by Nele Neuhaus
“Could you imagine returning to New York one day?” he asked. Her smile widened, and her eyes looked deeply into his.
“If I can’t have you without this city,” she replied, “I may have to accept it for better or worse.”
On hearing these words, a wave of delight overcame Nick, and his heart jumped so wildly and happily that he thought it would burst. He put his arms around her and pulled her closer to him. Alex loved him the same way that he loved her. Even if she left tomorrow, he knew that it wasn’t the end, but a new beginning.
EPILOGUE
Alex and Oliver sat in the monastery’s lounge and watched the morning news. There was an extensive report on the shocking nighttime arrest of Sergio Vitali. Footage showed him leaving the St. Regis, handcuffed and escorted by authorities to a waiting car. Alex saw his expression, his murderous rage. She shuddered because she knew this look all too well. She felt no triumph or joy, but just a deep sense of relief. It was over. US Attorney Connors had Vitali arrested in front of all his guests at his big charity ball, and the reporter recounted all of the criminal charges. He mentioned Alex and even showed a small picture of her. The murder charges and all of the other allegations against her had been cleared for good.
The next report showed Sergio on his way from the arraignment to jail. He wasn’t wearing a tailor-made tuxedo, and he didn’t look furious anymore, just grim. He had to know that his bribery scheme had been busted. Maybe he even knew about van Mieren’s confession and the arrest of his henchmen di Varese and Bacchiocchi. Fourteen of his men plus Vincent Levy—who had attempted to escape to Europe—had been arrested last night.
But the best news was that Mark and Justin were alive. The police had found them exhausted, but unharmed, in Vitali’s warehouse in Brooklyn. Nick Kostidis, the mayor of New York, appeared on the screen standing on the steps of city hall. Alex smiled when she saw the face of this man whose arms she had woken up in that morning. He looked almost the same as he had in earlier days. His eyes shone, he was full of energy and vigor, and he was confident and strong.
“Alex?”
Alex flinched and looked at Oliver.
“I think this nightmare is finally over.” He smiled and reached out his hand toward her. She returned his smile and grabbed it.
“Have you thought about coming to Maine with me?”
Alex’s smile widened.
“First I’m flying home to my parents.”
“And then?”
“Then I’ll have time to catch lobster with you.”
“There’s more to Maine than just lobster,” Oliver said with a grin. “I’d like to show you everything.”
“I’d like that, too.” Alex smiled, and then her gaze fell on the television. Nick was still on the screen. Someday the shadows would disappear and this nightmare would be just a distant memory.
“Maybe I’ll come back to New York one day,” she said.
She stood up and switched off the television.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photograph © Felix Krumbholz
Nele Neuhaus, a longtime resident of the Taunus Mountains, is one of Germany’s most widely read crime authors, thanks to her thrillers featuring the investigative duo of Oliver von Bodenstein and Pia Kirschoff, which were recently launched in English with Snow White Must Die. Her novels have been translated into twelve languages. To learn more about her, visit www.neleneuhaus.de.