“You don’t understand, Mr. Stanton. I have never been involved with any kind of violence. I know the police, egged on by that editor, Craig, believe I was part of making two women disappear in 1995, but that’s not true. Frankly I was somewhat relieved that they were no longer a threat to my privacy, but. Me murder? No, never.
“I know that you think I had a hand in the murder of your friends, Charley and Chloe, but I did not. I couldn’t and wouldn’t participate in such a heinous act. The idea disgusts me!”
I looked at him, trying to decipher this new tact. Finally I responded, “Nobody, and I mean nobody, thinks I ever had a hand in murder, Aldo. There are dead men in my past, and that’s a fact, but nobody thinks I murdered them. They’re dead just the same.
“If I find that my wife is under the knife – be it by your friends or some drug-crazed idiot you’ve never even dreamed of – you’re as dead as if you were never born. I’ll let God sort it out while I go looking for whoever hurt her.
“Can you understand that?”
“I understand that you’re a violent man with a real fear for your loved one, but I assure you, I have no part in any plot to deprive you or your wife of your lives. I just want my life – the life I’ve taken such care to protect from outside observance – I want that life back. I’d pay anything to preserve it, but I couldn’t and wouldn’t murder for it.”
I didn’t answer. I just picked up my cell and pushed the button for Jan.
“Jan here,” I heard her say.
“What’s up?”
“Nothing much. We just finished shopping, and we’re going to go to Hamley’s for a snack and a pop. Why?”
“Oh, no big deal, but how ’bout I treat you two to hot hors d’oeuvres and a Mart here? I could even have Jack come up, or, I could just leave you two alone to gab and go share a Mart with Jack down at his place.”
“Something going on, dear?”
“Humor me?”
“We’re on our way.”
We sat there for fifteen minutes without exchanging a word, and then I heard her car pull into the drive.
“Okay, Aldo; you’re free to go.” I ejected the magazine, shucked the live round out of the chamber and put it into the magazine. I handed the weapon to him at the front door. I heard the garage door closing behind Jan’s vehicle, and I escorted Aldo to his ride.
“Hop in, pop the trunk, Aldo.”
He did, and I tossed the magazine in, and slammed the lid.
“There. Perhaps I’ve misjudged you, Aldo, but here’s a bit of advice. Don’t come back without calling ahead. Know that if I had the material you think I had, you’d be up to your neck in lawyers. If you come back here again bearing arms and unannounced, I’ll do everything in my power to put you in the dirt. Okay?”
“I thought you had it; maybe not even knew you had it. I was wrong. Please forgive me. I won’t be back.”
I stepped away from his window as he backed out and drove away.