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“Does the president know?”
My father shook his head. “I’ve been around a long time, Sumner, and I don’t ask for very many favors.”
“Thank you,” I said, hugging him.
“I’d do anything for you, Son. Anything.”
As I watched him walk away, I wondered if I should’ve gone to him years ago when all this began. I’d been so afraid to trust anyone that I’d lost sight of the fact that there were people who had earned it.
21
ALI
While I sat in the apartment, worried sick about Cope, I’d come to a decision. There was enough evidence piling up that neither Cope nor Irish were the moles. I didn’t know who was yet, but it wasn’t my job to figure that out.
I called Money directly, and he accepted my suggestion that there was no need for me to continue my assignment. He offered to inform Jessica.
“Will you be returning to California right away?”
I had planned to stay a few more days, but until that moment, it hadn’t occurred to me that the end of the assignment would mean I couldn’t stay in the apartment any longer. “I’m not sure, but I can move my stuff out of the apartment this evening.”
“There’s no hurry. You can stay. Just let Jessica know your plans.”
I’d thanked him and told him I would.
After I hung up, I realized I had no idea which hospital Irish was in. Instead of calling Money back, I opened my front door.
“We can do this one of two ways. You can take me to wherever Cope is, or I’ll go above your heads and do it.” I took out my identification—my real identification—and showed it to them. “My reason for wanting to go to him is entirely personal and has nothing to do with my job. He has enough on his mind right now. Do not burden him with this.” I looked into both Buck’s and Rock’s eyes, and they nodded.
Now here I sat, knowing Cope had been about to confess all to me a few minutes ago, but I wasn’t ready to do the same. I wanted one more night with him. I wouldn’t ask for more than that.
“They said I can see him now,” Cope said from the chapel doorway.
I brushed away the tear that fell, and stood. “Go ahead. I’ll wait here for you.”
“I won’t be long. They said I can only stay fifteen minutes.”
I nodded and waved and then sat back down on the pew. Cope looked so hopeful. As though whatever weight he’d been carrying was about to be lifted. And maybe it was. I hoped so for his sake.
“Mom,” I whispered, standing to light a candle on the altar. “If you can hear me, I need you and Dad to look out for him. He’s a good man.”
“And you love him,” I heard a woman’s voice say.
I turned around and saw Stella sitting in the back pew. “How long have you been here?”
“Just a minute or two.” She got up and walked toward me. “Sounds like you’re leavin’, sis. You gonna say goodbye first?”
I shrugged a shoulder. “He has a lot going on.”
“So you’re just gonna walk out the door and break his heart? Is that your plan, Ali Graham Mancuso?”
“My assignment is over. No point in sticking around.”
“No explanation? No nothing?”
“I was assigned to determine whether Cope was Irish’s accomplice. He may have been, but not in the way anyone originally believed.”
“Have a seat.” Stella pointed to the front pew.