Time of Death

56

‘Please, no,’ said Domenica, falling to her knees. ‘Santa Maria-’

‘Who do you think is listening to your prayers?’ said Gavino. He walked over to her and pulled her up by the hair. She screamed.

‘Stand up, stand up, you bitch.’

Domenica stood in front of him. Gavino was six inches taller than her. He brought his arm up and put the barrel of the gun into her mouth. ‘I want this so bad,’ he said. He smiled. ‘But do you know what I want more?’ He looked around.

Ren stood, rooted. Please not me. I did love you. I did not want to abandon you. I had no choice. Please not me.

Images exploded from somewhere in the dark attic where she had buried them; wide-eyed Gavino, holding her hand, singing nursery rhymes…images that seemed so starkly innocent against the backdrop of Domenica’s world.

Please do not do this.

‘I loved you so much,’ he said to Ren.

Oh, God.

Ren’s heart started to thump. She knew her eyes were giving away her fear.

‘And do you know what?’ said Gavino. ‘That’s never really gone away. I still love you.’ He pushed his mother to the floor. ‘Because what you were doing to us, well, you were just doing your job. Your job was to destroy her business. But when it came to me, you were not doing your job — you were doing the opposite of that. You were just being you. Your job was not to betray a seven-year-old child, was it?’

Ren shook her head. ‘No.’

‘You were being kind,’ said Gavino. ‘You just couldn’t help it. You couldn’t stand by and watch how they treated me. You really cared for me.’

‘Yes,’ said Ren. ‘I did. But I shouldn’t have let myself…because I always knew I would have to leave. I’m sorry.’

‘It’s true, though — it is better that I have loved and lost,’ said Gavino.

He looked at Ren. ‘Can you come over here?’

Ren walked towards him. Gavino stood facing her, the gun in his hand. He stared at her, his pupils huge, his eyes filled with tears. He took a step towards her and reached out his arms.

Oh, God. You’re not going to kill anyone. Ren put her arms around him, held his shaking body. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Thank you for everything.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Ren. ‘It’s OK.’ She stroked his back. ‘Everything’s going to be OK. I can help you now. I’ll do anything I can to help you.’

‘What do you want more?’ said Domenica, getting up from the floor. ‘What did you mean when you said that there was something you wanted more?’

Gavino pulled back from Ren and looked over her shoulder at his mother. ‘I meant that I don’t want to kill you. I could do that right now. But instead, I imagine you sitting at a table beside some defense attorney who has crumbled under the weight of all the documents the prosecution has, signed by one of the best witnesses they could have — the son of the accused. Detailed accounts of the life and works of Domenica Val Pando. A mountain.’

Domenica’s face was a mess of emotions.

He’s got you, Domenica. We’ve got you. You. Are. Done.

‘Your father is dead,’ said Domenica.

They both looked at her. Gavino walked over to her and shoved his face into hers. ‘Nice try. But I’m still not going to shoot you.’ Gavino put the gun back in his pocket. He turned to Ren. ‘You can do the rest, right?’

Ren cuffed Domenica. ‘Gavino, give me the gun.’

He shook his head. ‘Not until she’s gone.’

‘Gavino, I am not walking away from you while you have a gun. That’s just not going to happen.

‘Don’t you trust me?’ he said. He looked so hurt.

‘Of course I trust you,’ said Ren.

‘He’ll kill me if we turn our backs on him. He will kill me,’ said Domenica.

And?

‘I’m doing the worst thing that I can possibly do to someone like you,’ said Gavino. ‘Killing you would get you off the hook.’

‘Gavino…’ said Ren. ‘Just walk with me.’

He shook his head. ‘I want to see her go.’ He paused. ‘Is there anyone here — do you have back-up?’

Ren nodded.

Domenica suddenly bucked against the restraints and slammed her heel hard against Ren’s shin. Ren half-buckled. Gavino caught his mother by the arm and yanked her forward, dragging her toward the door. Ren followed, gripping Domenica’s wrists tightly, pulling them up too high for her to risk the pain of moving.

‘I’ll walk with you,’ said Gavino. ‘I’ll wait by the door. But…I couldn’t bear you to be the one who has to take me away. Can you send one of your colleagues instead…?’

‘Sure,’ said Ren. ‘Not a problem. You are going to be OK, Gavino. I’ll get you help. And…I’ll ask my friend Robbie to come get you. He’s right outside.’

Ren pushed through the door. Gary and Colin moved toward Domenica. Ren pushed her their way. She turned to Robbie. ‘Could you go get Gavino? He’s-’

Hold on a second. Why had Gavino prepared a whole stack of documents? Why wouldn’t he just testify in court? He could do it by video. He didn’t need to — Oh no. Oh shit, no.

Ren turned back to the door, reached out her hand. The blast was deafening, instantly ringing in her ears. Oh my God. She was about to push the door in. Please, let this be something else. Gavino’s last sentence hit her: ‘Can you send one of your colleagues instead?’

Oh, God.

Ren stopped. She leaned against the wall, her head hanging. Robbie and Cliff had rushed past her through the door. Robbie had stood against it on the other side. Ren looked up. His back was blocking the window.

‘Who’s back there?’ said another agent, running up to Ren. ‘We had people at all the exits. We searched the building.’

‘Gavino Val Pando,’ said Ren. ‘He’s alone.’ She turned and walked away from another room that held another tragic death behind its door.