Haley figured Mario was recording the conversation, but she was in too deep to turn back. Resorting to violence...well, setting an innocent young man up to be hurt had caused Haley to feel strangely free. She had crossed a line that was off-limits to anyone who carried a conscience. Haley felt free from her own conscience—if she ever had one—and from caring about what her family might think about her. “I understand. I'll be in my office.”
“You'll wait out here for me,” Mario ordered Haley. “I'm going in to case the meeting. I won't be long. When I get back, you're going with me to this island.”
“What for?”
“You're going to do it!” Mario snapped. Haley froze. Her face went whiter than the snow. “What, do you think I'm stupid? You want this done then you’re going to do it.”
“What...no...I—”
Mario reached out and grabbed Haley's arm hard. He pulled her close. You're going to do it yourself. My boss will be happy...and you...if you ever try to go to the law, you'll be the one rotting in prison.”
“But I can't—"
“You'll do it or else.”
Haley had no idea what to say or do. She wanted to cry out for help, but she couldn't. Why? Because a line had been crossed. Haley had made contact with the mafia, with people who wanted to hurt Ralphie. Haley was no better than Mario, even though her mind insisted that she was a brilliant schemer who had managed to defeat her enemies in the last round. For the first time in her life, Haley realized that she had truly traveled into no-man's land. She was at the point of no return. “I can't.”
“You will!” Mario growled in Haley's face.
“But—"
“You wanted this done, right?” Mario insisted.
“Well, yes, but only to hurt Candy Baker. If I hurt Candy Baker, then her little plan will fall apart and she'll end up in prison. That's why you have to make it look like she's involved in this. Please.”
“Do you want this done right?”
“Yes, but only to hurt Candy, to make her look guilty. I made contact with your mafia boss—”
“Hey, my boss doesn't like that title. He's a businessman!”
“Well, I made contact with him because he wants the same thing as I do.”
“And you were happy to help out, is that it?” Mario snapped.
“Look, I just want Candy Baker behind bars. I don't care who gets hurt, just as long as that woman ends up ruined!” Haley nearly cried.
“Your plan with Rita Drakes failed.”
Haley began to cry but then stopped. “Wait, how did you know about Rita?”
The back passenger window rolled down, and Brad's face appeared. “Because I told Agent Pullizi all about Rita,” he spoke in a stern, disgusted voice.
“Agent—”
“Special Agent Mario Pullizi.” Mario put his gun away, satisfied that he’d scared twenty years of life out of Haley. “The people who wanted to hurt Ralphie are behind bars. An undercover operation was carried out the day before yesterday. Undercover agents have been manning the phones at the residence you called. I'm not even sure how you managed to even find the private number you called.”
“I researched a bunch of old news stories and found a few names.” Haley couldn't take her eyes off Brad, and he looked as if he wanted to push her ugly face in the snow. “Brad—”
“Not a word,” Brad ordered. He stepped out of the back of the SUV. “Agent Pullizi called me, Haley. He's an old friend. You may not recognize him, but he went to high school here in Pine Snow during his senior year. When he graduated, he went back to Brooklyn.”
“Your brother and I kept in touch. When I got caught up in the bad life, he paid for me to go to a center that helped me clean up my life. After that, he helped me go into law enforcement. I now work for the FBI.” Mario narrowed his eyes. “Your brother deserved to know what you were up to before I lowered the hammer. He begged me to keep this operation quiet, and I'm going to honor his request. Why? Because your brother taughtme what it means to be a man in life when I was nothing more than a street punk. I owe him.”
“Brad—”
“Look at me!” Mario ordered. Haley turned back to Mario's angry face. “I have a wife and three sons. I have a home. I have friends. I have self-respect. All because your brother came to me in the dead of night and took me out of a dead alley. He saved my life. Why? Because when he promised to be my friend for life and watch my back, he meant it. Now I'm going to watch his back.”
“What does that mean? Am I free to go?” Haley asked in a shaky but hopeful voice. Surely, she had learned her lesson.
