One to Go by Mike Pace Read Free Book Online

go deal with the coroner and the funeral home. Can you come and get the girls? You’ll need to take Angie home to get some clothes. She’ll obviously be staying with us.”
    â€œBe there in forty-five minutes. Any word on Gino?”
    â€œA bail hearing’s scheduled for tomorrow. We’re sure the judge will keep him locked up. You’re a lawyer, what do you think?”
    â€œI don’t do criminal, but sure makes sense to me.”

    Tom picked up the girls in Virginia and the ride back to the District was quiet. He’d been unsure how to deal with Angie. Should he act cheerful to try to keep her mind off the horror she’d witnessed? Or appear somberly sympathetic?
    In the end, he decided to take his lead from her. She’d elected to remain silent for most of the forty-minute trip, although over the last few miles she’d been drawn to the video game Janie played on her Nintendo. When he and Gayle hadbeen together, he’d imposed a strict rule against video games in the car, or, even more so, at a restaurant. But now, he was thankful for the diversion.
    Scratch one
. He couldn’t get those words out of his mind.
    â€œJanie, who were the two girls who rode with you guys when you went to the museum a couple of weeks ago?”
    â€œUh, Abby Jackson—” She turned to Angie. “Who else?”
    â€œEmma 2,” replied Angie.
    â€œTwo Emmas?”
    â€œWe have four Emmas in Ms. Allen’s class. Emma Stein’s Emma 1, and Emma Wong’s Emma 2. Why do you want to know?”
    Tom used his right hand to punch the names into his iPhone notes app while keeping his left hand on the wheel.
    â€œYou’re not allowed to text while driving, Daddy,” said Janie.
    â€œYou’re right, honey.” He quickly finished inputting Emma 2, then made a show of putting the phone back in his pocket.
    When they arrived at Angie’s house, Tom used Gayle’s key to unlock the door, then entered the large, two-story colonial with Janie and Angie following close behind him. He’d been in the Battaglia home on Rittenhouse Street on numerous occasions when he’d been married, and was familiar with the layout. He stopped in the foyer.
    â€œYou girls go on up and get Angie’s clothes. And don’t forget her toothbrush and bathroom stuff.”
    Angela only made it up two stairs when she froze.
    â€œAngie?”
    â€œMaybe you should come with us,” said Janie.
    He was such an idiot. “Of course.” He followed them up to Angie’s room and made a big show of checking her closet and looking under the bed. He offered the most reassuring smile he could muster. “Everything’s fine.”
    â€œHow long will I be gone?” asked Angie.
    Very good question
. “I don’t know, honey. I’d pack for three or four days. We can do a wash, or we can always come back if you need more stuff.”
    â€œI think my suitcase is in my mom and dad’s room,” said Angie.
    â€œI’ll get it, sweetie.”
    Tom walked down the narrow hallway and entered the master bedroom. In the closet, he saw several suitcases of varying sizes on an upper shelf. Among them was a small pink case covered with pictures of the Muppets.
    When he reached for the suitcase, his elbow caught the corner of one of the larger suitcases, moving it aside, revealing a small, polished maple box.
    He pulled the box down and opened it. A silver pistol rested snugly in a green felt cut-out.
    Tom didn’t move. The words, “Ruger GP100” were engraved on the barrel.
    He heard the girls in the hallway.
    â€œDaddy?”
    Tom stuffed the gun into his pocket, grabbed the pink Muppet case, and exited the room.

CHAPTER 10
    He’d been sitting at his kitchen table, staring at the draft due diligence agreement on his computer screen for hours. Katherine O’Neil wanted it first thing in the morning, and Tom needed to finish his