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I shrugged. “We can’t all be hero priests.”
That got a laugh. “You know how silly that is. For men like us, action is the only answer. I took action. That’s it.”
“And in the process saved my daughter. By extension saved me and my whole life.”
I embraced him.
Chapter 100
I attended several of the hearings for Alexandra Martinez. Someone was paying for two of the best lawyers in New York. They were arguing everything from her bond to her immigration status. They wanted her out of jail before trial.
Then the prosecutor stood up. For a change, she had a reason to look smug. She said, “Your Honor, Miss Martinez has been charged in two homicides for which we have reliable eyewitnesses. She’s currently being investigated for as many as six other homicides in New York.
“But before we even worry about any of that, I have to advise the court and counsel for the defendant that the authorities in Italy have contacted me to say they’re currently putting together a warrant for Miss Martinez’s arrest in connection with a murder that occurred in Rome two years ago.”
It was rare that prosecutors had so much ammo when facing high-powered attorneys with wealthy clients. This had to be fun for her. She even milked it a little bit by continuing to stand after she was finished.
A reporter for the New York Daily News slid onto the seat next to me.
He said, “Are there any big cases you’re not involved in?”
“I’m basically just a witness on this one. Why do you care?”
“I’m not sure I buy that whole story about the hero priest. I’d like to get the facts so people could make up their own minds about who’s a hero.”
“The facts are the facts. He saved my life and the lives of several others. Why is that suspect?”
“Because suspicion sells more papers and gets us more clicks on the Internet. It’s also a hell of a lot easier than trying to investigate some kind of fraud at city hall.”
I just turned away and watched the proceedings some more. Life was too short to waste talking to idiots.
I stayed long enough to hear the judge say the words “No bond.”
That was all I was hoping for. At least for now.
Chapter 101
When I got home that evening, I enjoyed my Italian dinner cooked by my Irish fiancée.
Seamus’s grace was particularly on point.
Once we were all holding hands, he said, “Heavenly Father, thank you for allowing us all to be together here.” He couldn’t help but pause and look over at Juliana. “In God’s name we thank you.”
There was a perfectly synchronized “Amen” said by all the kids, Mary Catherine, and me.
After dinner, when everything was cleaned up and the kids were diligently working on homework assignments, Mary Catherine snuggled up next to me on the couch as I stared out at the lights of the city.
She wrapped an arm around my waist and laid her head on my chest. She said, “Michael, I’m ready to get married.”
That was not something I saw coming. It had been one of the foremost issues on my mind until Antrole’s death. Now, hearing this beautiful woman, whom I loved more than anything, say she wanted to marry me, I was at a loss for words.
She sat up and looked me in the eyes. “I’d like to do it sooner rather than later. In fact, I’d like to get married as soon as possible.”
“Is it because you’re afraid that if we wait, Seamus might not be able to preside? He is looking a little frail.”
“That’s part of it. But you’re the rest. You and the kids. I love you, and I can’t think of anything I’d want more than to be married to you and raise these kids.”
I sat up and kissed her. We kissed so long that the kids started to make noises from the dining room, where they were doing their homework. Chrissy said she might be sick. That meant it was a good kiss.
