Vendetta (24 page)

    
“So I had an idea. I told him to make her think she’s done it. Let her go boast and brag about it to her brother when he gets out. Make him wear a wire. If he’s really a changed man and wants to help by doing the right thing, then he’ll get it all on tape. There’s your confession. That would put her away for good and keep her from coming back again.”

    
Allie’s voice choked up. She took a moment and continued.

    
“Dom rejected the idea at first, but I told him I would go to Slatter if he didn’t give it a shot. So, he thought about it. He called someone on the phone and spoke quietly. Whoever it was thought it was a brilliant plan. But the problem was that Dom didn’t know how to stage something like that without everyone being involved.”

    
“It would be too risky for the girl,” Dom told the person on the phone.

    
“I realized it was Slatter on the line. Agent Slatter told Dom that only I needed to be in on it and the other agents of course… and we could make everyone think it was real, so it would be convincing. Dom told the agent that everyone would need to know. No secrets.”

   
“Agent Slatter then told Dom that you would be told about the plan and it would be alright. Then when Leo got out or whatever, Lucy could tell him how she did it, get it on tape and then off to jail she goes, right along with Nick,” Allie said.

   
She looked at a stunned Julie.

    
“Sorry about Nick, by the way. He turned out to be kind of a loser,” Allie said innocently.

    
Julie smiled and chuckled a little. “I know, honey. I’m sorry, too,” Julie added.

    
“At least some good came out of all this. We all know the truth now, and I’m not married to him anymore. He signed the papers that night when he confessed,” Julie told her.

    
“Oh, yeah? That’s awesome! I haven’t heard about any of that, you’ll have to tell me all about it,” Allie got side tracked.

    
“Later, honey,” Julie winked, assuring Allie.

    
“So you knew that night, that you were about to drink drugged wine and make me think you were dead!” Mark said irritably.

    
Allie looked her father in the eye, and said “Yes. But, again, you were only supposed to think that for like an hour. Dom tried to get a hold of you as soon as he had permission…-”

    
“You’re missing the point Allie! How could you make that kind of decision without telling me about it? I keep hearing you say, that you’re eighteen and it was your idea, but it wasn’t your decision to make. You don’t seem to fully understand what impact your actions have had on all of us! It was an awfully big gamble for such a little girl to take. I say, shame on the F.B.I, for their lack of professionalism and shame on Dom, for going along with it!” Mark said furiously.

    
“Your too trusting, Allie! They took advantage of you, and I ought to go kick all their asses for doing it,” Mark said angrily.

    
“I’m not a little girl anymore, Dad. And I’m not as gullible as you think I am. I know that in your eyes, I’m always going to be your innocent little girl… but I have my own good reasons for doing this. I admit that I have made some crazy choices. I’m aware that I gambled on a few things and made a rash decision or two,” Allie challenged him.

    
“You did a little more than make a “rash” decision Allie, you were reckless. You’re right, you gambled. You gambled your life just by drinking that wine. Not only that, but you have no idea what I went through, thinking that you died at my expense… because of that… I lost all hope and compassion in this world. I was about to make them all pay the ultimate price for taking you. I was going to kill them, Allie, out of pure hatred and revenge! It was all for nothing really, because of a prank gone wrong,” Mark stated.

    
Williams leaned up against the door and looked down, he couldn‘t bear to look at Allie right now. He felt the same way Mark did.

    
“With as much as I despise the man, Nick almost committed suicide because he thought he killed you. Granted it was supposed to be me and he would’ve danced on my grave, but that’s not the point. The point is, I feel like you, Dom and the F.B.I just pulled the cruelest joke on me and I’m not happy about it. Neither is anyone else… they’re just too nice to say it, because it all worked out, thank GOD!” Mark exclaimed.

    
“Not to mention, you were barely an adult when this Agent Slatter talked to you,” Mark grimaced. “I can’t wait to meet that guy!” Mark growled.

    
Allie looked over at Julie. Julie averted eye contact with her, and looked down at the floor, same as Williams.

    
“I’m sorry everybody. I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused. It was never supposed to be a cruel joke or a prank on any of you… just Lucy and Nick. It went all wrong, but I had good intentions. I had my reasons and I have made my bed… I’m prepared to lay in it,” Allie said looking up at her dad.

    
“I take full responsibility for what I did and how I hid it all from you. I know that’s what hurts you the most … because that’s what hurts me. The next day after I had woken up, I talked a little with Anita. Dom was desperately trying to get Slatter to track you down… but they had their hands full with Lucy and Nick. They said that Dom was NOT allowed to call you, yet. Dom had to wait until they had brought the cops in on it. Anita came into the living room to talk to me. She told me that you had disappeared after they arrested Nick. This worried all of us.”

    
“Dom demanded that Slatter let him call you or at least brief the Captain, but he heard nothing back on the decision until Dom got a call from Lucy. He had to get a lawyer or something to get her out of jail because they needed her to be at the restaurant on time to meet Leo and confess. Finally, Anita came and told me it was time to go and that Dom got permission to call you! The Captain had finally been briefed by the Fed’s. Your phone was shut off, so Dom called Detective Williams, who had just left the precinct. Detective Williams met Dom and his F.B.I contact, Agent Slatter, back at the station and they were on their way to find you. They went to Julie’s hotel room, but that was a bust. Dom said that you would show up at the restaurant; he just knew you would be there,” Allie finished.

    
Everyone sat in silence, just taking it all in. That was it… no more to know about it. They all knew how it had ended, except Julie.

    
“Then what happened?” Julie asked curiously.

    
“I’ll explain it to you later, Jules,” Mark sat down on the side of the bed and reached out to hug Allie.

    
“I’m sorry I got upset and raised my voice. I’m so happy that you’re alright and I get to have a second chance with you. I love you so much, Allie cat,” Mark said tenderly.

    
“I did it for us, Dad. We don’t have to worry about that family anymore. All of our secrets are out and dealt with. We have each other and we have a new life ahead of us… a REAL future that’s ours, not a fake one made up by bureaucrats. That was my intention all along,” Allie said humbly.

    
Marked hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “I had no idea that you knew as much as you did. I didn‘t know that you remembered anything. How come you never talked to me about it before?” Mark asked.

    
“You never asked,” Allie said clearly. “Plus, I didn‘t want to upset you and ask questions about stuff that we couldn’t say anything about, being in witness protection and all. I felt like I couldn’t talk to you about anything,” Allie explained.

    
“I’m sorry for that. I should’ve been more sensitive to your feelings and not pretended that our old life never existed. That was unfair of me to expect that of you. You were just so young, I had no idea that you would even remember,” Mark looked at Allie. “You’re so smart, honey. You’re incredibly brave and I shouldn’t have underestimated you or dismissed you as being “just a little girl,” Mark said sincerely.

    
Mark finally understood her logic. He would try to be as open and understanding with her as he could. It would take him some time, but he would make the effort. She was definitely worth it.

    
“Thanks dad. That means a lot. I hope you’re not too disappointed in me,” Allie wiped away a tear.

    
“Angry? A little. Confused? Definitely,” He smiled at her. “But disappointed? NEVER! You damn near single handedly created an investigation and brought down Lucy Vanzetti! It was all you baby girl, I couldn’t be more proud!” Mark exclaimed.

    
Williams and Julie laughed and applauded Allie as well.

    
“We did it together, Dad. Think about it… we worked together and didn’t even realize it! All the extra video and audio you got is the reason why they’re going away for good! If we could’ve given you and Williams another couple of days you would’ve figured everything out. You would have figured out I was alive! I bet you secretly felt it all along,” Allie boasted.

    
Mark thought about it.

    
“You know… maybe I did. It sure does explain a lot. But it would have been Williams that figured it out. I didn‘t have the patience for it,” Mark chuckled.

    
“Okay, okay. Besides the whole “blow ‘em all away” plan of yours... you did very well, Dad. You still got it, you know!” Allie laughed.

    
“Wait, what?? What in the world am I missing here?” Julie asked.

    
Williams burst out laughing. “I would be honored to have you as my partner, any day. I would not want to get on your bad side, “staged set up” or not,” Williams smiled.

    
“I’m ready to get out of this hotel now, that’s for sure. Then you guys can tell me what happened at the OK corral,” Julie said.

    
“I’m ready to get out of here, too. What do you say; we stop and grab a burger before heading home?” Mark asked everybody. “I’m freaking starving,” Mark stood.

    
“Sounds like a plan. What do you think, Julie, are you ready to go home?” Allie grinned.

    
Mark grinned at Julie and she instantly knew what Allie meant by “home.”

    
“Yeah, I’m ready. I’d dig a guacamole bacon burger right about now!” Julie laughed.

    
“You’d “DIG” it?” Mark laughed.

   
“Yeah, I would! Don’t make fun of me!” Julie laughed.

    
“I’m not making fun. I’m never going to get tired of you and all your sayings,” Mark said sweetly.

    
“Come on, Williams. Meet us at the house? I’m buying,” Mark picked up Julie’s bag.

    
“No, thank you. You really need to spend time with your family,” Williams opened the door for them.

    
“I hate to tell you man, but your family now. We’ll pick you up a burger and take it to my house. You run home and shower and meet up with us there,” Mark said smiling, as they made their way out to the parking lot.

    
“So, now I need a shower? Are you saying I smell?” Williams sniffed his shirt.

    
Allie and Julie giggled as they walked to the car.

    
“Hey, you’re the one that said it man, not me,” Mark smiled. “See you at the house, brother.”

    
Williams nodded at Mark and waved to the girls.

CHAPTER 20

                           
           AGENDA

     Williams was eating dinner over at Marks place for the second time that first week after the ordeal. Despite Williams claims that they didn’t need him there intruding on their family’s privacy, Mark quickly dismissed him by saying, “Do I need to go over this again? You’re a part of this crazy family now.”

    
After dinner that particular Sunday evening, Mark and Williams were discussing the media and the details of the investigative findings around the dinner table.

    
“As you know, the F.B.I., as gracious as they are, has put a gag order on everyone, mostly because of the classified information. Albeit, someone might say, it was to save their own asses,” Williams took a swig off his beer.

    
“They might as well release a statement that says, “Please don’t tell anyone how badly we screwed up and how we manipulated a young girl and tricked her family to get what we want in the name of JUSTICE.”

    
Mark laughed. “What? They wouldn’t dare do something so ridiculous and self-serving. Why would you imply such a thing? This is our government you’re talking about, they wouldn’t lie to us,” Mark said sarcastically.

    
“Captain Haddock is restricted on what he can say, but he still managed to comment on “The combined effort of the Police Department and the F.B.I., and that they couldn’t comment any further for fear of jeopardizing the case that they worked so hard to solve,” Williams smirked.