Chapter 49

'I've got to get used to being alone, ' I told myself. 'That's who I am, now.'

It was over. Tammy had driven away, in a van I bought so she could do just that. So, why was I so sad?

It was over. Actually, it was over the second Tammy said she didn't see us having a future. I had just been enjoying the interlude between knowing it was over and it being over.

The sadness was kicking my butt.

If I didn't change my situation I was in danger of sinking deep into the depression I'd been running from since Beth Ann died.

And then the phone rang.

It was Mr. Bell. That couldn't be good. "Brian, my boy," He said so softly I knew it was really bad. "I just got off the phone with Judge Jones. You'll probably want to be sitting down for this.

"It seems the mob wasn't after you at all. The DOJ and FBI just arrested Grayson Foster. It seems his bank was laundering money for the mob drug operation down in Arkansas. This story is from one of the idiots that they picked up. He was trying to save himself from prison and started ratting out his partners the second the handcuffs were snapped on.

"Beth came across documents that confused her, her first day at the bank. She took them to an assistant manager, who just happened to be the one assigned to keep the mob informed. They decided to have her die in a convenient truck crash, and when it all went wrong, they decided you were a danger, if Beth had mentioned it to you.

"Jones said it was doubtful that Beth even knew what she looking at, just that the documents were inconsistent, and she wanted a little direction as to what to do with them. It was all about nothing, and Grayson got your mother killed for it.

"I've put off my trip, and Colleen and I filed a massive action against the bank in all our names, because we were all in danger, and you were almost killed. Jones said he would expedite everything and to tell you that he will not call you to testify.

"He says you have been through enough, and there isn't enough of a structure left for the mob to be able to defend themselves, this time either.

"I'm sorry son. I am so sorry. God, I wish this weren't true but it is, and I will clean that bank out of every cent they've ever had, before I rest, for what they've done to you." He was really worked up, but I went numb inside as soon as he told me why Beth Ann died. I knew I'd be mad later, but right then I had nothing to give, nothing left inside.

I thanked Mr. Bell for thinking of me, and hung up.

Somehow I got to the bed. I have no idea how. My head was so full of noise in the silence of the hotel room, that I held my hands over my ears, trying to block out the quiet. I know I cried, because I found evidence of dried tears on my face in the morning.

At some point, I dozed off and woke up just as the sun touched the palm trees with its rays. As I rose to use the bathroom, I knew I couldn't stay there anymore. After a shower, I packed, checked out, and hired a car to take me to Orlando Executive Airport, where I hired a jet to take me to Fort Lauderdale.

It was time to take my boat for a ride and chase away the blues.