Girls Like Us(73)

“So she blamed Meachem for introducing her husband to these escorts.”

“Yes. I think she saw him as the devil, and he proved to be too great a temptation to her husband.”

“So she planted Adriana’s body near Meachem’s house on purpose. And then she conveniently discovered it herself.”

“Exactly. It’s quite clever, actually. She destroys Meachem and also finds a scapegoat for her prior murders.”

“She was a jealous woman.”

“Yes. And I think Adriana’s pregnancy set her over the edge. She was infertile herself, you know. So it wasn’t enough for her to just kill off the girls. She wanted the whole operation shut down once and for all.”

Ann-Marie’s eyes widen. “That’s why there were marks all over the abdomen.”

“I have to believe so. In the past, she just shot the victims and then paid someone who worked for her to dispose of the bodies. But this time . . .”

“Rage got the better of her.” Ann-Marie drains the remains of her coffee. “Do you think her husband would have left her for Adriana?”

“I don’t know. Elena Marques thought that Adriana was seeing someone powerful or important. She overheard them talking on the phone once. The way she described it, it sounded as though he was committed to helping her at least. Either way, Grace couldn’t risk it. The way she saw it, she’d given up her whole life to further her husband’s political career. And he thanked her by screwing around behind her back.”

“Do you know how much she paid Morales?”

“No. They’re still unwinding her finances. I’m sure they will, in time.”

“Are you glad she’s dead?”

“No.” I glance away, staring through the window onto Main Street. If I crane my neck, I can almost see my father’s apartment, the one he rented for Maria Cruz. I look back at Ann-Marie. “I’m not. I would’ve liked her to stand trial.”

“Still, it’s justice.”

“Perhaps.” I reach into my bag and pull out my wallet. “I’m sorry. I have to run. I have an appointment.”

“Please. It’s on me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, of course.” She puts her hand on mine. “I’m so glad we met, Nell.”

“I am, too,” I say, and I mean it.

“When are you heading home?”

“You mean to DC?”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t decided. I think I may stick around here for a while.”

She raises her eyebrows. “Really,” she says, a trace of surprise in her voice. “That’s nice to hear.”

“I like Suffolk County in the off-season.”

“It’s the reason I stay,” she says, and stands up to give me a hug. “I’d love to see you again. Let’s stay in touch.”

“Absolutely.” I hug her one more time.





31.



I cross Main Street, aware that I’m late. Just a minute or two, but still, my heart is pounding. It’s hard for me to walk quickly; the best I can manage is a swift limp. At the top of the stairs, an officer is stationed in front of apartment 3. He nods when he sees me and raps on the door.

I hear the locks click. The door opens. Behind it stands a young woman. She’s dressed simply in jeans and a turtleneck sweater, and her long black hair is plaited down her back. Her eyes are green, like mine. Set against her olive skin and delicate features, they are beautiful.

“Maria,” I say, my voice almost a whisper. “I’m Nell.”

“I know who you are,” she says, moving closer, as though she wants to hug me but isn’t sure if she should. I step toward her and pull her into my arms.

“I’ve always wanted to meet you,” she says, after a minute. “I asked Marty, but he didn’t want to upset you.”

“You called him Marty?” I smile. Dad always hated that nickname. Only his closest friends were allowed to use it.

“Yeah.” She stares at the floor, embarrassed. “I mean, he was my father and everything, but I didn’t know about him until I turned eighteen. So it felt strange, calling him Dad.”

“I understand. For the record, I wouldn’t have been upset. It would’ve been nice to know I had a sister. Or a half sister, anyway. It’s still nice. It’s wonderful. When Sarah told me, I was honestly overwhelmed with joy.”

Her face lights up. “I’m glad. I don’t have any other family. So this means a lot to me.”

“To me, too.”

“Your dad—Marty—he was a really good man. He helped me when I needed it most.”

“I’m so happy to hear that.”

“When my mom got sick, I started up with Gio. We needed the money so badly. I knew Adriana from school. She was doing it, and she brought me in to meet him. And then my mom died. I had no one. I thought I was going to die, too. Some days I wanted to die. Nothing mattered anymore. And then, out of nowhere, your father came for me. I guess my mom sent him a letter from the hospital. She wanted him to watch over me. It must have come as a shock to him, finding out about me like that. But he really stepped up.”

“So he didn’t know about you at all?”