behind it.”
Case lifted my chin and gazed into my eyes. “You’re the real treasure, Athena.” Then, as though trying to lighten the mood he added, “And hey, thanks for all the help with my novel. I know it’ll be a blockbuster.”
Despite the heaviness in my heart, I couldn’t help but laugh. But it was short-lived. “So you’re really going back to Pittsburgh.”
“Can you think of a reason why I should stay?”
I could think of a thousand reasons, but I didn’t have the words to explain them nor the energy to sort out my feelings for Case, especially not with all the chaos around us.
“I’ll lock up the boat before I leave and put the key in its hiding spot.” He took my hands in his. “Antío, warrior goddess.”
He was saying good-bye.
We shared a long look and then my mother came up to us. “Athena, come eat. Dimitrius, you, too,” she called, leading me away.
I glanced back to see Charlie Bolt, the newspaper reporter who’d attended the press conference, step inside to talk to Case. Then the two men left, pulling the door closed behind them.
With a heavy heart, I turned back and saw my family sitting at tables, talking, laughing, and waving me over.
“I’m here,” I said, pulling out the chair next to my son.
I spent the next half hour stuffing myself with pastitsio, moussaka, Greek salad, fresh-baked whole-grain bread, and several cups of coffee, and in between mouthfuls, giving everyone a rundown on what had happened to me after the meeting and what I’d learned from Sonny.
Then Dad explained that after my disappearance, Sonny had sent a second notice to all the shop owners warning them that anyone who did not have his store emptied out by this morning would lose everything in it, so that’s what they did. Except for my brave, stubborn pappoús, of course, who claimed he would go down with his diner.
Mama rose and motioned for me to stand. “My daughter is a hero today. I think we owe her a big round of applause.”
As my family clapped and cheered, I knew then I’d made the right decision to stay.
Thursday
My dad handed me the newspaper as I was eating breakfast for the second time that morning. I didn’t have much of an appetite, but I forced myself to eat anyway. Dad had stayed home to make Nicholas and me a bowl of oatmeal and then take me to the police station once my son had boarded the bus.
I glanced at the clock. Eight a.m. Would Case be locking up the Páme now and heading out or had he already left town? I assumed he’d been cleared by the police, so he’d have no problem getting back to Pittsburgh.
Although he’d told me what his intentions were when we first met, I still couldn’t believe Case was leaving. He’d become such a part of my life in the short time he’d been here, I could already feel the hole he’d left in it. And if that wasn’t enough to get me down, now I’d be back to Mama fixing me up with another “good Greek boy.”
“Thenie,” Dad said, when Nicholas went upstairs to brush his teeth, “you look beat. Did you get any sleep?”
“A few hours. I’ll be fine once I get to Spencer’s.”
“Honey, take the day off and go back to bed. You’ll be dragging by noon.”
“I need to keep busy, Pops. I don’t want to think about what happened.”
“Then this should perk you up,” he said, handing me the newspaper.
The bold banner headlines read:
GRAYSON TALBOT JR. AND COUNTY CORONER
ARRESTED FOR MURDER
LITTLE GREECE SAVED FROM DEMOLITION
Grayson Talbot Jr
. and County Coroner Daniel Kirkland have been charged in the deaths of Grayson Talbot Sr. and Harry Pepper, as well as for the kidnapping and attempted murder of Athena Spencer and Kevin Coreopsis. Spencer and Pittsburgh resident Case Donnelly managed to hold off Talbot and Kirkland until police arrived.
District Attorney John Glasser reported that Talbot and Kirkland were being held without bond in the county jail. “Had it not been for the determination and persistence of Spencer and Donnelly, Talbot and Kirkland might not have been caught,” Glasser said.
Athena Spencer, of Spencer’s Garden Center, is now being heralded as the Goddess of Greene Street for halting the demolition of Little Greece, one of Sequoia’s popular tourist attractions. Spencer’s mother, Hera, said, “There was a reason we named Athena after the goddess of war and wisdom. She’s smart and she’s not afraid to stand up for her beliefs.”
Pittsburgh resident Donnelly, originally a suspect in the murder of Harry Pepper, said, “I credit Athena for her bravery and her fierce resolve to find the true killers. She has more than earned her title, the Goddess of Greene Street.”
The article went on, filling in the details of the crimes, with Lila’s story in the sidebar, but I didn’t need to read more. It just reminded me what a great team Case and I had made.
The house phone was ringing off the hook, but my dad was fielding calls of congratulations for me so I could get ready. My cell phone was ringing, too, but I didn’t answer it because none of the caller IDs said Dimitri.
After the store closed that evening, I tried to write a lighthearted blog for my followers, but I wasn’t in the mood to be funny. I finally gave in to my feelings and wrote:
When Grief Takes the Reins
Sometimes we go through a loss and look back later to realize that it wasn’t too difficult to get through. But there are some losses you don’t just “get over.” You force yourself to go on, pasting on a smile for the benefit of . . .