Chapter Thirteen: "Tying Up Loose Ends"

"What is this I read? A mother kills her own son in favor of the other? That is no good! A cosa sta arrivando il mondo in questi giorni?"

"I don't think anyone has the answer to that, Mr. Moretti," Ami told him.

Somewhere in there, I'd picked up the word 'what' and 'world', but that was all. In my spare time, I'd been studying a book about the Italian language that I'd borrowed from the city library, but my spare time was somewhat limited. So far, I hadn't learned much.

"It is so good to see you, my friends! But where is Mr. Quinn? Is he ill? If so, I will send him some of my minestrone! That will perk him up!"

I didn't wish to lie to Mr. Moretti, but I didn't want to cause him undue worry either. I was worried enough for both of us already!

"He's on a fishing vacation, that's all."

"Ah! If he brings back some fresh fish, have him come see me and I will serve him the best Fish Puttanesca! Just like mama used to make!"

"I'll do that."

Mr. Moretti seemed to always be in such a good mood and really enjoyed life. I should take after him. Iris was right. I worried too much.

The older Italian man smiled broadly before asking the waiter to show us to our usual table.

"We're expecting one more," I told him before he seated Ami and Iris.

I was glad Ami hadn't heard me because I wasn't sure how she'd react if she knew. In this case, I believed surprise was in her best interest.

"Do we have enough petty cash for this meal?" Ami had asked Iris while picking up a menu.

"Mr. Doyle's check finally came through, so in a word; Yes. Right now, we have plenty."

"Good," Ami responded with a smile. "Because I'm really hungry and everything looks so good!"

We all focused on the menu for a few minutes, although there was tension in the air between us. I was the one who decided to break it.

"He's been gone too long," I suggested. "I would like to borrow your car Iris so we can go check on him."

"My car?" Iris spluttered. "No way! I've seen the way you drive."

Her head was still buried in the menu and I glanced at Ami for support.

"I'll do the driving if that will help," she volunteered.

Iris looked up at Ami and then at me. "Fine! But you owe me one, Noble. When are we leaving?"

I hadn't intended on taking Iris with us, not that I minded her company. I loved Iris, but I was kind of hoping to get to spend some quality time with Ami. Apparently, my face revealed my disappointment of not getting that.

"Stop worrying, Stupid," Iris told me with a roll of her eyes. "I was pulling your leg. I'm not going. Somebody has to stay at the office and answer the phone. And besides, I don't want to be a third wheel."

I released a satisfied sigh and reached for Ami's hand underneath the table. Both of us were tired. Following the crash and Mrs. Solowsky's confession, I had gone to Ami's apartment and stayed up late sharing the details of what had happened. I hadn't yet had the opportunity of doing the same with Iris. Before I did that, we needed to order.

Once that was accomplished, I reached for a piece of salami from the selection in the middle of our table.

Iris did the same and took a few bites before launching into a barrage of questions.

"Okay, Sherlock. So tell me: How did you know Mrs. Newman had been poisoned?"

I shrugged my shoulders humbly before answering. "I just figured that something like that had happened based upon her posture. It was either poisoning or she'd choked to death. When I tasted the liquid in her glass, I discovered it was bitter and the glass itself smelled like almonds. Classic cyanide poisoning. Somebody had intentionally killed her. At the time, I figured Lucas Solowsky was the one who did it since he was afraid she would testify against him."

"All right. That makes sense," Iris said before reaching for a cracker. "But what about Mrs. Solowsky?"

"What about her?"

"How did she get to the scene of the accident so soon? Your report stated she pulled up right after Lucas' car exploded."

I wasn't about to admit that I'd wondered that myself. It wasn't until I got into her Bentley to drive it back to the station that I figured it out.

"Car phone," Ami supplied the answer.

Iris shook her head and took a drink of her ice water. "That seems so crazy! Who would want a phone in their car? And how does that even work?"

I wasn't certain but had to assume Lucas had one as well.

"At some point during our chase, he'd phoned his mother and informed her of what was happening."

"So, she drives up, sees that her youngest son has died, and what? Spills the beans and confesses to everything?"

I reflected back to the sad desperation and agony Mrs. Solowsky revealed as she looked over the cliff and realized her youngest child had died. It was something that was going to haunt me for a while.

"I believe she was a good woman," I tried to explain. "Someone who was very unhappy with their life and marriage but was unwilling to do anything about it. She found happiness in her younger son, Lucas, and did everything she could to go against her husband's wishes. In that way, I think she was retaliating against him for all the hurt he'd caused her in the past."

"It's such a sad situation that has only gotten worse. Both of her sons are dead and she's going to prison. What about Mr. Solowsky?"

"I have no idea what he's thinking. I'm sure he's grieving."

"He's probably pouring himself into his work. That's what most men do to cope."

Guilty as charged. I couldn't argue with Iris about that. I had done the same in the past. However, now I had someone to go to. Ami was my personal therapist and she didn't even know it. She'd helped me cope several times already.

Well, now it was my turn to fix something broken within her. But I needed to hurry. I noticed our extra guest speaking with Mr. Marietti, who had just asked a waiter to bring him over to our table.

"Listen, Ami," I hurriedly explained. "Don't get mad. I have my reasons and once you know them, I hope you'll understand why I did this."

Ami looked confused, but then her back was to the entry and she couldn't see who was coming. Iris, on the other hand, noticed and her eyes grew as large as saucers.

"Good evening everyone," Nick Walker stated as he took a seat where Mr. Quinn would be sitting if he were here.

Ami's expression changed from shock to confusion, and then irritation; the last of which was directed at me.

"Nick's here on my invitation," I explained. "He has something he needs to say to you."

"Hi, Ami. I know you don't like me and you have a good reason. Several reasons, actually. But I wanted you to know that I've been receiving counseling and have been dry for nearly a year. I'm a member of an organization called Alcoholics Anonymous, and one of their requirements is for us to make amends to those who have suffered because of our drinking. That's what I'm here to do. I want to apologize to you for every hateful thing I said to you, for the many times I humiliated you in public, and for the times I dishonored not only you but our relationship. I'm truly sorry and I ask for your forgiveness."

Ami appeared a little less angry, although not necessarily with me.

"Thanks, Nick. That means a lot."

Ni seemed pleased and stood. "I'll leave you three alone to enjoy your meal."

I stood to shake hands with Nick before he left. It was Ami who tried to get him to stay.

"Why don't you sit back down and order something. We wouldn't mind if you joined us."

"Nah," Nick told her. "I don't want to make things more uncomfortable than I already have. Maybe some other time."

I watched Nick leave before I sat back down. Both women were staring at me as if I'd done something horrible.

"Now, that wasn't so bad, was it?" I said in a cheerful manner.

"You could've at least given her a warning!"

"If I had," I explained to Iris, "she probably wouldn't have agreed to it. Would you?"

"I'm not sure."

Ami gazed at me like she was trying to figure me out. I was convinced she already had. I'm fairly simple.

"I appreciate the gesture, although I'm worried about the motive. Why would you do that?

Here was the tricky part, which I was rather embarrassed to say in front of Iris.

"How can we share a long life together if you're carrying around baggage like that? Hatred and unforgiveness can wear you down, Ami. I didn't want anything like that to come between us."

"I see," she answered, leaning back to allow room for the waiter to place her meal on the table. "I'm glad you at least considered my feelings, but Ben? Don't do anything like that ever again."

I was in the right here. Given time, I truly believed Ami would come around and see that I was only looking out for her.

"I won't. Promise." I told her before she leaned over and kissed me.

"Now that all the drama is over when are two going to leave to find Mr. Quinn?"

"Tomorrow morning if Ami's up to it," I answered Iris.

"I'm ready if you are."

"Very well," Iris told us both. "But you'll have to put some air in the tires and fill up the gas tank. I think it's got like an eighth of a tank or something."

Typical. "Want me to wash it while I'm at it?" I said jokingly.

"That'd be great! Thanks, Ben!"

We ate in silence for a while and my mind was already planning. We'd leave for the coast early tomorrow morning and hopefully, during that trip, I'd decide whether or not to go work for Mr. Eli Doyle.

First things first. I had to discover what Mr. Quinn was up to. I would say I hoped he wasn't in trouble, but I didn't want to jinx myself. No point in worrying about it, Ami had already informed me. Soon, we'd find out for ourselves what was going on and the mystery would be solved.

After all, solving mysteries is what I did best.

/End