Alex
I practically fall onto the couch looking at the note that Adele sent me. Evansville, Indiana, and come get her. I close my eyes holding the note up to my head plotting on ways to get to her. Maryann sits next to me and puts her hand on my arm.
“We’ll find her.” She comforts me and I glance at her.
“Is Maryann your real name?” I ask her and she nods.
“It is, why are you asking?”
“You faked your death. It would make sense that you would change your name.” I tell her and she smiles.
“I was reborn as Marie Bell.” She tells me and I chuckle.
“How about your family? Do they know you're alive?” I ask her and her eyes start to look sad.
“My parents know I am alive, but they know they can’t contact me or even see me. Sometimes I’ll call them and don’t say anything and they know it’s me checking in.” I feel sad hearing her say this because my family means everything to me. We still do Sunday dinners with Ma. We may fight and argue during most of it, but it’s what our family does.
“You’ll see them soon,” I promise her and she looks up at me and I put my hands over hers and she nods. I stand from the couch and head to my cell phone to make three calls. I call Oliver, Thomas, and Frank and tell them to be at my house by eight tomorrow morning. No one questions me since they know if I am asking for a meeting that early in the morning, it’s some serious shit. I head to my bedroom and strip off my clothes and jump into the shower. As the water pours over me all I can think about is Adele.
Thomas, Frank, and Oliver all show up on time and I tell them about Teddy seeing Adele. I also show them the note advising what town she’s in. When Frank mentions that he will do a search on Garth to see if anything pulls up, I tell him to check under Garrett and under Maryann’s name. He lifts his eyes looking at me and I explain everything to him. A few seconds later, Maryann comes walking out of the bedroom in a t-shirt and shorts and both Oliver and Frank glare at me with suspicion. I introduce them to Maryann and we explain everything including how I had Thomas following her and had no other option but bring her home with me. This apparently sits well with Frank and Oliver because they stop questioning me and looking at Maryann with suspicion.
Frank and Oliver starts making calls to all their connections to find Garth and Adele. Oliver starts with all his underground contacts and Frank checks in with some of his old police buddies for information. If they can’t help, he will call some of the cops that are on our payroll. I don’t know why Frank always must try the law-abiding cops first, but whatever floats his boat, I guess. At this point, I just want Adele. It doesn’t matter if I must make a deal with the pope for her. While conversations are happening all over the place, Maryann and I are sitting and watching everyone work. Maryann gasps and jumps out of her chair as we all stare at her.
“I know where they are!” she practically yells and I move closer to her and I hear Thomas, Frank, and Oliver trying to end their conversations and stalk toward us.
“Garth has a brother in the military. He has been stationed in London for years, but he has a house in Evansville. Garth would go check on it because it was empty,” Maryann tells us and I close my eyes and release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. I look at Frank and he nods his head and smiles.
“Do you have the address?” I ask her and she tilts her head and stops smiling.
“I don’t have it. I can do better, I can take you there,” she smiles and we all nod and I lock up as we all head out.
Maryann, Frank, and I are in Frank’s truck and Thomas and Oliver follow us as we head to Evansville. Since Maryann is giving the directions, I sit in the back and I close my eyes thinking about how close I am to getting Adele back. I don’t know what I’ll do when we get to this house, but I won’t leave without seeing her. I hope Frank knows this in advance and doesn’t try this level-headed shit with me. It has been months since I have seen her and I won’t let one more day go by without seeing her. As if Frank has read my mind, he starts to make plans on what will happen when we get to this house.
“IF we find the house, Alex, we need to be smart. We can’t just knock the door in and go inside,” Frank says as Maryann and I stare at him.
“What exactly do you suggest? I am not leaving without her Frank!?” I practically yell at him and he stares at me in the rear-view mirror.
“Alex… we can’t mess this up!” Frank yells back and I see Maryann stiffen, so I try to calm myself the fuck down.
“What exactly do you suggest we do then?” I ask him and he rubs his hand through his hair.
“IF we find the house, I’ll think of something and I’ll knock on the fucking door. He hasn’t seen me so I am the only one that can get away with it,” Frank tells us and close my eyes and lean my head against the headrest.
“What exactly will you say to him, Frank? He won’t let you in the house to see Adele,” I tell him and I hear Frank sigh as Maryann turns to look at us.
“You can tell him that you think his dead wife Maryann is alive. He’ll let you in and you can make sure Adele is ok,” Maryann says and Frank and I both look at her.
“Maryann--,” Frank starts to say but she cuts him off.
“You have to do it. You aren’t telling him where he can find me and I am assuming that since you're Mafia you’re going to kill him anyways right? I’ll be safe,” she says and Frank turns back to look at me squinting his eyes.
“Why do you think were Mafia, Maryann?” he asks her as he glares at me and I can tell he is pissed off.
“Alex told me,” Maryann practically whispers and I can feel the speed accelerate.
“Fuck, Alex! Why do you insist on putting all our asses on the line? Why don’t you just put a fucking ad in the newspaper saying ‘Mob’ and listing everyone’s name, phone number, and address?” Frank yells as Maryann turns her focus to the passenger side window.
“I had to tell her Frank. She was scared and didn’t want to help.” I let Frank know as I glance at Maryann wondering what I can say while she is listening.
“You didn’t have to say shit, Alex. Now if anything goes wrong, she’s a witness and she knows too much,” Frank says and I hear Maryann gasp as she turns back to look at Frank.
“I won’t say anything! You won’t have to kill me.” Maryann quickly adds as Frank rolls his eyes and I glance between the two of them.
“What do you want, Maryann?” Frank asks and Maryann sits back, stunned.
“I want freedom. I want to be able to see my family. I don’t want to be afraid that Garth is going to find me and hurt me,” Maryann says as Frank continues to glance between her and the road.
“That all sounds good, Maryann. How will any of that happen?” Frank asks while glancing back at me with very angry eyes.
“It will happen if you kill Garth.” She states off-handedly and now I know what must happen. It had to happen, anyway. There is no way he is going to let Adele walk out of that house with me and live happily ever after. I can’t give him Maryann for Adele because he would only hurt her. Maryann has helped us get this far, so I should make sure she’s okay too. I should make sure she is protected against Garth as well as Adele. It wouldn’t feel right to get Adele out of this mess to place Maryann in danger again. I can’t let it happen, I won’t let it happen.