CHAPTER 11
Abby
“Thanks for meeting with me,” I say.
“What’s up?” he asks. I can see he’s itching to leave, and I can’t blame him.
“I just want to say I’m sorry.”
His head doesn’t move. He says nothing.
“I’ve written a lot of things I wish I could take back, but I can’t. But I know now it’s not entirely too late to do what’s right.”
“What do you want from me, Abby?”
“You have every right to be angry. I’m sorry, and I’m not asking you for forgiveness. I just wanted to tell you in advance that my last story will make sure you become the fire chief.”
“Please don’t do anything now,” he says. “Just let the voters vote in peace.”
“It’s not that easy. See, there’s something about me that most people don’t know. Something that Julia reminded me of when we went for that drive. I felt free again. Young again. I could see myself in her. We’re the same, but we’re different. Different in the way our stories can be told. She’s a beautiful young woman and I want to see her story have a happy ending.”
He says nothing for at least ten full seconds. “What are you talking about?”
“Years ago I came to this country just like she did. I had to support myself, so I turned to the only thing I knew. My mother read all the advice columns for years, so I generally knew how they worked. I stuck my nose where it didn’t belong and one thing led to another and soon I had a job at the paper. It’s gossip…it sells itself. I just don’t know how I let it get so out of control…until now.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I speak Russian, Isaac. You probably heard me the other night. Well, my husband does too…I just found out. After all these years you think you know someone. You think you know who you’re sharing a bed and a life with, only to find out you don’t.”
I pause thinking back to how it felt like a punch in the gut when I found out the truth.
“I got up one night to get a glass of water. He was in the kitchen on the phone. He was speaking in Russian. They were talking about drugs, gambling, prostitution and an insurance scam. At first I was shocked to learn he even knew the language. And then I listened. They had girls in that building that burned. Thank god, they got them all out, but it’s not the end of the story for them. They’re somewhere else now, and I’m going to do what I can to put a stop to it, just like your Julia did. She was so brave for talking with the police. If those guys ever found out it was her that is going to testify they would kill her and then kill her family back home. Fortunately for me I changed my name a long time ago, and I don’t have any family that I know of. There’s no one but me, and I’ve already got my plane ticket out of here. I leave tonight.”
“Is this a joke?”
“I wish it was, but it’s not. The paper doesn’t know it, but I’ve turned in my very last story. It’s an exposé on my husband…it hurts so much to even call him that…and the men he was involved with. It will go to press in the morning, just before the voters start showing up at the polls. It will be over for him. You’ll win in a landslide and he’ll be locked away.”
“Just because you write a story doesn’t mean anyone’s going to believe it. It’s gossip after all.”
“I took his computers just now. Both of them. Laptop and desktop and drove them straight to the police station. I found the files yesterday when he was asleep. I was so worried he was going to find me and kill me, but fortunately he drank a lot before bed and when he fell asleep, he stayed asleep.”
“I’m not sure if I believe you.”
“You don’t have to believe me. You’ll see in the morning.”
“Why didn’t you just go? Why did you have to come here and meet with me?”
“I had to say sorry for what I did. I owe apologies to a lot of people, but unfortunately I only have time for one. Yours. Like I said, I really connected with Julia. I wanted to speak with her to get some dirt on you, if I’m being honest. But she was so warm and so young and optimistic she just made me want to hug her and keep her safe…something I know you’ll do, so I’m not worried. The evidence I’ve turned in will be enough to put him away for a long, long time. Julia won’t even have to testify and no one will find out she was even involved. She can just live her life, with you, the way life intended.”
I see Isaac processing everything that’s coming at him so quickly. The sushi chef arrives at our table and sits down a green tea for each of us. “Arigatou,” I say. He bows slightly and excuses himself as he can see we’re in the middle of a pretty heavy topic.
I tip back my tea even though it’s too hot. In some strange way I feel like it’s a sort of penance for what I’ve done. It’s not nearly enough, but I want to hurt right now, more than I already do. I want to feel the pain I’ve inflicted on others, and even though burning my mouth doesn’t come close to the damage I’ve caused, at least in some strange way it’s something.
“That’s all I’ve got. I’m sorry, Isaac. I really am. Just take care of Julia for me…please.”
He nods and takes his own cup in his hands. He slides it directly in front of himself, and removes his hands as it’s too hot. He looks down into the green liquid like it’s an abyss that he’s looking into hoping there’s an answer down there somewhere.
I rise up out of my chair and make my way to the counter. I place a $10 bill on the counter and before the chef can return with the change I’m out the door. I’ll spend the next few hours in the airport and then I’m gone forever.