Page 92 of Twice
LaPorta was shaking his head in confusion, like a man whose key no longer opens his front door.
“Alfie’s been working with me for years,” Gianna said. “He’s my assistant. My right-hand person. He takes care of everything.” Her voice softened. “He’s kind of my best friend.”
“Since when?”
“Since we got out of college.”
“Wait. So you were in school together? That part’s true?”
“Yes.”
“What else?”
“We met in Africa as kids. We saw each other again in Miami. I did meet his grandmother once. Not the way he described. But the rest of it...”
She choked up. “Poor Alfie.”
“Why ‘poor Alfie’?”
“He’s obviously not well. I knew there was something wrong with his health. He’s been falling a lot. He’s always tired. But I didn’t know that his mind... I mean, his brain must be affected.”
She lifted the notebook. “Why else would he write all this?”
LaPorta squeezed his fists.No sympathy. Stay on the case. The two million bucks.
“Was he in debt? Did he owe people?”
“Alfie?” Gianna almost laughed. “Not a chance. He stays in my guest house. He drives my old car. I’ve tried to increase his salary a hundred times. He always says he has everything he needs.”
“What about your husband?”
“My ex-husband?”
“Yeah. Could they have cooked this up together?”
“No. No way.” Gianna shook her head. “Alfie never liked Mike. Never trusted him. He tried to warn me about him.” She paused. “I should’ve listened.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think? Lies. Other women. Spending my money. Take your pick.”
She flashed her eyes at LaPorta with a look that he recognized as weary heartbreak.
“When did you two divorce?”
“Ten years ago.”
“Was it bad?”
“Awful. Mike fought me over everything. He even stalked me for a while. I had to take out a restraining order.”
“You never married again?”
“God, no. Mike ruined that whole idea. Sadly, thanks to an idiot judge, he still has a piece of my business.”
“What business?”
“Photography.”
