Murder at Veronica's Diner

by J. D. Griffo

  “You were taking an extraordinary risk,” Alberta said.

  “If even one person had seen you leave the men’s room, you would’ve been caught.”

  “I had no other choice but to take that risk,” Owen explained. “I must admit I loved it. The rush of adrenaline I felt was almost overwhelming. I felt alive for the first time in years.”

  “You felt alive because you killed someone?” Joyce asked, her voice filled with both shock and disgust.

  “That’s a simplified, though succinct way to put it,” Owen replied. “And the answer is yes.”

  “I cannot believe I ever loved you,” Veronica said.

  Once again Owen smiled, but this time it was wistful and filled with memories. “Neither can I.”

  “What about Inez?” Alberta asked. “Why did you kill her?”

  “She was asking too many questions and said she was going to tell ICE where she got her fake documents!” Owen cried. “I tried to convince her that I would give her enough money to run away, but she refused and said she was going to tell.”

  “So you just had to kill her too,” Veronica said.

  “Yes, I did! But I let her sister live,” Owen said. “I should have killed her, she saw me, but I knew Inez had a son and I couldn’t leave him without anyone. I am not heartless!”

  “No, Owen, you’re just a coward and always have been,” Veronica said. “Maybe I ran away, but you never looked for me. Then when you found me again, you treated me like a stranger.”

  “Because that’s what you are to me,” Owen said.

  “So are you!” Veronica cried. “The sweet, funny young man I fell in love with could never have grown up to become a murderer. I don’t understand this, what turned you into such a monster?”

  “You did,” Owen replied.

  He turned away from Veronica to stare straight ahead and out the cockpit window. Suddenly, he took off his sunglasses and gasped, “Oh my God.”

  “You can see?” Alberta screamed. “You were faking your blindness all this time?”

  “It returned when I hit my head against the back of my seat during the turbulence,” Owen said. “But I wish I were still blind.”

  “Why?”

  “You see that mountain range in the distance?” Owen asked. “We’re about to crash right into it.”

  CHAPTER 27

  Un tempo codardo, sempre codardo.

  The Appalachian Mountains are usually a beautiful sight. Looking at them from the cockpit of the plane, inching closer every second, brought terror into everyone’s hearts. If they didn’t do something soon they were going to crash into the mountains and become part of the landscape.

  “We must’ve lost altitude,” Owen announced. “Air traffic control should’ve warned us.”

  “Owen, take over the controls,” Alberta commanded.

  Even though he was no longer wearing his sunglasses, Alberta couldn’t detect any emotion by looking at him. His face was stoic, expressionless, despite the fact that he was looking at the same mountains they all were and drew the same conclusions they did. Inaction equaled death.

  “Owen!” Veronica cried. “Do what she said! Take control of the plane and fly us over those mountains.”

  His one-word answer rendered them speechless.

  “No.”

  “Are you insane?” Alberta asked. “If you don’t do something we’re all going to die. You said you weren’t heartless, now prove it.”

  The only sound that could be heard in the cabin was the occasional static coming from the radio. The women were afraid to speak and held their breath, waiting for Owen to respond. He might be a murderer, but he wouldn’t put his own life at risk after doing so much to avoid being caught. The survival instinct was too great.

  When Owen turned to Alberta, she realized the instinct to surrender could sometimes be stronger. There was nothing behind his eyes, no emotion of any kind, not love or hate or anger or fear. It was like she was staring at a mannequin.

  “Why should I?” he asked. “I’ve already killed three people, maybe four if Sloan doesn’t pull through.”

  At the mention of Sloan’s name Alberta felt rage rise from her belly to her throat and it took every ounce of strength she had not to lunge forward and attack Owen. As much as she wanted to lash out at the man for hurting Sloan, she needed him to save their lives.

  “The courts have been known to show mercy,” Alberta said.

  “I am many things, Alberta, but I am not an idiot,” Owen said. “The second we get back home I’ll be arrested and with your help the police will put together a case against me that will have only one result, a lifetime in prison. Look at me, Alberta, do you think a man like me can survive a day in prison, let alone a lifetime?”

  “You’d be surprised how strong you can be when you’re tested,” Alberta said.

  She tried to focus her attention on Owen, but she kept stealing glances out the window. Her heart thumped louder as she watched the mountains get closer. She felt sweat start to accumulate on her brow and the radio static was becoming deafening.

  “Think of the time you’ll have to reflect on your life,” Alberta said. “Prison might be good for your soul.”

  “My soul?” Owen scoffed. “Do you really think there’s any chance of redemption for my soul?”

  Alberta didn’t have to think over the question, she instinctively knew the answer. Owen had done some heinous things, and despite his claims that he had a heart—which was questionable—Alberta had come to believe that if a person truly wanted salvation, despite their previous actions, they could receive it. The path wouldn’t be easy, and forgiveness from the people and families that were destroyed might not ever come, but where there was remorse, there was hope.

  “Yes,” Alberta replied.

  Finally, Owen showed some emotion. He smiled and his eyes filled with tears. “Then you, my dear Alberta, are a disappointment,” Owen said, his smile disappearing. “You may be clever, but you’re quite a stupid woman. There’s nothing left for me here on Earth, or wherever I’ll go to when this plane hits those jagged mountains just up ahead.”

  Stunned by such a cruel sentiment, it took Alberta a moment to regain control of her voice and her body, but when she did she wasn’t going to let her fate rest in the hands of a man who had given up.

  “You might have nothing left to fight for, Owen, but I’ve got a life to live and I’m not going to let it end because of you!” Alberta declared. “I should’ve known . . . Un tempo codardo, sempre codardo.”

  “I could’ve told you that,” Veronica said. “Once a coward, always a coward.”

  “Berta, what are we going to do?” Joyce asked. “Owen’s the only one who knows how to fly a plane.”

  “Alberta! Can you hear me?”

  The voice broke through the constant pulse of the radio static like a life preserver, and Alberta held on for dear life. She turned to Joyce and smiled. “Looks like I’m going to learn how.”

  “Alberta!” the voice cried.

  “Yes I’m right here,” Alberta replied. “In the driver’s seat.”

  “We lost contact with you for a while,” the man said. “You need to remain calm, but the plane has lost altitude and you’re flying directly into the mountains.”

  “You don’t have to tell me that,” Alberta replied. “I can see them right in front of me.”

  “I need you to take hold of the thrust and slowly pull it toward you, not too fast and not too slow,” the man said.

  “Make like you’re Goldilocks, Alfie.”

  “Vinny!” Alberta cried. “Is that you?”

  “It’s me,” Vinny confirmed. “I’m here with Jinx, Helen, and Freddy, and we heard every word you said. That’s damn fine detective work, Alfie, I’m proud of you.”

  “We’re all proud of you, Berta,” Helen said.

  “Keep pulling that thrust back, Alberta,” the air traffic controller said. “You’re doing fine, but I need you to raise your altitude a little
more.”

  “You got this, Gram!” Jinx cried. “You were right, Owen, the only thing you have to look forward to is a lifetime in jail.”

  Owen’s head snapped toward Jinx’s voice on the radio and he exhibited the strength and fury he had unleashed while he was masquerading as Umberto. He reached out and grabbed Alberta’s hand, pushing the thrust away from her so the plane tilted forward and started to descend.

  “No!” Alberta cried.

  “What’s happening?!” Jinx shouted.

  “You’re descending, Alberta,” the ATC said. “You need to keep climbing.”

  “That’s what I’m trying to do!” Alberta shouted. “Ladies, get him off of me!”

  Working like a team that shared a long history, Veronica and Joyce banded together and attacked Owen. First, Veronica punched Owen in the jaw, which caused him to fall into the instrument panel on his side of the plane. With his hand off the thrust, Alberta was able to resume her attempt to increase the plane’s altitude and fly over the mountains instead of into them. But Owen wasn’t giving up so easily on his attempt to kill them all.

  He lunged forward and threw himself on top of Alberta, the force of his body pushing Alberta to the left, but she was right, the survival instinct was far too strong, and never once did she let go of the thrust. Owen might have wanted them to die, but she was more determined to make sure they all lived.

  Joyce grabbed Owen’s shirt collar and yanked him back, but Owen was fighting to remain on top of Alberta in an attempt to block her view and pull her hand off of the thrust. He might have been successful, but Joyce had a partner. Veronica grabbed Owen’s arm and pried his hand free from the grip he had on Alberta, and once they were separated, Veronica and Joyce were able to wrestle him to the ground.

  Still, he squirmed and rocked back and forth, trying to get free. He had come this far, there was no way he was going to stop until he was victorious.

  “Hold him down,” Joyce commanded.

  Veronica straddled Owen and pinned his arms down. She was using every ounce of strength that she had, but instead of growing tired, Owen was getting stronger. Meanwhile, Joyce was looking for something to use to knock Owen out. She grabbed the fire extinguisher, but was afraid she would kill him if she hit him with it. She looked around the cockpit for a substitute and came upon the perfect solution. If the pilot couldn’t do his job, the pilot’s shoe would suffice.

  Joyce grabbed the loafer off of Eugene’s unmoving foot, whipped around, and bashed Owen in the head with it. One more wallop for good measure and Owen wouldn’t cause them any more problems. Just to be safe, they took off his belt and tied his hands around his back and used Joyce’s scarf to bind his feet together. Even if he did wake up before they landed, he would be powerless to stop them.

  “You’re doing great, Alberta,” the ATC said. “Just a little bit more and you’ll clear the top of the mountain.”

  A profound silence filled the cockpit as Alberta, Joyce, and Veronica watched in awe and admiration as the majestic mountain disappeared underneath them. They had made it. Despite the efforts to thwart them, they had survived. No one was more grateful than Alberta.

  “Karen Black is giving you a thumbs-up, Berta,” Joyce said. “You just starred in your own Airport movie.”

  “It isn’t over yet, Joyce,” Alberta said. “I still have to land this thing.”

  “I’ll be with you every step of the way from here on out, Alberta,” the ATC said. “I’m going to guide you on the new course, and then you’ll turn on the autopilot. When you begin the descent, you’ll just push the thrust away from you, press the button to let the landing gear release, maintain your horizon, and hit the brakes. It’s like driving a car.”

  “I drive a BMW,” Alberta said. “That car can drive without me.”

  “Imagine you’re driving a big old Buick,” the ATC said. “Takes skill to maneuver one of those classics.”

  Helen’s voice came over the radio loud and clear. “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you people for years!”

  * * *

  When the time came to land the plane, it wasn’t as easy as the ATC predicted, but with his guidance and the prayers of all those around Alberta in the cockpit and on the ground, she somehow managed to land the plane on the airstrip, if not smoothly, then safely.

  Once the plane was at a full stop, Alberta bowed her head and said her own prayer. She prayed to God for forgiveness for putting others in danger and thanked him for giving her the strength to lead them to safety. She was rattled, but far from broken. Her plan might not have worked out entirely as she had envisioned, but the result she hoped for was achieved. Teri Jo, Dominic, and Inez’s killer would be brought to justice.

  An ambulance whisked the pilot to the hospital and Vinny greeted Owen with handcuffs and a police escort. In contrast, Alberta and Joyce were greeted with hugs, yelps, and tears by Helen, Jinx, and Freddy.

  “Gram, you are absolutely amazing,” Jinx gushed. “If I’m going to be the journalist I want to be, I better start following in your footsteps.”

  “Lovey, you’re an amazing reporter,” Alberta said. “You follow your own footsteps, they’ll take you as far as you want to go.”

  Fighting back tears, Jinx said, “For right now there’s no other place I want to be other than with you and my family.”

  “Dude!” Freddy shouted.

  “And Freddy,” Jinx added.

  Standing alone a few feet away from the group, Veronica watched the reunion. She was alone, but couldn’t blame anyone else for that except herself. She fled her family, stayed as far away from them as possible, and took their money and a business opportunity instead of their love and companionship. Teri Jo was the only family member she’d ever truly had a relationship with, and she was gone.

  In an odd way, Helen understood Veronica’s motive. She too left her family because they couldn’t provide her with the life she knew she had to experience. She felt a connection to Veronica, a kinship of sorts, which compelled her to reach out.

  “How are you?” Helen asked.

  “Alive, thanks to your sister,” Veronica said. “This all started because of me, because I wanted to become someone else.”

  “I know the feeling,” Helen replied.

  “Teri Jo spoke so highly of you,” Veronica said.

  “She was a good person,” Helen said. “I considered her a friend.”

  Veronica fought the urge to look away, but knew that if she did she would be running from her own truth, so as hard as it was, she looked Helen in the eye.

  “Can you ever forgive me for what I’ve done?” Veronica asked.

  Helen knew what Veronica wanted to hear, but she was not one to sugarcoat the truth. If she was going to help Veronica heal, she couldn’t start with a lie.

  “My forgiveness is irrelevant,” Helen said. “You have to find some way to forgive yourself, and that isn’t going to be easy.”

  “I know,” Veronica replied. “I think I’m going to need some help.”

  Helen held out her hand and Veronica quickly took it in hers. “When you’re ready to ask, you know where to find me.”

  Alberta looked around at the commotion and the spectacle and didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry or scream. She looked up to the heavens and silently told God that He’d have to wait a little while longer for her arrival. Right now she was exactly where she wanted to be, surrounded by friends and family.

  And safely and securely on the ground.

  EPILOGUE

  Un dono di Dio.

  After the verdict came in, finding Owen guilty of being the serial killer terrorizing Tranquility, he was sentenced to multiple life sentences in prison. Veronica was cleared of any criminal charges, but her past and the role she played in the deaths haunted her. She sold the diner and true to form, and much to Helen’s disappointment, she left town for parts unknown.

  Theirs weren’t the only lives greatly affected by the tragedies, but thankfully the terr
ible events that took so many lives also had a positive impact on even more.

  “This is too generous,” Gabi said.

  Joyce completely disagreed. “It’s only money. You’re going to have to do the rest.”

  Gabi understood what Joyce meant. She thanked Joyce for the check that would cover the expenses to pay for Arturo’s education, even if he decided he wanted a PhD. The boy’s financial worries were over, but he was going to need Gabi’s strength, guidance, and love to heal the emotional wounds caused by the death of his mother.

  * * *

  The flowers Helen placed on Teri Jo’s grave were the same color as the ones she’d put there a few days ago. Pink was Teri’s favorite color, and while Helen was never fond of the shade, it’s what her friend loved, so she put her own thoughts aside.

  Having spent so many years in the convent, living in different parishes and with other nuns who came and went, Helen hadn’t formed many long-lasting friendships. She had her family, whom she treasured, but Teri Jo, despite their differences in age and background, had offered the opportunity to experience something new and fulfilling. That chance was taken away from Helen, but even though Teri Jo had moved on, Helen wanted to honor their friendship. It might have been brief, but it would always be remembered.

  * * *

  Jinx didn’t care if it looked like she was flaunting her success. She placed the award she received from the New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists for Best Crime Reporting on her desk, right next to her nameplate, so no one could miss it. Her series of articles profiling Owen, Veronica, Umberto, and all three of Owen’s victims had garnered critical acclaim for their sensitivity and insight, while presenting the facts objectively and without judgment. The public loved them too, and The Herald’s readership went up another 5 percent, leading Wyck to give Jinx a raise.

  She was proud of her accomplishment, and every time she looked at it she was reminded that the goal she set for herself when she moved to Tranquility—to become a serious investigative reporter—had been achieved. She also knew that she was going to have to work even harder to prove to everyone, including herself, that she was worthy of the award and it wasn’t a fluke.