Mary turned to Judy, who was still distraught, her eyes bloodshot and her skin mottled with emotion. “Honey, I’m so sorry. I didn’t see that coming.”
“You couldn’t have.” Judy sniffled, wiping her cheeks, leaving pinkish streaks. “I can’t believe he bought a ring. He was going to propose, Mary. I was this close, this close to everything I ever wanted…” Judy started to cry again, and Mary gave her a hug, rubbing her back.
“I know, honey, and I’m so sorry.”
“He was going to propose … all that time we were fighting.” Judy sobbed. “He was going to … propose.”
“We’ll get through this somehow.” Mary kept rubbing her back, sensing that the revelation of the engagement ring had struck Judy like a blow, a double whammy after the shock of John’s death.
Judy’s phone started ringing in her pocket, and she let go of Mary, her eyes brimming with tears. “That’s probably Bennie.” Judy took her phone out of her pocket. “Oh, it’s William’s group home. I better get it.” She took the call, sniffling quickly. “Hello, this is Judy Carrier … Of course, yes, hi, Mike … Oh, my … Hold on, let me put you on speaker so my friend can hear.” Judy pressed the button. “Mike, yes, so can you explain what’s happening?”
“Sure, Judy. This is Mike Shanahan, the supervisor at Glenn Meade. You remember, we’ve met a few times, when you and John came to see William.”
“Of course, Mike.” Judy gave a final sniffle.
“You have my deepest condolences over the loss of John. He was so young, and this is a terrible tragedy.”
“Thank you. I’ve been trying to call William but there hasn’t been any answer. Are the Hodges there? You know, William and John’s aunt and uncle? Susan and Mel Hodge?”
“No, that’s what I’m calling about. We have a problem. You see, when John was murdered, the police notified the Hodges. They called me and told me the bad news and said they wanted to tell William themselves. They were going to fly out this weekend and were due to arrive today. Unfortunately, Susan Hodge fell on the escalator at Minneapolis airport and may have broken her ankle. Mel is with her. They’re at a hospital in Minneapolis now.”
“Oh no.” Judy frowned.
“So they won’t be able to fly in to see William today. Since you know him pretty well, maybe you should be the one to tell him that John passed. I can do it, but it might be better coming from you.”
“So he doesn’t know … anything?” Judy grimaced, wiping her eyes.
“No, and he’s expecting John and you today for your Sunday visit. You know, you guys usually come in the afternoon.”
“Right, of course.” Judy sighed heavily. “I think he should hear it from me, too.”
“That’s why I called you. William had your number. John had given it to him.”
“Okay.” Judy bucked up. “I’ll tell him today.”
“Thanks.” Mike sounded relieved, even to Mary. “What time will you be here?”
“Around three.”
“Okay. See you then. Good-bye.”
“Good-bye.” Judy hung up, her watery gaze connecting with Mary. “You heard it. I have to go out there. It’s in Devon.”
“I’m so sorry you have to deal with this.”
“It’s okay. John would want William to hear it from me. He never liked Shanahan, and it’s the right thing to do.” Judy straightened up, and Mary could see a change in her demeanor, like a renewed sense of purpose.
“I’ll go with you.”
“No, don’t even think about it.” Judy got a Kleenex out of her pocket and blew her nose. “You have work to do. Go back to the office and immerse yourself in London Technologies.”
“No, thanks.” Mary found a smile. “I’ve had enough data integration for one day. I’m going with you.”
“But you have a deposition to defend tomorrow.”
“I’ll be fine. I know enough to hum a few bars.”
“Plus you’re pregnant.”
“I am? Who knew?”
“Do you feel up to it?”
“Sure, if I eat so I can throw up.” Mary leaned forward and said to the cabbie, “Driver, change of plans. We’re heading to Devon.”
“You got it,” the driver said, switching to the left lane, toward the expressway ramp to the western suburbs.
Judy wiped her eyes, regaining her composure. “John was all William had. I don’t even know what will happen to him now.”
“Will the aunt and uncle become his guardian?”
“I don’t know. That’s the kind of thing you provide for in a will.” Judy frowned, rubbing her forehead. “I don’t know where my brain is. I remembered John told me there’s a trust that provides for William. So I’m sure John had a will. That would be like him.”
Mary thought a minute. “What about a funeral? I’m getting the impression that the aunt and uncle are out of the picture, aren’t you? Somebody has to plan a funeral.”
“Oh man, I guess I do.” Judy inhaled deeply, straightening in the backseat of the cab.
“I can help you do that too, honey.” Mary felt a wrench in her chest that she sensed would never go away. She remembered planning her first husband’s funeral. Her parents had offered to help, but in the end, she had done it alone, as her final act of love. Suddenly Mary’s phone started ringing, interrupting her reverie. “This must be Bennie.” She checked the screen and answered the call. “Hey, Bennie.”
“DiNunzio, we just saw you on TV. Judy looks so upset. Did something happen?”
“Yes, I can explain later. We’re heading out to the suburbs to meet John’s brother, William. Judy has to tell him the bad news about John.”
“Oh, my. Did you learn anything from the police?”
“Yes.” Mary gave her the rundown over the new details of John’s murder, leaving out the part about the engagement ring. Judy didn’t need to relive that moment, especially now that she had regained her equilibrium.
“Good job,” Bennie said, after Mary had finished. “Hold on, Isaac wants to speak with you.”
“Fine,” Mary said, suppressing her annoyance. Judy turned her head away, looking out the window with a heavy sigh.
Isaac came on the line. “Mary, Judy?” he said, bubbling over. “You guys did terrific! You couldn’t have done better!”
“I owe it all to my pregnancy,” Mary said dryly.
“Your statement was short and sweet, and those tears from Judy, wow! They could not have been more perfect. You two were the very picture of—”
“Thanks, Isaac, bye now.” Mary hung up, abruptly.
Judy turned from the window with a shaky smile. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure,” Mary said, smiling back.
Suddenly, Mary’s phone started ringing again, with the unusual ring of a FaceTime call, and she looked down to see Machiavelli was calling. She showed Judy the screen. “The hits just keep on coming, don’t they?”
Judy’s eyes widened. “You should take it.”
“Why?”
“He’s suing us. You never know.”
“Okay.” Mary took the call, and Machiavelli popped onto the screen, dressed in a gray suit with a white polo shirt. His hair was slicked back, and his narrow eyes glittered darkly. He was wearing his fake-earnest face, but Mary didn’t know why.
“Mare, you looked damn good on TV. I think you’re even sexier pregnant, you know that?”
“What do you want? I told you not to call.”
“I went to early Mass. I didn’t see you.”
Mary suppressed an eye roll. They lived in the same parish, and the thought of him sitting in her church made her blood boil. “Why are you calling?”
“I wanted to pay my respects about John Foxman. My condolences. I lit a candle for him. So did my mom.”
Listening, Judy shrugged, but Mary wasn’t fooled. “Thank you,” she said, coldly. “Now why did you really call?”
“Is Judy still with you? Tell her I’m sorry.”
“I’m hanging up.”
“I’m giving you another chance to settle, considering. This must be tough, after Foxman’s murder. You got your hands full. Judy’s crying at the Roundhouse. You’re stressed out and you’re havin’ a baby. You don’t need this hanging over your head.”
“We’re not settling. Didn’t Roger tell you that?”
“Yes, but I’m talking to you now. Come on, I’m not gonna negotiate against myself. Gimme a number.”
“No, now I have to go—”