Just Take My Heart - Mary Higgins Clark [98]
The thought of getting Sal in trouble was anathema to her. It was five o'clock when she heard his key turning the lock in the front door. He walked in looking exhausted. He works so hard, Belle thought.
“Hi, honey,” he said, as he gave her a kiss on the cheek and then headed to the refrigerator to get a beer.
He came into the living room, flipped the can open, sat in his fa?vorite chair, and commented on how tired he was. “After dinner, I'll just watch television for a little while and then pack it in.”
“Sal,” Belle said, gently, “I know you've had a long day. But I have to tell you what I did this morning. I've been so upset about whether or not Jimmy Easton ever worked for you that I decided to go through the boxes you have downstairs in the storage area.”
“Okay, Belle,” he said with a tone of resignation. “What did you find?”
“I think you know what I found, Sal. I found a phone book with Easton's name in it and I found a receipt for a delivery to the Aldrich apartment right before Natalie Raines died.”
It was disconcerting to Belle that Sal was listening to her but would not look her in the eye.
“Sal, here they are. Look at them. You knew that Jimmy Easton worked for you and did deliveries for you. Tell the truth.” Pointing her finger and tapping the receipt, she demanded, “Do you know if he went on this delivery?”
Sal buried his face in his hands. “Yes, I do know, Belle,” he said, his voice breaking. “He was with me. We were inside the apartment. And he may have had a chance to check out that drawer.”
Belle looked at the chapped and rugged hands of her husband. “Sal,” she said gently, “I know why you've been so tormented. I know why you are afraid. But you know that we have to come forward. We'll never have peace of mind until we do.”
She got up from her chair, walked across the room, put her arms around Sal, hugged him, then went to the phone. She had written down the phone-in number for Courtside. When she was connected, she said, “My name is Belle Garcia. My husband is Sal Garcia. He has a moving company. I can give you proof that on March third, two and a half years ago, the day Jimmy Easton claimed that he met Gregg Aldrich in his apartment, he was actually there delivering an antique lamp with my husband.”
The staff member asked her to please hold, then added, “Mrs. Garcia, just in case we're disconnected, may I please have your phone number?”
“Of course,” Belle responded and quickly rattled it off.
Less than a minute passed and then a familiar voice came on. “Mrs. Garcia, this is Michael Gordon. I have just been informed that you may have critical information pertaining to the Aldrich case.”
“Yes, I do.” Belle repeated what she had just told the staff person, then added, “My husband paid Jimmy Easton off the books. That's why he's been afraid to say anything.”
A tidal wave of hope swept over Mike. He had to let a few mo?ments pass before he could even speak. “Mrs. Garcia, where do you live?”
“On Twelfth Street between Second and Third.”
“Would you and your husband get in a cab and come to my of?fice now?”
Belle looked pleadingly at Sal and repeated Mike's request. He nodded that it was all right to say yes.
“We will be there as soon as we can,” she told Mike. “I know my husband will want to shower and change first. He was out all day moving people from Long Island to Connecticut.”
“Of course. It's five thirty now. Do you think you could be here by seven?”
“Oh, sure. Sal can shower and dress in ten minutes.”
And I'll have to get dressed, too, Belle thought. What should I wear? I'll call Mama and ask what she thinks. Now that she'd actu?ally made the call, the relief she felt was stronger than the apprehen?sion about Sal's possible tax problem.
“Mrs. Garcia, take good care of that receipt. You do know that if this checks out, you may be entitled to the twenty-five-thousand-dollar reward.”
“Oh, my God,” Belle moaned, “I didn't know anything about a reward.”
Just Take My Heart
67
At six