“Shot into a coma?”
“I got shot three times taking care of things over here. I went under and I came out today. First thing I wanted to do was call you and apologize.”
“You wanted to apologize?”
“I was going to do it in person but I’m not able to travel right now.”
“Convenient.”
“I’ve booked you a ticket to come back home. It’s safe now. No one will hurt you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because Don Colombo is dead.”
My breath catches in my throat. Could he be telling the truth? “He’s dead? Did you kill him?”
“The cops think I did.”
“Did you?”
“That doesn’t matter. What matters is that there is no reason for you to stay there any longer.”
“I need to know. Did you kill him?”
“I did not fire the gun that killed him. Satisfied?”
“Can I believe you?”
“Get to the airport and I’ll meet you when you land. Flight’s in three hours. Doctor’s coming to your house to clear you to fly in twenty minutes. He’ll bring the ticket. You can look me in the eyes and see if I’m lying when you arrive.”
“You… you didn’t ghost me? You want me to come back?”
“I don’t just want you to come back, Kelly. I want you.”
“But the money you put in my account.”
“What money?”
“The five hundred thousand Diego told me about. I thought that was a pay off to get rid of me.”
“Diego was working for Don Colombo, not me.”
“He was?”
“Was. Tried to make me think you stole from me. Wanted to hurt me. Won’t hurt anyone anymore.”
“Is he dead too?”
“Him and my consigliere.”
“What happened?”
“I’ll tell you everything if you agree to come back. I’ll see you at the airport, depending on what decision you make.”
There’s a click and he’s gone. I look at the phone and wonder if I just dreamed that conversation. I load the Internet and type in Don Colombo.
The news is full of the story. Killed today. Ricardo has confessed to his murder and to that of his son, Alessandro. He’s done that for me. He’s shouldered the blame so that I won’t be arrested.