Chapter 3 - The Husband She Was Never Supposed to Need
Josie arrived at Fairbank that evening to find Priscilla standing beside her locker.
“You're in trouble.”
Josie frowned.
“For what?”
Priscilla held up a paper.
“Unauthorized access to employee records.”
Josie stared.
“Mine?”
“Yes.”
“I didn't access them.”
“Someone used your login.”
“That isn't possible.”
Priscilla smiled.
“It is now.”
Josie looked at the timestamp.
2:51 a.m.
She had been at the register.
There were cameras.
“I want the footage.”
“You're not management.”
“I want to see what happened.”
“You don't get to make demands.”
Josie's expression remained calm.
“You accused me of something.”
“Yes.”
“Then prove it.”
Priscilla flushed.
“You're getting very comfortable.”
“No.”
Josie stepped closer.
“I'm getting tired.”
Warren Kesler appeared.
“What's the problem?”
Priscilla turned.
“Josie accessed confidential records.”
Warren looked at Josie.
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Then why does the system say you did?”
“I don't know.”
Warren sighed.
“Maybe you're not as innocent as you look.”
Josie looked at him.
“You've asked about my husband.”
He froze.
Priscilla glanced between them.
“What?”
Josie's voice stayed level.
“You've asked employees whether someone picks me up after work.”
Warren said nothing.
“And you've looked at my address.”
“That is standard security.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don't look at everyone's address.”
Warren stepped closer.
“You should be careful.”
Josie smiled.
“That seems to be the sentence everyone here uses when they don't have facts.”
He walked away.
Peg came over.
“You really need to stop saying things like that.”
“Probably.”
“Or start carrying a helmet.”
Josie smiled.
At 11:00 p.m., Mason Mercer entered again.
This time he came alone.
He approached her register.
“Your husband still hasn't come.”
Josie looked at him.
“He doesn't need to.”
Mason laughed.
“You think he doesn't know what's happening.”
Josie kept scanning groceries.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
“He thinks he's protecting you.”
Josie's hand stopped.
Mason leaned closer.
“He isn't.”
She looked up.
“Then why are you here?”
Mason smiled.
“Because I want something.”
“What?”
“Information.”
“About what?”
“Your husband.”
Josie finished the customer's transaction.
She looked at Mason.
“I don't discuss family at work.”
“That's unfortunate.”
“Why?”
“Because your husband has enemies.”
“So do you.”
His smile disappeared.
“You're tougher than I thought.”
“No.”
Josie handed him his receipt.
“I'm just tired.”
Mason walked away.
At 1:00 a.m., the stock room door was left open.
Josie closed it.
At 1:20, her locker was open.
Her notebook was gone.
Her heart stopped.
She searched everywhere.
Nothing.
Priscilla appeared.
“Lose something?”
Josie's eyes narrowed.
“Yes.”
“What?”
“My notebook.”
“What notebook?”
“The one I keep here.”
Priscilla shrugged.
“Maybe you should keep your personal things at home.”
Josie looked at her.
“You opened my locker.”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“I don't know.”
Josie walked away.
She went to the restroom.
Locked the door.
Called Elias.
He answered immediately.
“Are you safe?”
“My notebook is gone.”
“What notebook?”
“The one where I write down incidents.”
Silence.
“What did you write?”
“Names.”
“Whose?”
“Priscilla. Warren. Mason.”
Elias swore quietly.
“Listen to me.”
“I know.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“Listen.”
She waited.
“Do not confront anyone.”
“I wasn't going to.”
“Go home.”
“I can't leave my shift.”
“I can have someone replace you.”
“No.”
“Josie.”
“No.”
She almost laughed.
“I made this agreement with you because I wanted to prove I could handle my own life.”
“I know.”
“Don't take it away because someone finally made you angry.”
His breathing slowed.
“You're right.”
She smiled.
“I usually am.”
“You're impossible.”
“So I've been told.”
“Call me when you get home.”
“I will.”
When the call ended, Josie looked at the mirror.
Her reflection looked tired.
She thought about the ring in the tin box.
Then something occurred to her.
She returned to the locker.
The notebook was gone.
But the thief had made a mistake.
The inside panel was slightly loose.
Someone had searched quickly.
Behind it was another small notebook.
Her backup.
Josie smiled.
She had learned years ago never to trust one copy.
She wrote one sentence.
They know about Elias.
Then added:
But they still don't know me.
At 3:15 a.m., Rocco saw Josie leave.
He watched her cross the street.
A black sedan moved behind her.
His hand went to his phone.
He called Elias.
“They're following her.”
“Who?”
“Mason's men.”
Elias stood.
“Where?”
“Two blocks from her apartment.”
“Don't engage.”
Rocco hesitated.
“Sir—”
“Do not engage.”
Elias grabbed his coat.
Salvatore appeared.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“That isn't your home.”
Elias looked at him.
“It is tonight.”
He drove himself.
No convoy.
No guards.
He parked two blocks away.
Josie entered her building.
The sedan remained.
Elias waited.
Then one man got out.
He walked toward the building.
Elias stepped from his car.
“Stop.”
The man froze.
He looked at Elias.
Recognition came instantly.
“Mr. Marchetti.”
Elias smiled without warmth.
“You know who I am.”
“Yes.”
“Then you know how this ends.”
The man stepped backward.
“I was told not to hurt her.”
“Good.”
Elias approached.
“Because neither of us wants that.”
The man swallowed.
“It's not about her.”
Elias looked at the building.
“It is now.”
The man left.
Elias remained outside until Josie's lights came on.
Then he called her.
“Look out the window.”
She did.
She saw him.
Her heart dropped.
She ran downstairs.
“What are you doing here?”
“You were followed.”
“I told you not to come.”
“I stayed outside.”
“That still counts.”
“Yes.”
She folded her arms.
“You broke the rule.”
“I know.”
She stared at him.
He looked exhausted.
“I couldn't sit there.”
“I know.”
He touched her cheek.
“I'm sorry.”
She sighed.
“Come upstairs.”
His eyes softened.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
They entered the apartment.
Josie made tea.
Elias sat at her tiny kitchen table.
He looked out of place.
The city had feared him for fifteen years.
But here he sat beneath a flickering lamp beside a dish rack full of hand-washed plates.
Josie put down his cup.
“You look ridiculous.”
“I know.”
“You're too big for this kitchen.”
He smiled.
“So are you.”
She sat opposite him.
“What are they looking for?”
“The same thing I've been looking for.”
“The list.”
“Yes.”
“What list?”
“Something my father kept.”
“Why would Mercer want it?”
“Because it contains names of people powerful enough to destroy him.”
Josie thought.
“Then why me?”
“Because they believe I gave it to you.”
Her eyes widened.
“You didn't.”
“No.”
“Then someone planted the idea.”
“Yes.”
She looked at him.
“Who?”
“I don't know yet.”
Silence.
Then Josie reached into the tin box.
She took out her wedding ring.
Elias watched.
She slid it onto her finger.
“I think I'm done being Josie Hartley.”
He said nothing.
“I don't mean I want your life.”
“I know.”
“I mean I don't want people thinking I'm alone.”
He leaned forward.
“What do you want?”
“I want my name.”
His expression softened.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Then tomorrow, everyone who matters will know.”
She smiled.
“Not everyone.”
“Who?”
She looked at him.
“The whole store.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“That seems excessive.”
“Let them laugh.”
“They won't.”
She took his hand.
“Maybe.”
Then she whispered:
“I want to see what happens when they realize who they made pick up those quarters.”
Elias kissed her hand.
“What happens?”
May you like
Josie smiled.
“They'll stop laughing.”
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