Deep Water by Mark Ayre (best big ereader TXT) 📕

skeletons in our closets. A reformed criminal, indirectly responsible for the deaths of an unknown number of innocents, Alice was unique. The question was, was it right to save the life of a woman who had caused such pain and damage through her business, even if that woman now regretted her past decisions?

Already knowing which side she was coming down on and not entirely comfortable with it, Abbie forestalled further contemplation of the issue with another question.

"I guess this is where Louis comes in?"

"That's right. Louis is a crook, but small time. Drug dealing, protection rackets, armed robbery, all within a few miles of this seaside town. But, like many business people who have tapped out the local market, he dreams of expansion."

Upstairs someone moved. Abbie wondered briefly if Tony was in his room, pacing, waiting to be recalled to the party, then refocused on Alice.

"When he found out I was shutting up shop, Louis approached me with an offer to buy my remaining inventory. He believed my guns were his route to elevating his operation to the next level. When I turned him down, he wasn't happy, but he put on a smile and said he respected my decision and would leave me alone. A few days later, he returned with a larger offer."

Alice shook her head at the memory.

“Desire can make men so dense, can't it? It took five offers before I managed to get it through Louis' thick skull that money was not the issue. That he would never get the guns. After that conversation, he came closer than ever to losing his temper but, in the end, he once more forced a smile. I've no doubt when he left this house, he had already decided to rob me. How do you think that went?"

"For him?" said Abbie. "I'm guessing not well."

"I don't know if you're trying to flatter me or you believe it. Either way, you're right."

"What happened?"

"Louis only knew the location of two of my lockups. It was a simple matter of relocating those guns. My plan was that Louis’ men would find the lockups empty, and the boss would have to give up.” Alice sighed. “Have you heard what they say happens when man plans?"

"God laughs," said Abbie.

“Yeah, well, it turns out that’s also true for women. God must have been chuckling when Louis picked his idiot brother, Niall, to lead the team that would rob me and rolling on the floor in hysterics when the police showed up, announcing via loudspeaker they had the crew surrounded."

By now, bitter disgust was written into Alice’s features. Abbie examined the situation. Came to a conclusion.

"Niall died?"

"Why do you suggest that, rather than arrested?"

"We know where this is leading," said Abbie. She didn't have to mention Aurora. "If the cops had arrested Niall, they would have found him breaking into an empty lockup. Even if he was armed, which I'm guessing he was, a good lawyer would have got him off, or at worst seen him do a few months inside. Not enough to prod Louis into retaliation. More likely, Niall hadn't yet got into the lockup. Afraid to be caught with a huge quantity of illegal weapons, he might have panicked. If he panicked, he might have tried to shoot his way out of there, and if he tried to shoot his way out of there and found himself surrounded by armed police, they would have shot right back."

Impressed, Alice nodded.

"That's exactly what happened. Niall tried to shoot his way out, and the cops killed him. No other lives were lost. Niall’s team gave themselves up quick sharp when they saw their leader go down with a bullet in his heart.”

“Did Louis love his brother?” asked Abbie.

“They were forever arguing,” said Alice. “But they were joined at the hip. Louis treated him like a third son. Loved him to bits.”

"And blamed you for his demise,” said Abbie.

“Thinks I called the cops,” said Alice. “Which I didn't. Conveniently, he forgot his brother would be alive if he hadn’t tried to rob me. Grief is stronger than logic, don't you find?"

"Time and again."

The bitter look had only grown stronger. Alice was staring at the ocean; the waves must have thought they disgusted her.

“I called to give my condolences,” she said, “and he told me I’d suffer as he had suffered; feel the pain he felt. A week later, someone bashed my daughter's skull, slit her throat, and left her dead in a playground. Louis’ threat proves motive; his wealth and connections give him means. Aurora was walking home from seeing friends, alone, at night. Talk about opportunity knocks. Whether it was Louis or not, I'm certainly feeling the pain he felt. And then some."

With a deep, pained sigh, Alice stood and walked to the window. Pressing her forehead to the glass, she closed her eyes, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"My children demanded swift and decisive action. As far as they were concerned, every second Louis lived was an insult to Aurora's memory. So they pushed, and I told them, again and again, I would not act at the height of my grief, nor without confirmation of Louis’ guilt."

Standing, Abbie moved to Alice's side at the window. At last, they had reached the answer to the question that sparked this story.

"You're no longer at the height of your grief," said Abbie. "You plan to meet Louis tonight, demand a confession. I assume you’ve agreed to meet alone, but you doubt he’ll keep his word."

"Correct," said Alice. "You're a clever girl. Did I mention you and my second son would make the perfect couple?"

"You did. Where are you planning to meet Louis?"

Alice shook her head. “You’re right, I don’t expect him to keep his word about meeting alone, but I intend to keep mine."

"To what end?"

"To the end that I'm tired and miserable. The loss of my miracle child eats at my soul, and every day renders me weaker and weaker. Soon, I’ll no longer have the strength