Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [101]
Annie burst into laughter. “I never thought of it quite like that. I guess I did.”
“So, are you going to do what I suggested?” Stella asked, waving a breadstick under Annie’s nose.
“Yes. Yes, I am. I will call the attorneys first thing in the morning.”
“Attagirl. I love it when a woman kicks ass. So does Joe.”
Annie burst into laughter a second time. “I’m not sure about Parker, though.”
“You’re going for broke here, Annie. You don’t have a thing to lose, and you have everything to gain. The love of a man who might someday be almost as good as my Joe. That man does love me. He’d suck my toes if I asked him to do it.”
Annie’s face registered amazement. “No kidding.”
“That’s a mark of true love,” Stella said. “You need clean feet,” she added.
Annie laughed so hard she almost fell off the chair. People at the neighboring tables stared at the two women. Annie just laughed harder.
Three beers later, Stella grasped Annie’s arm to lead her from the restaurant. “We shouldn’t be driving in this condition,” Annie said.
“You are absolutely right, Annie. I called Joe from the rest room. He’s coming to pick us up. I’ll get my car tomorrow. Ah, there he is, stomachache and all. Our chariot awaits, madam,” Stella said, bowing so low her husband had to catch her with his outstretched arm.
Annie started to laugh, doubling over. “We have a snootful, Joe.”
“I see that. Pile in, ladies.”
“See, I told you he was a prince,” Stella said as she landed in the front seat, her arms and legs at awkward angles.
Annie started to laugh all over again. She couldn’t remember ever having such a fun evening. Her heart felt lighter, her shoulders straighter, and the world hadn’t come to an end with her confession to a person she’d known less than a month.
Maybe somebody really was watching over her.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Peter Newman’s apartment was small, shabby, and cluttered. A man’s apartment, he was fond of saying. He looked around at his comfortable clutter, his gaze going to the young man standing in the doorway. A look of revulsion settled on his face. “What do you want this time, Mr. Pearson?”
“I want what I’ve always wanted. To be exonerated. I didn’t rob that bank, and I want those years I spent in prison back. Do you know what happens to guys like me in prison?”
“We’ve been over this a dozen times, Mr. Pearson. A jury found you guilty, and there’s no way I can change their decision. .If your daddy’s money didn’t work for you, I have to assume you’re guilty. Personally, I don’t care one way or the other what happened to you in prison. You play, you pay. I’m not a cop. I’m an insurance investigator. I’m going to retire in six months, and I don’t want anything to interfere with that retirement. When you first came to me for help I said I would allow you to look at the files. I’ve done that. My firm, and that includes myself, and the bank, have closed our files. My company has been repaid. The bank got their money back. Plus a little extra. You did your time. It’s time to get on with your life. I can be of no further help to you. It’s been thirteen years, Mr. Pearson.”
“I know how long it’s been, Mr. Newman. I counted the hours and the days for all those years. Someone has to pay for that. I was not a party to that robbery. What can I do to make you understand that?”
“Nothing. Tell me, what will harassing those three people get you?”
“They know something. At least one of them does. I want that person to live what I lived all those years.”
“It ain’t gonna happen, Mr. Pearson. The file is closed. That’s the end of it.”
“It’s the end of it when I say it’s the end. Not one