FanStory.com - Living On The Edge-Final Chapterby Begin Again

END OF CHAPTER 20
"I said I was because the police accused me of murdering someone." His eyes dropped, and he stared at his lap.

Alyssa gasped. "You? Murder? How could anyone think you would take someone's life unless it were in the line of duty, of course?"

Troy shook his head, feeling the tightness in his chest. "I was convicted and sent to prison. My brother framed me, I think. He's the Police Chief in this precinct."

Alyssa's eyes widened in shock as she turned to Troy. "Oh, Troy, is that the reason we're here?" Her gaze darted around the unfamiliar room, thinking about how to escape. "We need to get out of here. It's not safe for you. Will he send you back to jail?"

Troy shook his head. "I don't know why we're here, for sure. But we can't leave, Allie. I'm in a wheelchair."

Alyssa's heart sank as she realized the gravity of the situation. She took a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves. "It's okay. I'll push you, and I can run fast if we need to."

As she swung open the door, she was suddenly face-to-face with Layla and Jack. The shock of seeing people outside the door left her speechless momentarily, but then she remembered and screamed, "Layla!" She rushed into her sister's open arms, and they both sobbed with relief and joy.

Troy buried his face in his hands, and Jake rushed to his side. "It's going to be okay, pal."

Troy lifted his head, staring at the two women hugging each other. "What if she hates me?"

*****

CHAPTER 21

"You let her walk out of here just like that!" Richard Harrison bellowed as he angrily tugged on the handcuffs. "Get me out of these things!"

Garth placed his Stetson on his head and grinned. "I'm afraid this Cowboy can't do that, Richard. It's my rodeo this time, and I've lassoed the bull." He laughed and walked away, stopping to chat with his visitors.

A few minutes later, Garth chose the chair directly across from Harrison. He couldn't wait to drop the hammer on this arrogant man. "Tango, since you know Penny, would you please find her and see if she could order coffee and sweets from the cafe across the street? Enough for —" He looked around the room and then counted the guests who hadn't arrived yet. "Round it to fifty and put it on our card."

He stood and addressed the people in the back of the room. "Let's take a short break before we continue. I've ordered some coffee and sweets. We'll finish this as soon as they arrive, and you can enjoy the rest of your day. Oh, in case I forget, a very special thank you, Alice Cunningham, for stepping up to assist Ms. Saladino." He chuckled. "You can send your bill to Director Weldon."

A few snickers were heard amongst the crowd.

*****

Layla and Alyssa sat comfortably on the sofa, their arms wrapped around each other in a warm embrace. Each sister had a thousand questions to ask the other one.

"Allie, I was terrified when I saw that man grab you, and the video chat went blank. Do you remember what happened after that?" Layla's expression was still full of worry.

"I remember a struggle and then nothing until I woke up in the hospital."

"Hospital? When Tyler checked, he couldn't find anyone who matched your description being admitted," Layla said, looking surprised.

"Tyler? How did a detective in New York get involved?" Alyssa shook her head in amazement.

"When it happened, I called him. I didn't know what else to do."

"Can I clarify a few things for the two of you?" Jake interjected, leaning forward in his chair to join the conversation. "Your guardian angel is Frank DiVito."

Layla squealed, "The crime boss." Jake's eyes widened in surprise, and Layla smiled. "What? I do read at times."

Jake laughed. "Frank, Troy, and I grew up together. Frankie walked on the dark side, and Troy and I were the good guys. But Frankie never hurt anyone unless they had it coming. The hospital was used for the poor and anyone who couldn't afford the care for years. Of course, Allie and Troy had a private wing. The atrium is only steps from the main house."

"So, how did a gangster save me?" Alyssa's curiosity was running rampant.

"Frankie has been silently trying to stop the corruption in this town. He's been working side by side — well, let's say close — to the FBI, including me. He's got feelers in every nook and cranny of this town. When one of his sources told him you might be in danger, he put a tail on some of the corrupt cops, and he caught Antonio in the act."

Allie's mouth dropped open. "Gangsters saved my life? Unbelievable!"

"Yours, Troy's, and mine, and who knows how many others."

Layla chimed in, "How did he save you?"

"He invited his friends to a party at the Lazy Saloon; that's why it was so crowded. Many of them are legitimate businesspeople, and they will be excellent witnesses. Frankie alerted us to the Chief arranging a hit with Marcos. We expected things wouldn't go down easy, so my fellow agents dressed in Western wear and kept close tabs on me. When I went down, they swooped in and had me out of there before anyone knew what was happening." Jake chuckled. "I wish I could have seen Harrison's face when no one could find my body."

"I still don't remember everything, but what about Sandra's murderer? I thought I remembered something about him being out of prison. How'd that happen?"

Troy had sat quietly, listening but not joining in the conversation, but when Allie asked, he couldn't stay quiet any longer. He rolled the wheelchair closer to the group. "Allie, the truth is I am that guy."

Allie's eyes widened, and her voice cracked, "You? You killed my friend." She jumped up, but Troy grabbed her arm. She shook him off. "It's all been a lie. You knew who I was, and you never told me. What did you hope to gain?"

"Alyssa, let me explain." Troy pleaded, but Alyssa wasn't listening.

Alyssa's anger flared. "No, stay away from me." She ran toward the door, but Jake blocked the exit. Irate, she screamed at him, "Move! I want to get as far away from him as I can."

"Give him a chance. He spent four years in prison for something he didn't commit," Jake pleaded, knowing how much she was hurting his friend.

Alyssa sneered, "Right! And his friends lie for him."

"No, it's the truth. He's innocent."

Alyssa snapped, "The courts found him guilty, didn't they?"

Layla joined Allie and Jake. She put her arm around her sister, hoping to calm her. "Allie, do you trust me?"

"Of course. You're my sister, but that has nothing to do with the man who was sent to prison because of my friend's death. You don't even know him."

"But I do know this man." Layla gazed at Jake. "He's not a liar. He told me there was proof that Troy's brother framed him — the same man who tried to frame me. Troy's innocent."

Alyssa looked at Jake and then let her eyes trail across the room, stopping at Troy. "Is it true? Are you innocent?"

"I tried to tell you at the atrium, then again, when we arrived at the station, I couldn't bear that you might hate me, but I couldn't let you go. I'm sorry."

Alyssa ran across the room and knelt beside Troy, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her face against his chest. "Can you ever forgive me?"

He answered her with a kiss.

*****

Judgement Day had arrived for Richard Harrison. Handcuffed to the table, he stared at the floor as people filed into the room. This wasn't the typical way of arresting and charging a suspect, but Richard Harrison needed to be humbled. His days of brow-beating people and playing God were about to end.

Garth raised his hand, and the chatter in the room quieted. Richard Harrison glared at the FBI agent but remained silent.

Garth began, "Richard Harrison, I duly serve you with an arrest warrant authorized by Judge Peters in the Federal Court of Winnebago County. You will be transferred to federal court for all charges, which include Human Trafficking of women, four counts of soliciting murder for hire, embezzling public funds, theft of firearms, and similar charges to follow."

"Before we proceed further, Tango, please read Mr. Harrison his rights."

Richard Harrison fell silent, crushed by the Cowboy.

After Tango read Harrison the Miranda rights, Garth proceeded to offer Harrison insight into the mountain of evidence that had been gathered to this point. "FBI agents have been working undercover for the last four years as your neighbors, including your local pharmacist, mail carrier, hardware clerk, banker, and bartender. Several of your officers have taken a plea deal in return for supplying law enforcement evidence that you ordered them to remove firearms and drugs from the evidence room. The Forensic Scientist also will testify that he was coerced into producing false evidence about the death of Alyssa Saladino. Evidence you used to supply reporters with false information at an impromptu press conference. Your hitman, Marcus Williams, has accepted a plea deal and will testify you hired him, and Frank DiVito will supply photos of said meetings."

"In addition, Officers from DEA, U.S. Marshalls, and ATF will join in this investigation and your Human Trafficking business."

"That completes our discussion. Thank you, Richard Harrison, for staying silent during it. Have a great day."

The room was tense as two guards escorted Harrison, handcuffed, to his cell while Troy waited in the hallway. The two brothers exchanged piercing glares, each holding onto a grudge. As Harrison disappeared, Troy called out, "They've got a cell with your name on it, big brother."

After the room cleared, the two couples joined Garth in the interrogation room. He'd spread the pictures and newspaper clippings on the table.

Layla recognized the items. "Alyssa, do you remember these? I found them in your apartment behind a picture."

"I didn't get to study them, but I know they must be important; they were in Sandra's things."

Alyssa bent over the table, examining the pictures closer. "Oh, my God, that man in the red ballcap—I know him. That's Tommy—" she spun around and reached for Troy. "I'm a cop, and he was my partner."

Troy hugged Alyssa. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, it's him. We worked together at the bars, trying to save the women."

Layla frowned and shook her head. "Alyssa, he wasn't saving anyone. That's the man who tried to kill me. I — I stabbed him."

Tango tossed the red ballcap on the table. "And I found this in Harrison's office."

"I can't believe how much I missed. I'm glad that you're all right, Sis." She frowned, "My partner tried to kill you. What else did he do?"

Jake's voice was upbeat as he said, "It's going to take me days to tell you everything that happened. You won't believe the story about Layla working in the red-light district." He wrapped his arms around Layla, grinning.

Alyssa's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. "Layla, you didn't do that, did you?"

Layla grinned and nodded. "Oh, I did. It was quite an experience."

They all laughed, grateful to be together.

Jake's phone beeped amid the laughter, and he quickly checked it. A wide smile spread across his face as he announced the news, "Guys, you won't believe it! Frankie is hosting a celebration party, and we're all invited. He says there will be free-flowing champagne, a sumptuous buffet filled with seafood, and lots of dancing!" His excitement was contagious; everyone felt thrilled to be alive and in love.

Alyssa knelt beside Troy, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Do you think we can sneak away to the atrium?"

Troy pulled her close and kissed her softly. "You can count on it!"