Page 30 of Little Stolen Memories

“Thank you, Santino,” Giovanni said. “I can take it from here.”

Santino nodded and closed the door.

Giovanni turned toward Danny, using his gun to gesture at the kitchen table as he said, “Now then, take a seat, and we’ll all have a civilized conversation.”

Danny was reluctant at first, but he did as Giovanni requested.

“Who are you?” Danny asked. “You don’t look like a cop.”

“I’m not a cop. I’m far worse, trust me. Now, before we decide what to do with the two of you, I wish to know what happened here.”

Dorothy opened her mouth and Giovanni shook his head. “I don’t want to hear from you. I want to hear from Georgiana.”

“Sorry,” Dorothy said. “I get ahead of myself sometimes.”

I spent the next few minutes detailing what had happened since I arrived. I ended with the main event and the fact that Danny was planning to leave town.

Giovanni took a moment to take it all in and then said, “What would you like to do now?”

“I have some questions for Danny. I’m not leaving until they’re answered.”

I turned, addressing Danny. “I’ll make you a deal. You answer my questions, honestly, and I won’t press charges. Don’t answer them, and I will.”

“I … I don’t know,” Danny said.

“You used pepper spray in a non-self-defense situation, which is considered a misdemeanor or a felony charge in this state. You could be facing a fine and a possible prison sentence of anywhere between sixteen months and three years.”

Danny considered his options and said, “How do I know you’re not lying?”

“Hearing your conversation with Dorothy minutes ago, I get the impression you have problems trusting the police. You seem to think everyone is out to get you. They’re not.”

“How would you know?”

“The men who questioned you after the murders took place—I know them … well. And I can tell you without a doubt that if they had believed you’d committed the murders back then, they would have kept on questioning you until you confessed. The case meant a lot to them. All they’re trying to do now is solve it. Same with me.”

Danny leaned back in the chair, shaking his head as he said, “There was no reason for them to keep coming at me like they did. My story was the same the first time I told it as it was all the other times.”

I could feel heat flooding my cheeks. I was about to lose my temper, and it was all I could do to rein it in.

“Is that so?” I shot back. Your story may have been the same, but why do I get the feeling you left something out? Oh, I know why. There’s no point in running unless you did.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“If you want to keep lying to Georgiana,” Giovanni said, “I can get the police on the phone right now. I’ll have them here in no time.”

“What makes you think I’m not telling the truth?” Danny asked.

“The look in your eyes when you learned who I am and why I’m here,” I said. “There was real fear in your eyes, the kind of fear I see when a person has something to hide.”

“I didn’t murder anyone.”

“I might be inclined to believe you,” I said. “If you tell me the truth.”

Danny swished a hand through the air. “You’d say anything, I bet, if it means getting what you want.”

“I don’t say anything I don’t mean. It’s not who I am. I don’t expect you to believe me, but it’s true.”

“It is true,” Giovanni said. “You can trust her, and you should.”

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