“Don’t ever block a cop from a perp! And taking off like that?” Donovan sounded more scared than irritated. “If you weren’t here…We didn’t have a second guess.”
“I’m sorry, Sergeant, but you got my message.”
“What message?”
Steely lowered her tone. “To come to the tower. Then you were following me, right?”
“No! I came with an arrest warrant for Keaton and Qualls. We found Warren and Jacqueline Dupree and their little boy. They were willing to testify. Chevoski died in the fight with Nick. Qualls was found on the side of the highway dead. Keaton is on life support from a heart attack. We had everyone but Cricket.”
Steely held tight to Nick. “Guess everything worked out.”
Bea stepped in, her tone raised. “Worked out? I almost got shot twice today.” Pepe nudged Bea. “Well, at least we didn’t all die.” Bea nodded.
Steely straightened up. “Wait, what?”
SWAT officers swarmed in, weapons drawn. They lowered their guard when Donovan signaled that the threat was over. He pushed them along. “I need all of you to go out the back, so we can process the scene.” They formed a circle outside by the back door.
Bea pinched Steely’s arm. “You pushed my gun down in the seat.”
“Sergeant Donovan was there,” Steely said.
“He wasn’t there when we drove up,” Bea said.
Steely’s face broadened. “He wasn’t?”
Bea shook her head. “Nope!”
Nick nodded.
“That’s right,” Pepe said. “We drove up and saw the girl in the window. Bea ran right in.”
Steely looked over at Bea for confirmation.
“She couldn’t take us all.” Bea poked Nick. “Set up a board meeting in two hours. Let Clayton, Charlie, Pierce, and Benita know that they better be there if they want to protect their ass—”
Martinez elbowed Bea.
“Assets,” Bea said. “Tell them this is an emergency meeting, and the majority stockholder will be there. If they have anything smart to say, tell them to read the corporate bylaws and show up. You need to be there, Steely.”
Steely cleared her throat. “Miss Bea, I’d rather not. Mr. Cohen is going to retire and sell me his coffee shop. He’s never been robbed in the forty-three years he’s been in business.” She smiled.
“Listen, you can buy that run-down coffee shop if you want. Start a chain of run-down coffee shops, drink stale coffee all day long—but only after you attend the board meeting tonight.”
“Fine.” She shrugged. “One meeting, then I’m out.”
“Huh! We’ll see about that.” Bea tightened her lips and added, “We’ll have to build up our cash again.”
Nick rubbed his chin and muttered, “I’m sure that won’t be too hard.”
“It’ll take a few years. Can’t make that kind of money overnight.”
“It’s amazing how fast money can move these days,” added Nick.
Bea shook her head. “Pepe, let’s get some dinner.” Pepe and Bea headed down the driveway.
He whispered, “Bea, are you going to fight Jack’s will?”
“Nope.”
“Bee-Bee, you’re such a sweetie!” Pepe wrapped his arm around Bea’s shoulder and kissed the side of her face.
“We’re sorta kinfolks. She’s like a daughter to me. Who else would share their PB and J?”
Pepe scrunched his face. “What’s a PB and J?”
Bea kept moving. “Don’t worry. You’re never eating one.”
Mrs. Yost waved at Steely from an open kitchen window. “Y’all all right?”
Steely and Nick waved back. “Yes, ma’am,” said Steely.
They walked concurrently down the driveway, past the HPD cruisers now blocking the street. The entire property was taped off. If they wanted to go anywhere fast, it would have to be on foot.
“You want to see the coffee shop?” asked Steely. “It’s only two blocks away.”
“Why not?” Nick held her hand tightly as they strode along. “Steely, you know I don’t care about you because of your position or money. Right?”
“Is the coffee shop venture that impressive?”
“You’re about to expand yourself.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. She intertwined her hand in his.
“I’ve already got the budget down. I’m good with budgets.”
“I hope so.” He stopped. She looked over at him. “Steely, if I had to create what I’d want the love of my life to be like…” Her eyes teared. “I know people aren’t perfect. But you’re perfect for me.”
She let go of his hand and grabbed him in a tight embrace. He wrapped his arms around her. For several minutes, she couldn’t speak. She squeezed her eyes together. Her tears had nowhere to go but out. She suddenly remembered what good tears felt like.
Nick wasn’t moving until she was ready. She could lift her feet off the ground. She wasn’t falling. He had her.
She finally lifted her head. There was no need for words. As always, he could see right through her.
He leaned down far enough for their lips to touch. He was a little choked up. He kissed her again. But this time their eyes brightened. And the tears dried.
The board meeting was short. There were no objections to naming Steely the new chairwoman, which was a place customarily reserved for the majority stockholder. Benita Ray and Pierce Thibodeaux were appointed board members. Nick Dichiara was elected president.
Beatrice Hunter was voted in as an honorary board member. Her duties were limited. She preferred spending her time cruising the world with her soon-to-be husband, Pepe Martinez.
Cricket’s grandmother was pardoned. Nick saw to it. Cricket was not. She was sentenced to serve forty-five years for her part in kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder. Alexis was given a life sentence. They were placed in different facilities. It wasn’t a mother-daughter camp.
Keaton disappeared from the hospital, a move that proved to be dangerous. He was never seen again. The sharks were very aggressive that summer in the Gulf of Mexico. Rumor has it that it was Keaton that drew them in.
Since the US authorities couldn’t prove the funds Nick had gathered were illegally gained, Nick decided to spread the love. He transferred $213 million from his lawn business account to Beatrice Hunter. Another $213 million was placed in a US account for the company’s reserves. The Saint Stephen’s account was divided among dozens of viable charities. The original owners had a blood bath, blaming each other for trusting Chevoski. Some even thought others had absconded with the assets.
Nick and Steely married. Their family grew to three the next year, when little Freddy was born. They tore down the Paupher house on Saint Ambrose and built a new one with a solid foundation.
They continued eating PBJs. The sandwich with smooth peanut butter and grape jelly remained one of their favorite meals.
Acknowledgments
I’m grateful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for inspiration to write this book.
Special thanks to editors Donna Sims, Cindy Davis, and Melanie Stiles for their guidance.
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