Chapter Thirty-One #2
“I received a call from Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong’s personal attorney, who provided the couple’s custody provisions for the children in the event of their deaths.”
Sam waited breathlessly to hear what she would say.
“They left all decisions concerning custody and guardianship of the minor children in the hands of Mr. Armstrong’s elder son, Elijah.”
Sam felt like Alice must’ve as she fell into the rabbit hole of hope and despair and uncertainty.
“I don’t think he knows that,” Sam said. “He hasn’t said anything about it.”
“The attorney, who is in California and only heard the news about the murders from your press conference today, confirmed that Elijah doesn’t know.
Apparently, his father and stepmother didn’t want him burdened by the weight of that potential responsibility while he was in college.
They wanted him to be free to live his own life, but according to the attorney, they were very clear that they wanted him—and only him—to decide what should be done with the children.
He is sending me a copy of their instructions now. ”
“I’m almost home and will let him know about this.” Sam was waved through the Secret Service checkpoint at the end of Ninth Street and pulled into her assigned parking spot, her mind racing with possible outcomes and implications.
“The Lawsons have arranged for hotel rooms for themselves and the children for the coming week, so they have time to pack up the children’s possessions and attend the memorial service that’s being planned for next Friday.”
“I’ll pass that on to Elijah.”
“I’ll be there shortly with the Lawsons, who think they’re coming to pick up the children.”
Not so quick, Sam wanted to say, but she refused to think beyond the next ten to fifteen minutes. One step at a time, as she would say when investigating a case.
As she walked up the ramp, she left Lieutenant Holland behind and stepped into her favorite role as Mrs. Cappuano, Nick’s wife and Scotty’s mom. “Evening, Nate,” she said to the agent at the door.
“Evening, Mrs. Cappuano.”
She walked through the door he held for her and into bedlam. Nick, Scotty and Elijah were on the floor, under attack from Aubrey and Alden, whose joyful laughter was all she could hear.
Shelby stood on the sidelines with Noah, laughing at their antics.
Sam could only stand there and watch, as a profound feeling of completeness came over her.
“Uh-oh,” Scotty said, as Alden pinned him down. “Mom’s home! Mom! Rescue me from the little monster!”
“I’m coming, son! Hold on!” She leaned over Scotty to pry Alden off him. “Got him,” Sam said, kissing Alden’s cute face.
He giggled and squirmed until she put him down. The second his feet hit the floor, he was in the air again, this time aiming for Elijah, who responded with an “ooph” as his brother landed on him.
“Nice to see them laughing,” Shelby said when Sam joined her and Noah on the sidelines. The baby kicked his feet wildly, clearly wanting in on the action on the floor.
“It sure is.” Sam gave them a few more minutes to play before she asked Elijah if she could have a word with him. She gestured for Nick to come, too.
“Scotty, they’re all yours,” Nick said when he got up off the floor.
“They don’t scare me,” Scotty said as both kids jumped on top of him.
Nick and Elijah followed Sam into the kitchen.
“They wore me out,” Nick said.
“You’re getting to see them the way they usually are,” Elijah said with a small smile. “First thing we usually do when I come home is have a big wrestling match. They love it.”
“They obviously love you very much,” Sam said.
“And I love them. I was an only child who’d always wished for siblings until I was fifteen and got two on the same day. Best day of my life.” He combed the hair back from his face, which was red from exertion.
“There’ve been a few developments,” Sam said.
“Nick told me you got the guys that killed my dad and Cleo.”
“We did.”
“Did they say why they did it?”
“We believe it was motivated by money.”
Elijah sighed and looked down at the floor. “My dad would’ve given them everything he had if it meant keeping Cleo and the kids safe.”
“From what we were told, he offered them a substantial amount of money, but it took too long to get it.”
Tears filled his eyes as he shook his head in disbelief. “Do people think it’s sitting in vaults inside the house?”
“There’s something else,” Sam said tentatively. “Two things, actually. The FBI has Duke Piedmont in custody.” She filled him in on why Piedmont had come to the area.
“I’d like to say I’m surprised to hear my dad was back in touch with Piedmont, but I’m not as shocked as I should be.
They were so close back in the day. Even after everything that happened and the threats Piedmont made, my dad still mourned the loss of their friendship.
They went through so much together, and my dad never got over what he had to do to Duke in order to save himself from prosecution.
He would’ve welcomed the chance to make things right with Duke—and to eliminate the threat that’d hung over all our lives these last few years. ”
“For what it’s worth, the FBI agents involved in his case said his grief over learning of the deaths of your father and Cleo was genuine,” Sam said.
“In my mind, he’s been a monster. It’s good to know that maybe he had some humanity left after all.” Elijah glanced at Sam. “You said there were two other things.”
“The second thing involves custody of your siblings.”
“What about it?” he asked, instantly on full alert.
“Apparently, your dad and Cleo designated you as their legal guardian in the event that anything should happen to them.”
“Me?” he asked softly as his brown eyes went wide with shock.
Sam nodded.
Elijah sat in a chair someone had left pulled out from the table. “Why would they choose me when I can barely take care of myself?”
Sam sat next to him. “Probably because they knew you love them as much as they did.”
Propping his elbows on his knees, Elijah dropped his head into his hands. “I don’t know if I can do it. I’m only twenty and not even through college. They need so much.”
Nick rested a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “I don’t think anyone expects you to step up personally for them if you’re not prepared to do so. There’re other options.”
“Such as?” Elijah asked, glancing at Nick.
“Appoint guardians to stand in for you until you’re ready to assume responsibility for them.”
“Cleo’s sister and brother-in-law are on their way here now,” Sam said. “Ms. Finklestein is bringing them by shortly.”
Elijah contemplated that for a quiet minute before he looked up at Sam.
“When I called Cleo’s parents to tell them what’d happened, no one asked about the kids.
They didn’t ask where they were or if they were all right or what would become of them.
They said they’d told Cleo this was going to happen, and she should’ve left my dad when they told her to.
” He wiped away tears. “She loved my dad. She never would’ve left him.
How do I let my brother and sister go to live with people who were more concerned about being right than they were about two kids who were suddenly orphaned? ”
“They’re more than welcome to stay with us as long as they need to,” Nick said.
Sam could barely breathe while she waited to hear what Elijah would say.
“You’ve both been so generous toward the kids and me, but we’ve already put you out enough. I can’t ask that of you. It’s not your problem.”
“We’d like it to be,” Nick said, glancing at Sam, who took his hand and held on tightly. “We’ve talked about how much we all love them and would do anything we could to get them through this difficult time.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m so overwhelmed right now.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Sam said. “Do whatever you think is right, knowing you have our full support. Nick and I will be there for you and for the kids, no matter where they end up. I’m sorry to say you’re stuck with us.”
Elijah gave her a weak grin. “You’ve been so incredibly nice. All of you. I don’t know how we would’ve gotten through this week without both of you, Shelby and Scotty. Even the Secret Service agents have been amazing.”
“You should talk to Cleo’s sister and her husband,” Nick said. “Spend some time with them and see how it feels. You don’t have to decide anything today or even tomorrow.”
Sam wanted to say, No, no, no! Don’t spend time with uncaring people.
Leave those babies right here with us, where they’re safe and loved and protected from anything that could harm them!
But she couldn’t say any of those things.
She had to bite her tongue and let this play out the way it was meant to.
“I suppose that would only be fair since they came all this way,” Elijah said.
“I’ll give you a piece of advice that I often refer back to when investigating a case,” Sam said.
“One step at a time. Take each thing as it comes and give yourself the time to process it before you move on to the next. The aunt and uncle have hotel reservations for the coming week, so they have time to pack up the children’s belongings and to attend a memorial service that’s being held next Friday. Are you aware of that?”
He nodded. “Some of my dad’s business associates offered to arrange the service for us. I said that was fine because I have no idea how to go about handling that. I gave them Cleo’s parents’ phone number, so they could include her family.”
“That buys you some time to make sure you’re making the best possible decision for the kids,” Nick said.
“You don’t know us at all, and you’ve all been so amazing. I can never thank you enough.”
“We’re here if you need us.” Nick squeezed Elijah’s shoulder. “There’s no expiration date on that offer.”
“Thank you,” Elijah said softly.