Page 48 of Twice
“I know we’re running short on time. So I’m going to skip ahead in the story, OK?”
LaPorta raised an eyebrow.
“What’s your hurry?”
“Well. Aren’t you anxious about Zimbabwe? The money I sent there?”
La Porta blinked. “What are you talking about?”
“Your phone call just now?”
“You heard that?”
“How could I hear it? You went out into the hall.”
“Then how—”
“I figured you were going to find out sooner or later. Anyhow, doesn’t matter, does it? We’re on the same page here, Detective.”
LaPorta dropped into his chair.
“Yeah? What frickin’ page is that?”
Alfie flipped ahead in the notebook, then put both palms down on its corners.
“This one.”
The Composition Book
Not long after we got engaged, Gianna and I called my grandmother. We wanted her at our wedding. But the woman who answered the phone at the nursing home said Yaya wasn’t doing well, so we—
Nassau
“Wait a minute!”
Alfie looked up.
“You got engaged?” LaPorta said.
“Yes.”
“Youmarriedthis woman?”
“Eventually, yes.”
“So she’s your wife? Gianna Rule is yourwife?”
“No,” Alfie said. He looked down. “Not anymore.”
“Whoa. You dumped her, and you’re sending her two million dollars?”
“I didn’t dump her.”
“She dumpedyou, and you’re sending her two million dollars? That’s even worse!”
Alfie looked away.
“OK, now I gotta know,” LaPorta said. “Go back.”
