Ain't No Sunshine

By: Stephanie Woodworth

© 1999 Chaotic Bliss Fan Fiction

 

Another wave of panic struck as he raced around the house one last time. He could hear that baby crying and wondered if she sensed her absence too. Joe ran upstairs to find Kayana standing in her crib crying. "Shh. It’s all right." You probably want your Mommy. He thought. Don’t we all. He walked back downstairs to his den and flipped open his Rolodex. "I hope you can help," he said before dialing the phone.

"Drake’s"

"Shannon, have you seen Alyson today?"

Shannon noticed the tension in Joe’s voice. "I haven’t seen her for a couple of days. Is something wrong?"

"No, everything’s fine," he lied. "She hasn’t called by chance has she?" Joe asked hopefully.

"I haven’t heard from her since Tuesday. Joe, what’s wrong? Tell me."

"She’s gone again." Joe wondered if her friends understood what her leaving did to him. He was frightened what could happen to her. The last time was right after Kayana was born. Alyson disappeared for three months. She was there one day, gone the next and didn’t remember anything when she returned. They’d visited every doctor they could, looking for some kind of explanation. Nothing was ever found. This was her third disappearance since they were married.

"What can I do to help?" Shannon asked.

"Just let me know if you hear from her," he hung up the phone. "What are we going to do?" Joe asked his two-year-old daughter. Alyson couldn’t be reported as missing yet, so Joe continued calling friends, family, and work associates looking for clues to his wife’s whereabouts. Kayana continued to play peacefully in her playpen.

********

Across the country, Alyson got off the plane. She was wearing a short black dress that had every man’s attention and even a few snickers from women passing by. She wore dark sunglasses and carried only her small purse with her. Many of those passing by wondered who she was or if she was someone famous. Alyson’s normal long blond hair had been replaced with a short black wig, which made her appear extremely pale. When she approached the baggage claim area she pulled off her suitcase and headed towards the exit. She hailed a cab and watched as three cabdrivers raced to the curb. The first one quickly exited the car and walked around to load her suitcase in the trunk.

When they were both seated in the taxi the driver turned and asked, "Where to sweetie?"

"MGM Grand," she answered with the slightest English accent. She sat in complete silence during the short ride from the airport to the casino.

The driver collected his fare and a hefty tip after helping her out of the cab. "Have a great stay," the driver added before driving off.

Alyson entered the hotel into the huge lobby and headed towards the counter to check in.

"Welcome to the MGM Grand. How can I help you?"

"I have a reservation. The name in Dominique Toner."

"Okay Ms. Toner, here is your reservation. It looks like you are staying here for a week and that it’s already been paid for." He finished registering her and handed her the passkey to her room. "If you need anything feel free to ask. Have a wonderful stay."  He watched her every move as she headed off to her room.

**********

Back in Boston, Joe had finally called the authorities to report Alyson’s disappearance. "You are sure that she left on her own," the officer asked again.

"I don’t suspect foul play, if that’s what you are asking."

"Any of her belongings missing?"

Joe shook his head. He checked the whole house over for any clue that might have lead to Aly’s whereabouts. He shifted Kayana to his other arm, and then placed the child on the floor to play with her toys.

The officer looked on as Joe dealt with his daughter. He felt sorry for him; his wife had disappeared and left him to care for their young daughter. In the past with cares similar to this the missing person usually didn't want to be found for some reason. "Mr.

McIntyre, have you and your wife been arguing lately?"

"No, our marriage is just fine." So fine that my wife feels she has to leave me and not tell me where she's going, Joe thought.

"Has she ever done anything like this before?" the officer asked.

"Yeah, when we were first married she disappeared for a couple of weeks. Then again when Kayana was born, but that time she was gone for three months." Joe wondered what the officer was thinking.

"Did she tell you where she went?"

"No, when she returned she couldn't remember where she'd been or even realized that she'd been away. We went to all kinds of doctors, but none of them could find anything wrong with her."

The officer scribbled in his note pad before asking, "What about her family?"

"She doesn't have any family. She's an only child and her parents died when she was a teenager."

* * * * * *

When Alyson had finally unpacked all of the suitcases she decided to lay down and take a short nap. She was just dozing off when she heard the door to her room open.

"Aly, where are you?"

From her bedroom, Aly rolled her eyes. She knew it wouldn't have been long before he found her. She stood and pulled her robe on. "Coming!" She yelled, but before she had a chance to open the bedroom door it was swinging open.

"Where have you been? I expected you hours ago!" The man standing before Aly was not too happy with her.

"I had to stop off in Chicago to shop for a new wardrobe. I couldn't risk buying things in Boston, people know me there." Aly tried to push past him to leave the small bedroom, but he grabbed her.

"Don't try to pull a fast one on me, missy. I won't stand for it!" He let go of her arms, but still held her attention. "Just where do you think you'd be if I hadn't found you and helped you out of the gutter?"

Aly shuddered remembering what her life was like. "Jimmy, how many times do I have to say thank you?"

"Well just remember who made you what and who you are today!"  Jimmy was getting upset.

"I remember." Aly felt tears stinging her eyes. Jimmy really scared her. "Why am I here?" Aly asked quietly.

"You'll find out in due time."

"I miss my daughter," Aly whispered.

Jimmy grabbed a hold of the back of Aly's head and pulled her face up to his. "You do as I say or you'll never see that pretty little girl or you handsome husband again." Aly felt her tears begin to trickle down her cheeks. Jimmy released her and pushed her back against the bed. He looked at her with disgust. "I'll tell ya what missy, you do this last job for me and I'll forget that I ever knew ya. I'm really getting sick of your whining anyway. If you mess this job up than you won't have to worry about missing your precious daughter and rich husband because they'll be dead!" He turned to leave than yelled over his shoulder, "I'll call you with all the details of the job, and don’t leave this room until you hear from me." With that he slammed the door and Aly was left to cry. She wondered what Joe was doing and if Kayana was all right.

* * * * * * *

"Well Mr. McIntyre, thank you for all your help. I hope we can find your wife for you." The officer stood to leave. "If you hear anything please give me a call here," he handed him a business card.

"Thanks. I'll call with any new information." Joe walked the officer to the door then returned to check on his daughter. "Where's your mommy?"

He continued his day as normal, but when he left to take Kayana to his parent's house he noticed a car following him. He tired his hardest to loose it, but it stayed a few cars behind him. When he pulled into his parent's driveway he noticed that the car continued on. Maybe I was just imagining that that car was following me. Maybe I'm being overly paranoid, he thought. He continued into the house without a second thought.

After Joe closed the door the driver of the car turned back around and parked half a block down the road, just out of sight.

* * * * * * *

Aly was lying down when the phone rang causing her heartbeat to accelerate. She quickly grabbed the phone worried that Jimmy would get mad if it rang too long. "Hello."

"What were you doing?"

"Resting, sorry that it took me so long to answer the phone."

"Whatever. Just get dressed up as Dominique and meet me in the lobby in ten minutes."

"I can't be ready in ten minutes, Jimmy."

"Quite you're whining! Okay I'll give you twenty, but no more than that." He hung up the phone.

Aly ran around the room quickly getting in a tight black dress and doing her hair and make-up. She barely made it to the lobby in the given amount of time. When she saw Jimmy sitting at a nearby slot machine she sat at the one next to him. She waited patiently for her orders from him.

"Okay, see the gentleman over at the second blackjack table. His name is Kevin and he is a rich man. I've already got his wife convinced that you are having an affair with him. I need you to meet him and get him to take you to dinner at the casino across the street. I'll be there waiting for you. I'll take the needed pictures to bait her. After dinner return to your room and wait for further orders." Jimmy continued to plunk quarters in the slot machine. He reached over and grabbed Aly's knee. "Don't fuck up

Alyson or you know what I'll do to your happy little family." Jimmy emptied his tray into a bucket and strutted away.

Alyson stood, straightened her dress and walked over to the empty chair at the blackjack table. She sized Kevin up. He was probably in his mid- to late-thirties. He had a full head of dark hair and a very powerful face. He wasn't really well built, but it was obvious that he worked out. He didn't have a wedding band on, so she assumed that he was either a player or not a jewelry wearer. She placed her bet and actually won the first two hands.

The waitress took her order and when her drink arrived Aly knew exactly how she would get to know Kevin. She bid on the next two hands and won another hand. As she pulled her winnings back she knocked her drink onto Kevin's lap.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," Aly picked up her napkin and dabbed his damp lap.

"That's all right," Kevin said trying to push her hand away. "Thanks."

Aly stopped, "I’m so sorry. Please send the cleaning bill to my room."

"Thanks, but that’s not necessary."

"I’m so sorry," Aly repeated. "Let me take you to dinner to make up for it." Way to go Aly, nothing like taking it slow. You’ve probably just ruined you’re only chance at him.

Kevin glanced over at her, "You really don’t have too."

"No, I’d really like to." Oh god, don’t let me spoil this, Aly thought. "I’ve been winning quite a bit and really would love your company at dinner."

Kevin smiled, "Sure, where would you like to go?"

"How about at the Excalibur?"

"Fine," Kevin collected his chips and Aly did the same. "By the way, what’s your name?"

"Sorry, it’s Dominique Toner. And you are?" Aly grinned.

"Kevin Febbo."

Aly stuck her hand out, "Nice to meet you." Kevin grabbed her hand but instead of shaking it he lightly kissed the back of it.

Through dinner Kevin asked her a bunch of questions, to which Aly answered in the best English accent she could muster. She asked questions too, trying to remember that she was Dominique and Kevin was a job, not a real person. As the night progressed she hoped that Jimmy was getting the pictures that he needed.

"I should be getting back, I have an early meeting tomorrow," Kevin finally said.

"Are you here on business?" Aly asked.

"You could say that," Kevin chuckled, "Thanks again for dinner. Can I walk you back to your room?"

"You’re welcome and sure why not." Aly paid the bill, than walked back across the street to her hotel. She stopped in the lobby. "I can go the rest of the way. Thank you again for going to dinner with me." Aly leaned over and kissed him on the check. Oh, I hope that that weasel, Jimmy, followed us and got that shot, Aly thought.

"Good night." Kevin turned and disappeared into the casino.

Aly looked around for Jimmy, but couldn’t see him anywhere. She headed for the elevator and the solace of her room. As she turned the corner and walked toward her room, se saw him. Great! I just wanted to take a hot bath and go to bed, she thought.  "Hey," Aly greeted Jimmy.

"About damn time that you got here! Open the door so no one sees us together."

Aly opened her door and walked in, "What do you want? I did just as you told me."

"Well Sunshine, for once you are right." Jimmy closed the door behind him.

"Don’t call me that!" Aly dropped her purse on the couch and kicked off her shoes.

"What I thought you liked being called that?" Jimmy smiled smugly.

"I do, by my husband." Aly hated when Jimmy called her Joe’s nickname for her. "What’s next Jimmy?"

"Nothing, Thanks to you I got the pictures that I needed. I even got the little kiss in the lobby, very smooth Aly."

Aly just smiled hoping that he’d get to the next step.

"Okay, you can do whatever you want for the next couple of days while I get his wife all worked up. Swim, gamble, shop, do whatever your little heart wishes. Just make yourself seen around the hotel and casino."

"Fine, is that all?"

Jimmy stood up from the couch he was sitting on. "Yeah that’s all, just remember what we’re here for." He walked over to where she was leaning against the counter in the kitchenette. He grabbed a hold of her by the back of the neck, "Don’t screw up Alyson! Remember what I said earlier, you make this work and I’ll never bother you again. Fuck up and you’ll never see your family again!" Jimmy let her go and walked out of her room.

The next couple of days Aly did just as she was told. She swam in the pool every afternoon and went to a couple of shows in the evenings. She spent as much time as possible in the casino. She hadn’t seen Kevin or Jimmy since the other night. On the third day she had just finished her daily swim and was laying out by the pool when someone walked into her sun. She looked up to see Kevin standing there. If she wasn’t married she might be interested in him. He was wearing a pair of tight Speedos that left little to the imagination. He was tan and built. He obviously took great care of his body. Aly finally came out of her thoughts, "Hello."

"Can I join you?"

"Sure pull up a chair." Aly flipped over onto her back. "Nice to see you again."

"Yeah," was all Kevin said. He pulled up a nearby chair before continuing his sentence. "Dominique, what the hell do you think you are trying to pull?"

Aly tilted her sunglasses down and looked at Kevin shocked. "I’m not sure I know what you mean."

"Do you have any idea what I can do to you?" Kevin threatened.

Oh great, Aly thought; now two men are threatening me. Still playing dumb, Aly repeated, "I’m not sure I understand what you are asking."

"I can have you taken care of." Kevin smiled at a young couple walking by, and then continued. "Whatever you and your partner are trying to pull is not going to work." Kevin turned to look at her. He noticed that she was beginning to look scared. "Listen Dominique, if that’s your name, my wife told me all about your friends offer to sow her pictures of us from dinner the other night."

* * * * * *

Joe had returned to work and tried to get on with his life. His parents were being very helpful and watched Kayana whenever possible. Four days had gone by and he was really worried about Aly. He had taken the day off to spend it with Kayana. She had just laid down for her nap and Joe was working in his office. He was getting more and more upset the longer he sat there.  He picked up the lamp on his desk and flung it across the room causing a loud noise. Next he decided to clean off his desk by sweeping his arms cross it pushing everything to the floor. Joe jumped when Kayana started screaming.

He stood and headed towards her room. Oh great now I’ve scared my daughter, Joe thought. When he reached her room she was standing in her crib screaming. "Kayana, stop crying," he said in a soothing voice. "Daddy’s sorry that he scared you." Joe picked her up and kissed her forehead.

Kayana calmed down and clung to Joe. "Out . . . . out . . . . . out." Kayana kept repeating the word and pointed to the window.

"Do you want to go outside?" Joe asked.

Kayana shook her head and clapped her hands. "Out," she repeated.

"Okay, we can go outside for a little while." Then I’ve got to come back in and clean up the mess I made in my office, Joe thought.

 

Joe got Kayana ready to go outside and headed out front for her to play in the front yard. Kayana was riding in her wagon with Joe pulling her down the sidewalk when he glanced up and saw the same car that was following him the other day. What is it doing here, he thought? Without giving it a second thought he crossed the street and knocked on the window of the car, scaring the man asleep in the driver’s seat.

The man rolled down the window, "What?"

"No, I should be asking you that! What the hell are you doing here?"

"Waiting for a friend. What business is it of yours anyway?"

"You made it my business when you started following me around. Who hired you?" Joe was getting extremely angry. Then he thought about Aly’s disappearance. "Where’s me wife?"

"I don’t know your wife." He started the car. "Get out of my way or I’ll hit you." The man threw the car into drive and sped away. About a block away, just out of Joe’s eyesight, he picked up his phone and dialed a number. He turned at the next cross street and pulled off. The phone rang.

"Yeah."

"Jimmy, Alyson’s husband is nuts. He just confronted me outside his house. He wanted to know where his wife was." The man said slightly scared that Jimmy was going to be upset with him.

"You didn’t tell him anything did you?"

"No, I just drove off."

"Good, tell Nick to take your place in front of the McIntyre house. You get out of Brookline today."

"Right, I’ll get right on it. Where should I go?"

"Go to Orlando and work with Kris, she could use your help."

"Sure Jimmy, I’ll leave right away."

Joe returned to his house and locked all the doors behind him. He made dinner for Kayana, gave her a bath and put her to bed.  Afterward he headed to his office to clean up the mess from earlier.

He cleaned up the mess from the lamp, replaced the bulb and sat it back on the desk. He began to pick up the papers, but stopped when he noticed something sticking out from behind the filing cabinet. He stood and walked over to get whatever it was and found a thin book leaning there. He picked it up and saw Aly’s initials on the cover. He thought of his absent wife again and sent a prayer up that she’d return home safely.

Joe opened the book to discover that it was Aly’s journal. He flipped through it but didn’t really read it. He placed the book on top of the filing cabinet and returned to the mess he made. After cleaning up his office and turning out the light, he got ready for bed and laid there sleepless for hours, just thinking about his life. Shortly after midnight he remembered the journal he had found earlier that evening, maybe it held the answers he was searching for.

* * * * * *

Startled from Kevin’s statement about the pictures Aly quickly stood to leave. "I don’t know what you are talking about," she lied.

Kevin grabbed a hold of her arm; "If you are in something over your head maybe I can help."

No that’s how this whole thing started, she thought, if I hadn’t trusted Jimmy in the first place I wouldn’t be here now. Aly pulled her arm back. "I don’t need your help. I’m not in any trouble." Aly was flustered. She tried to pick up her stuff to get away from him, but she kept dropping it.

Kevin stood to help her. He bent to retrieve her towel, which she dropped. "If you change your mind I’m in room 1526."

Aly grabbed her towel and hurried back to her room. Once safely in her room Aly tried to calm down. She wasn’t in her room for more than a few minutes when someone started pounding on her door.

"Open this door now!"

Aly heard Jimmy yelling on the other side of the door. She hurried to let him in. As she swung the door open she began to say, "He knows . . .," before Jimmy interrupted her.

"Your fucking husband is getting a bit too nosy for his own good!"

"What?"

"Joe confronted my man that was keeping an eye on him." Jimmy paced the room. "Does he want to end up dead?" He paused to look at her. "You didn’t tell him anything, did you?"

"Tell who what? I’m confused." Aly couldn’t follow Jimmy’s tirade and he was beginning to really frighten her. "What’s this about Joe?"

"I had a guy watching him and Joe walked up to him and asked what he was doing."

"Why were you watching Joe?" Aly was truly scared; she’d never seen Jimmy so edgy before.

"In case you bolted or didn’t complete your end of the deal." Jimmy walked over to where Aly was sitting. "You haven’t messed up, have you?"

No Jimmy, why do you ask that?" Aly began to shake thinking about her earlier conversation with Kevin.

"Just making sure, you seem really shaky tonight. Why?"

"You’re scaring me! That’s why!" Aly yelled back. In a beat of a heart Jimmy grabbed a hold of her and began shaking her.

"Don’t you ever yell at me! Remember who helped you at your worst!" He threw her against the wall. "Don’t you ever yell at me," he repeated. He bent down and pulled her up by her hair. "Are you listening to me, Alyson?" He smacked her across the face. "Listen to me!" He continued to beat her until she no longer had the strength to stand or move. "Hopefully you will learn your lesson, never cross me, Alyson!" He turned and left her room.

                Aly laid there whimpering. I have to end this, she thought. It seemed like days, but was only mere hours before she mustered the strength to stand and assess the damage that Jimmy had caused. Oh my god, it hurts to breathe, Aly thought as she moved. She finally stood and made her way to the bathroom. I think he broke me ribs, Aly realized. As she looked into the mirror she gasped at the sight of her face. Tears sprang to her eyes causing her to wince as they ran down her bloody cheek.

After cleaning up as best she could Aly laid down in her bed to think. What am I gonna do for help? I can’t turn to Joe or Jimmy will kill him, maybe I could just disappear. No, I could never leave my child or Joe. What do you mean you could never leave them, what are you doing here. You already left them. What am I gonna do? Aly cried.

As if an answer from God the phone rang, she held her ribs as she rolled over to answer the phone. "Hello."

"What are you doing in your room? You should be out gambling! Go find Kevin!" He hung up the phone before she could protest.

Aly thought a minute, and then got up. That was the answer to her prayer. Kevin said he’d help me, she thought. He seems nicer than Jimmy. He has to be. Aly got dressed, bandaging her wounds and covering her cuts as best she could.

On arrival at the casino, Aly looked around to find either Kevin or Jimmy. She didn’t see either of them so she found the nearest blackjack table. She laced her bet and sat absently plying cards hoping that Kevin would find her. She’d pretty much lost all of her money when Kevin finally sat down at the table. Aly glanced up and gave him a slight smile.

He smiled back. I’m gonna kill him, he thought to himself. If she’s not going to ask for my help I’ll just help her on my own. He placed a few more bets, then gathered his chips to leave, to his surprise so did Aly. "Why are you following me?" Kevin barked as he moved towards the elevators.

"I do need your help." Aly whispered.

"What I could have sworn that you asked for my help."

"I did."

"God, because I was about to go kill whoever did this to you." Kevin made a sweeping gesture at Aly’s face. "Looks like he really hurt you bad. Did you see a doctor?"

"No. I didn’t want them to call the police."

"I see. So what do you want me to do?"

"You told me that you’d help me. Will you?"

"Sure. Let’s go up to my room, my wife can help you she’s a nurse." Kevin guided Aly through the casino and up to his suite.  Once on the elevator he asked, "So what’s your real name?"

Aly wondered if he’d know who she was if she was if she told him her name. She guessed not so she said, "Alyson."

“Well Alyson it’s nice to finally meet you.”  They rode the rest of the way in silence.

* * * * * * *

                “Damn her!”  Joe yelled as he slammed Aly’s journal down on his desk.  The journal detailed her earlier disappearances and told all about Jimmy and his hold over her.  Why couldn’t she tell me about this?  Joe thought.  He glanced at the clock and realized that he’d been up all night reading.  He reached for the phone and dialed the number on the business card.

                “5th precinct.”

                “May I speak to detective Meyer?”

                “He’s not in yet.  Can I take a message?

                “Sure tell him to call Joe McIntyre as soon as he gets in.”  Joe paced around the house for the next hour scared to death that his wife was in way over her head.  The phone finally rang.  “Hello.”

                “Mr. McIntyre?”

                “Yes.”

                “This is Detective Meyer I just got your message.  What’s up?”

                Joe explained about the man following him and the information in Aly’s journal.

                “I’ll send an unmarked car over as soon as I get off the phone to get your wife’s journal.  Don’t worry Mr. McIntyre we’ll do everything we can to find her.”

                “Thanks.”

                Just as promised an officer came to retrieve Aly’s journal.  The car tat normally sat watching the house was gone, or so Joe thought.

                The man in the car across the street watched as Joe gave the man who came to the door a book.  Without doubt the car belonged to a police officer, the man thought.  No matter what they do they can’t hide the fact that they’re police cars.  He picked up his cell phone to notify Jimmy.

                “Yeah!”  Jimmy barked.  “This had better be damn important!”

                “It's Jimmy.”

                “Nick, is that you?”

                “Yeah.  I have news to report on McIntyre.”

                “What is it?”

                “He just got a visit from a cop. He gave him some sort of book.”

                “Damn!  Thanks.  I’d better go see Aly right away to get to the bottom of this.  You can leave and stop watching him.  Get out of town right away.”

*****

                “Alyson, this is my wife, Valerie.”  Kevin looked at his wife.  “Val, honey, this is Alyson and she seems to have had an accident.  See what you can do to help her.  I’m going to make some phone calls in the bedroom.”

                “Hello,” Alyson quietly said.

                “Nice to meet you Alyson.  Now let’s get those cuts looked at.”

                “Thank you.”

                “No problem.  So are you from England?”  Valerie asked.

                Alyson laughed, “No.”  She said in her normal voice.

                “I see.”  Valerie worked on Aly’s face and looked at her ribs.  “You should really go to the hospital and have these x-rayed.”  Aly just nodded.  “Well you should live but the creep that did this to you should get a taste of his own medicine.”

                Don’t I wish, Aly thought.  “Well thanks again.  I think that I should be heading back to my room for bed.  Oh god, what if Jimmy shows up, Aly thought.

                “What’s wrong?”  Valerie noticed how Aly tensed up.

                “What if he comes back?”

                “Why don’t you stay here tonight?  We’ve got plenty of room.”

                “You’re sure you don’t mind.”

                “Sure.  I’ll just show you to a room and get you something to sleep in.”

                “Thank you so much.”  Aly reached out and hugged the woman before her.

                “I’m sure you’d do the same if the roles were reversed.”  Valerie disappeared for a moment than returned with a shirt for Aly to sleep in.  “The extra room is this way.”

                Aly got ready for bed, removing the silly wig Jimmy had made her wear and putting on the shirt that Valerie gave her.  She laid in the bed for hour thinking about Jimmy’s threats.  What if he did something to Joe or Kayana?  I couldn’t go on living without them, she thought.  Just after dawn she decided to return to her room and pack her belongings.

                She had just unlocked the door when she saw him.  He was sitting on the couch and had a single gunshot wound to the head.  The gun sat next to him. Aly tried to scream, but nothing came out.  Calm down Alyson, she thought.  Think!  What are you going to do?  Get the hell out of here, that’s what I’m going to do, Alyson realized.

                She hurried around the room and picked up all of her belongings.  She opened the door then remembered that her fingerprints were all over the room.  She hurried around and wiped everything down.  Once in the elevator she tried again to calm her nerves.

                Where am I going to go? She questioned.  Why not just go home?  That was probably the easiest thing to do.  Oh great, I’m having a conversation with myself, she observed.  She exited the hotel, hailed a cab and told the driver to take her to the airport.

                Once there Aly booked the next flight leaving.  It was headed to Las Angeles.  She took the flight to Las Angeles, and then booked a flight to Chicago.  She tried to sleep on the flight to Chicago, but couldn’t.  Every time she closed her eyes pictures of Jimmy’s dead body appeared.

                The plane landed in Chicago and Aly exited in a hurry.  She took a cab to the nearest hotel and got a room.  She changed clothes and took her wig off.  She took all of her personal belongings out of the suitcase she was using.  She packed everything into her small purse and took the suitcase and it’s contents out to the dumpster behind the hotel.  She took a cab back to the airport and bought a ticket for Boston.  She was finally ready to go home.

                The plane landed in Boston and she hailed a taxi to take her home.  She decided to have the taxi drop her off about half a mile from her house.  She didn’t want the driver to remember where she lived.  As she exited the taxi the skies opened up and it began to pour.  Great, just want I needed, Aly thought.

                As she walked the half-mile to her house she couldn’t wait to see Joe.  She ended up running most of the way home.  When she got there, she was drenched from head to toe.  She rang the doorbell and waited for Joe to answer.

                When Joe finally opened the door Aly lowered her head.  What if he didn’t want me back? she thought.  Joe put a finger under her chin and raised her face.  “Sunshine, please don’t ever leave me again.”  He bent his head down and captured her mouth in a kiss.  When he pulled apart, he swept her up and carried her in the house.  He shut the door with his foot and continued to carry her to their bedroom.  “You’re soaking wet, we need to get you out of those clothes.”

                “Wait Joe, I have to tell you some stuff.”

                Joe kissed her again.  “Don’t worry, I know all about Jimmy and the trouble he has caused you.”

                “You don’t know the whole story.  I have to tell you the whole story.”  Aly broke free of his grasp and began pacing around their room.  She thought about all she’d been through in the last week.  “Where’s Kayana?”  Aly asked.

                “She’s at my parents for the night.  Why?”

                “I just missed her and wanted to make sure that she was okay.”  Aly stopped pacing and stood in front of Joe.  “I love you,” she leaned over and kissed him.

                “I love you too and I’ve missed you,” Joe kissed Aly again.  “I was scared that something bad had happened to you.”  Joe remembered that he’d notified the police about her journal and the things he read in it.  “Oh Al, I have to tell you something important!”
                Aly stared at Joe scared at the news she’d had to tell him.  She hadn’t even told him that Jimmy was found dead in her Las Vegas motel room, if Jimmy was found dead.  She hadn’t heard anything yet.  “Joe, I need to tell you where I’ve been and what happened.”

                “No Al, me first.  I turned your journal over to the police.”

                “Oh my god, Joe they’re going to come and arrest me.”  Aly was once again pacing the room anxiously.

                Joe walked over to Aly and grabbed hold of her.  “Aly stop it!  They’ll understand why you helped him.  Then you can tell them how to find him and the police will arrest him, not you.”

                “That’s just it, they can’t arrest him, he’s dead!”  Aly stared at her husband.  “I’m going to go to jail and I’ll never get to see Kayana grow up.”  Aly started pacing again.  She stopped suddenly and ran over to Joe.  She started hitting him and screaming, “I’m never going to see my little girl grow up and it’s all your fault!  It’s all your fault!”  She kept repeating it over and over again as the tears streamed down her face.  She finally collapsed into Joe’s arms and he sat there holding her as her sobs ceased.

                Joe was the first to speak, “Aly,” he paused not really wanting to ask her but desperately needing to know,  “You didn’t do it did you?”

                Aly looked up at her husband totally shocked that he would even consider asking her that question.  “Of course I didn’t!”

                “You understand that I had to ask, don’t you?”  If she could lead a second life without him knowing maybe she was capable to kill someone.  He wiped the tears from her cheeks.

                Aly laid her head in his lap and cried some more while Joe rocked her.  Why was this happening to his family? He wondered.  The phone rang interrupting them.  Aly’s head shot up.  “What if it’s the police?  What if they know I’m back home?”  She jumped up and ran for the closet grabbing a suitcase and throwing things in.

                Joe stopped her.  “What do you think you are doing?  Running isn’t going to solve anything!”  He grabbed the phone off the night stand.  “Hello.”

                “Um . . . um . . . is Alyson there?”  The man on the other end of the phone sounded very peculiar to Joe.

                “May I ask who’s calling?”

                “This is Kevin, I met her in Las Vegas and it is very important that I speak with her.”

                Joe handed the phone to her and mouthed the name Kevin.  Aly took the phone into her trembling hand, “Kevin?”

                “Do you know how hard it was to locate you?”

                “Why are you looking for me?”  The image of Jimmy’s dead body once again filled her mind.

                “How many people have you told?”

                “About what?”

                “Jimmy’s demise?”

                “Just my husband, why?”  Who was this guy?

                “Listen to me Alyson, you came back to your room before you should have the other day.  No one knows that Jimmy died in your suite.”  He paused wanting her to react in some way.  “Alyson, do you understand what I’m saying?”  Jimmy wasn’t found in your hotel suite.  There is nothing for you to worry about.”

                “But, I . . . um, I, um . . . I don’t understand.”  She knew what she had seen.  “He’s dead isn’t he?”

                “Yes, and he’ll never bother you or anyone again.  Go back to your normal life and forget that you ever knew him or that you ever came to Vegas.  Alyson have a good life.”

                The phone went dead in her hand.  She took it away from her ear and was still in shock.  What had he done?

                “Al, sunshine, what did he tell you?”

                “To forget all about Jimmy and the fact that I was ever in Vegas.”

                “Huh?  Who is he?”  Joe couldn’t figure out what to make of all this.

                “I’m not sure.”  Aly explained what Jimmy had told her about Kevin and then told him how Kevin had helped her after Jimmy had beaten her up.  Joe looked at her face and could somewhat notice the bruising there.  “He told me to have a good life.”

                Joe hugged his wife.  “Then that’s what we’re going to do.”

                And that’s exactly what they did.  Joe called and explained to detective Meyer that Alyson had returned home.  He questioned her, but bought the story that she told him about her going to a cottage just to get away and that the journal that Joe had found was part of a story that she was working on.

                Joe and Alyson picked Kayana up from her parent’s house and began the rest of their lives.  It ended up that Kevin was right; Jimmy was a missing person that nobody missed at all!

The End

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