“You want to read this, Zoe,” Conor says in a voice so unlike his typical gruff tones it makes my throat start to close. “Trust me.”
Without another second of hesitation, I reach out and grab the answers I’ve been searching for since I was five years old. My fingers shake as I slide the single sheet of paper from the folder – the un-redacted version of the file I’ve been trying to decode for ages. As I read, my eyes fill with tears.
“Your father witnessed a murder, on his way home from work one night. It was a mob hit.” Conor’s voice is steady as he narrates the words swimming in front of my eyes. I’m crying too hard to read them. “He came to the FBI. Offered to testify, to put one of the highest boys in the MacDonough mob behind bars. It would’ve been a huge win for the Bureau, at the time.”
“So… MacDonough had him killed.” My voice breaks. “Before he could testify.”
Conor nods. “Your father was a good man, Zoe. He was trying to do the right thing, trying to put away a criminal. A mob boss. Most people wouldn’t have the guts to do that. I guess that brave streak running in your veins is genetic, Bloom.” His eyes are steady on mine. “In a way… It’s almost poetic justice that you were part of the efforts to put MacDonough away last spring, when you helped your friend Phoebe escape from him. Even if you didn’t know it at the time, you were taking down the man who ordered your parents’ murder. You got your revenge – he’s behind bars. He’ll never breathe free air again, if that’s any consolation.”
I take a shuddering breath. “Doesn’t really change anything, though, does it?”
Conor shifts from foot to foot, looking uncomfortable as he watches the tears stream down my face. “I just… thought you’d want to know.”
My wet eyes lock on his serious blue ones. “I did. Thank you,” I whisper hoarsely. “This… finally knowing… finally having answers… it means everything to me.”
He nods.
“Can I keep this?” I ask, clutching the document in my hands.
“Of course.” With a final nod, he turns and heads for the door. “And, Zoe?”
My eyes fly from the paper to the gruff, scruffy agent in the doorway. “Yeah?”
“I meant it. About the job offer.” His eyes are intent. “You ever change your mind about working with the Bureau, you call me. I think you could do a lot of good for your country. I think you could make your parents proud.”
He doesn’t wait for an answer; he just walks out of the room, leaving me alone. I read the paper in my hands over and over, hugging it to my chest when the words start to blur before my leaking eyes. I don’t try to fight the tears. I surrender to the hollow, aching awareness slowly filling my chest cavity.
I thought having the answers would give me closure. That, when the truth was finally unearthed, it would be a sweeping victory borne of bloodshed and triumph. A grand plot of revenge and restitution, doled out on those who stole my parents from me.
In reality, having the answers doesn’t change anything – not really. The bad guy is already rotting in jail. Knowing how they died won’t bring my parents back to me.
But maybe I don’t need to bring them back.
Maybe, the whole point is, they never really left. They’re inside me – in my heart, my soul, my memories.
And as long as I hold them close… I’ll never be alone.
22
The Happy Ending
A week later, I’m standing on the dock with my hands on my hips, glaring at my grinning boyfriend.
“You’re not serious.”
“As a heart attack, darling.”
I stride across the narrow gangway onto the boat, brush past him, and clamor down into the cabin. When my eyes land on the navigational station, I feel them go wide.
“You like it?” Parker’s voice is warm and close. I turn to find him standing directly behind me, still smiling wide.
“You shouldn’t have.” My voice is dark. “This equipment costs a fortune! Parker…”
He shrugs and winds his arms around me. “You’re leaving everything behind to go on a crazy adventure with me. The least I can do is provide a computer to keep you busy and let you stay in touch with everyone here at home.”
I feel my throat starting to close. “How inconsiderate and terrible of you.”
He laughs and pulls me closer. “Just the reaction I was expecting.”
“Really. I hate it.”
“Excellent. Then you’ll be relieved to hear it’s got satellite coverage and will perform at high speeds even in the middle of the ocean or on the most remote of tropical islands.”
My eyebrows lift. “Which islands would those be, exactly?”
“Darling, the whole point of an adventure is to enjoy the ride. The destination doesn’t matter.”
“But—”
“No buts.” He kisses my forehead. “I want to show you the world, Zoe Bloom. You plan on letting me? Or you want to ask a zillion questions so there’s no surprise when we get there?”
I press my lips closed. “I suppose I can let it be a surprise.”
He grins. “There’s my girl. Now, come on. We have to say goodbye.”