your address, and I’m on my way over. They said on TV she overdosed!”
“Allie, you can’t come over.” Julian shuddered. The last thing he needed was that blabbermouth around the crime techs. “There’s police here. It’s no time for visitors—”
“But what happened? She overdosed?”
“I don’t know what happened. I wasn’t home. I can’t really talk, I have to speak with the police and I . . . I feel . . . so upset.” Julian softened his voice with ersatz grief. “I’ve known Sasha my whole life, you know? It’s so sad this happened in my house, my home, and it was just so awful finding her.”
“You found her?” Allie’s voice broke. “Oh my God, you must be beside yourself!”
“I am,” Julian said hoarsely. “Coming after David’s funeral, I just—”
“I don’t know if you saw, earlier, when her purse fell over? The pill bottle fell out, and I wish I had asked her about them, said something, stopped her.”
“I know, I saw them, too. I feel the same way.”
“Don’t you think it was accidental? It had to be, right? She was fine—”
“Excuse me, I have to answer a question for one of the crime techs.” Julian covered the receiver, though no one else was in the kitchen, then came back on the phone. “Allie, sorry, I have to go. The police need me.”
“But when can we talk? I want to know what happened.”
“Sorry, I have to go. I can’t stay here tonight. I gave my statement to the police, and I’m going to my place in Jersey.”
“Where in Jersey? When are you leaving?”
“As soon as I can, after a meeting with my dad.” Julian changed his plan on the fly. He could hear Allie wanting to ask to come to his house. She was so transparent.
“Where’s your house in New Jersey? Is it far?”
“No, it’s in the Pine Barrens, less than two hours away.”
“Can I come and see you there? I need to talk to you. I mean . . . there are things you need to know. I’ve been to Connemara Road. I went to see a lawyer.”
“A lawyer?” Julian asked as lightly as he could.
“I didn’t tell him about you or Sasha, but you should hear what he told me.”
“Okay, let’s meet at my house in Jersey.” Julian realized Allie was even stupider and more dangerous than he thought, but this was working out beautifully. She was walking into a trap. He would meet with his father and Mac, setting everything in motion.
“What’s the address? And is this your cell?”
“Yes. My house is on a country road. Look for the painted rock with the flags on 539. It’s a landmark on the left.”
“Got it.”
“Come around nine o’clock, after my meeting with my dad. You can stay over, if you like. Spend the weekend. It’ll give us a chance to talk. You’re the only person left who understands.”
“I know.” Allie sniffled, sounding touched. “I’ll see you then.”
CHAPTER 69
Larry Rucci
Larry came out of the shower to a ringing cell phone. It lay faceup on the nightstand, and the screen showed it was Allie calling. He was getting a divorce and had already had sex with an acrobat, but even so answered after one ring.
“Hello? Larry, it’s me.”
“I know,” Larry said, his heart beginning to pound. Allie sounded upset, but he knew what she would do next because she had done it many times before. Every time they fought, she would apologize, but nothing would ever change. This time would be no different.
“Larry, listen, I know what you said this morning, but I’m really sorry.”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Larry heard himself say, his heart speaking. “You say that every time.”
“No, but this time I mean it, this is going to be different, it really is, I’m really going to change things, and it will heal us—”
“No. Just no.” Larry heard the pain in his tone, and the finality.
“Larry, we don’t need to get a divorce, and if you just hear me out, we can talk about it—”
“I don’t want to talk about anything anymore.”
Allie sighed deeply. “I’ll call you later, I just want you to know that I’m really feeling good, and it’s not your fault, none of it was your fault. It’s always been my fault, I know that.”
“That’s what you always say, but nothing changes, and I finally figured it out.”
“Larry, really, I love you, I have to go.”
“What do you have to do? Where do you have to go?”
“I can’t explain it to you—”
“Oh, no, more