Chapter Three
CHAPTER THREE
C hance showed up about an hour after Salem arrived, and the family gathered in the kitchen. Jack thought about leaving for half a second, but couldn’t bring himself to. Not only was he curious about whatever Chance had been able to dig up so far to help Salem’s case, but he wanted to be around her. Granted, she hadn’t given him more than a friendly smile and a “hello, how are you” kind of look, but he found himself wanting to talk to her. Offer his support, little though it might be.
When everyone was gathered around the table, Chance started talking.
“Salem, I looked at the papers you emailed me. It appears the Amir family has started legal proceedings in the United Arab Emirates and petitioned for full legal and physical custody of Chloe. They are claiming paternal rights, since her father is deceased. They insist she will lose all knowledge and sense of their customs and culture if she is raised by her mother in the United States.”
“Can they do that? Don’t I have rights too? They can’t just swoop in and claim my child. I am her mother. I gave birth to her. She’s…she’s all I have.”
Jack’s heart ached at the break in Salem’s voice. There wasn’t a doubt she loved her little girl with all her heart. Her first instinct had been to bring her child someplace where she’d be safeguarded, her motherly intuition knowing the Boudreau ranch and their family would protect her. He hoped soon she’d include him in that category, as a protector. He was a Texas Ranger, a man of honor and action, who’d never let anybody step in and steal away her baby girl.
Chance laid his hand atop the stack of papers sitting before him on the tabletop. “I’ll be honest with you, Salem, this whole case is outside my purview. I’m a prosecutor. I deal with criminal cases every day. I haven’t had much to do with custody cases since law school. And, frankly, we’re talking about international law here, which is a whole different scenario than a regular child custody arrangement.”
“Is there somebody who can help? Surely you know people, maybe they can point us in the right direction. We’ll hire the best lawyer in the country to protect Chloe and Salem. Shoot, do you think I need to contact the State Department, because I’ll do it.” Ms. Patti’s expression turned fierce as she spoke, and Jack bit back a grin. She reminded him of a momma bear protecting her cubs, and more than once he’d heard one of the Boudreau brothers refer to her as such. Now he was getting to see it firsthand, and it was quite a sight indeed.
“I took the liberty of forwarding a copy of the documents to a friend in Dallas. We went to school together. She specializes in difficult and extraordinary custody cases. In fact, she’s the attorney who handled the Levar Hutchinson case,” Chance quoted, mentioning a famous celebrity case from a few years prior. It had made all the national papers, gossip rags, as well as TV tabloid shows. Sensationalism at its finest. Levar Hutchinson was a former professional football player who had married a beauty pageant queen from a Middle-Eastern country. They’d had two children, a boy and a girl, and the marriage had fallen apart. There had been public displays of acrimony, and he’d been accused of domestic violence. The allegations were false, but the woman had spread the false reports and fled back to her native country, absconding with the two children, even though the divorce decree and the courts had awarded full legal and physical custody to the father. Difficulties arose because the wife had never gotten her American citizenship, which complicated matters when it came to the children’s custody.
The battle between the couple escalated into charges of kidnapping and child endangerment, eventually involving the State Department and the Vice President of the United States. Hutchinson finally obtained physical custody of his children, though he still maintained twenty-four/seven bodyguards around them for fear of them being kidnapped and being whisked to another country and having to go through the whole ordeal again.
“She’s a shark when it comes to working for her clients. I’ll probably hear something back from her in a couple of days, once she’s been able to look into Salem’s case. In the meantime, I’ll try and get the ball rolling on getting a court order issuing custody for nation of residence. It’s a precaution, because Chloe was born here, but we’re going to cover all the bases just in case.” He hesitated, like he wanted to say something else.
“What aren’t you saying, son?” Douglas’ calm voice asked the question before Jack could get the words out.
“The courts will sometimes consider evidence relating to the child’s needs and the parents’ ability to meet those needs.”
Jack heard Salem’s quick indrawn breath. “You think this is about money?” He couldn’t stop the question from popping out. It was something he’d been thinking about. Tarik Amir had been loaded, which meant his family was too, and if money was involved, things could turn ugly fast.
“We can’t rule it out. Amir’s family could make the claim they can provide a better quality of life for Chloe because Salem is a single mother working two part-time jobs, and cannot stay at home with her. She’s left with a babysitter or in daycare quite often because Salem has to work.”
Everyone started talking at once, objecting to Chance’s statement, each person speaking over the other until Jack couldn’t keep his thoughts straight. It seemed like a crappy reason for losing a child. Too many people today have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, to support their families, especially single moms. They should be lauded for their ability to keep a thriving family unit intact, not penalized.
“Hang on, guys. Don’t blame me, I’m just the messenger, even though the news isn’t exactly what you wanted to hear. Let’s all keep a level head and take things one step at a time to ensure Chloe stays exactly where she is.” Everybody turned to look at Chloe, snuggled safely in Ms. Patti’s arms. Chance smiled and nodded toward his mother. “Well, I meant with her mother, but you get the picture.”
“So, what you’re telling me is I might lose my child because I’m a single mother who can’t take care of her better than a bunch of strangers with buckets of money?” Salem’s voice shook with each word, her cheeks ruddy with barely suppressed anger.
“It’s not that bad, let’s not twist things into the worst-case scenario. We’re going to remain calm,” he cut his gaze toward his mother before continuing, “and wait for Ivy to get back to me with what steps she thinks we should take.”
“I swear Tarik’s family isn’t going to take Chloe away. I don’t understand. Why now, after almost a year, have they decided to fight for custody? They’ve never once since she was born written or called or asked about her in any way. Never acknowledged she existed. Shouldn’t they want to at least meet her face-to-face before deciding she should be whisked halfway around the world to live with total strangers?”
“All good points, Salem, and questions I’m sure Ivy is going to want answers to as well. I think, and this is only my opinion, the family may claim they were in mourning for their son.” Chance paused and Jack could tell there was something more. An almost palpable underlying anger simmered beneath the surface of Chance’s body language. Jack was trained and more than normally adept at reading body language and its subtleties as part of his job as a Ranger, and he knew he’d be talking with Chance before the other man left.
“Bro, what aren’t you telling us? You’ve got your poker face on, but you know I can read your bluff every time, so you might as well spit it out, so nobody gets broadsided.” Rafe continued leaning against the wall between the entry and the kitchen, where he’d taken up residence when they’d all gathered to hear what Chance had discovered. His posture appeared deceptively relaxed, but Jack knew the man he called his friend, and he was coiled taut, ready to spring into action. Something had his feathers ruffled, and he doubted it was simply his brother not divulging all he knew.
“The first thing Ivy did when I discussed the case with her was contact a friend in D.C. Apparently, the Amir family plans to bring a multimillion-dollar wrongful death suit against you, the sheriff’s department, and the county of Shiloh Springs for the murder of their son.”
The almost deafening silence lasted for a beat, then two, before Douglas exploded out of his chair, knocking it over with his abrupt movement. Salem jerked in her seat, staring at the older man, whose face was livid with outrage. Jack instantly reached across the table and grabbed her hand, anchoring her in place. Her eyes widened at his unexpected touch, but he didn’t let go, not until she nodded that she was okay.
“He wasn’t murdered. Though if I’d been there, I’d have shot him myself. He held a gun on Salem and Gabi. He was willing to kill my niece and kidnap a seven-month pregnant woman at gunpoint. Would have gotten away with it too, if Rafe and Jack hadn’t showed up when they did.”
“I know, Dad. You need to calm down.” Rafe picked up the knocked-over chair and gently urged his father back onto it, his hand on his shoulder. “They don’t have a case. The whole incident was investigated by the state, and we were cleared of any wrongdoing.”
“I’m afraid the Amir family could still tie this up in the court system for a long time. Years even.” Chance drew in a deep breath before adding, “Salem, you should be aware, they’ll most likely pull you into the wrongful death suit, too. It’s a legal tactic, one used to intimidate and harass, and a lousy thing to pull, but depending on their attorneys, it could happen. You need to be prepared for them to call you as a witness, or they might possibly instigate a case against you, in a civil action, to help bolster their chances in the custody battle.”
Douglas rose to his full height and pulled out his phone. “I’m going to call Samuel Carpenter. Get him and his team digging into Amir’s family. We’ll fight fire with fire. If they are going to go after Salem and my son, and think we’ll sit back and do nothing, they don’t know anything about the Boudreaus. We protect our own.”
Without another word, Douglas stomped out of the kitchen and headed down the hall. Jack wished he could listen in on that call, because he had the feeling Samuel was about to get an earful from an enraged Boudreau father.
He knew Samuel Carpenter by reputation, though he’d never had the privilege of working directly with him. The security expert and his organization, Carpenter Security Services, had a reputation for excellence, and worked cases for the United States government as well as international corporations needing bodyguard services, computer investigative specialists, as well as private investigators who knew how to dig up information. They’d worked a few cases in conjunction with the Texas Rangers, and his bosses there knew and admired Samuel, who’d originally had his company located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area before relocating to New Orleans.
“I was going to suggest he call Gator, but going straight to Samuel is a good idea.” Ms. Patti softly patted Chloe’s bottom as she rocked her against her chest. There was a fire in her eyes Jack couldn’t help but admire. He’d been raised by a single mom most of his life, after his father had been killed in a job-related accident when Jack had been six years old. Understood that a mother’s love, or in this case a surrogate grandmother, was a far-reaching thing in its protectiveness. A natural protective gene that kicked in at the hint of danger to a little one.
“No worries, Mama,” Rafe’s gaze met his mother’s. “I’m sure Samuel will talk with Uncle Gator once Dad gets finished with him. I already asked him to keep an eye open for anybody snooping around Salem’s place. This will simply add gasoline to the fire. Uncle Gator’s fond of Salem and Chloe, and he’s really unhappy with Tarik’s family pulling this stunt.”
“Good.” Ms. Patti chuckled. “Although if Samuel’s handling things for your dad, don’t be surprised if your Uncle Gator ends up heading for Dubai to do a little ‘hands on’ investigating.”
“Wouldn’t be a bad idea. I’d really like to get all the information on the Amirs and what their expectations are on the home scene. He might be able to get information from some of their servants.” Chance shook his head and let out a sigh. “I hate that word. They are staff, paid employees. Luckily, Uncle Gator can be persuasive when he wants to be, and if anybody can get the skinny on what the Amirs might be up to, it’s him.”
Jack watched the byplay between the Boudreaus, and a pang of something akin to envy shot through him. As an only child, he hadn’t been around a lot of people his own age, except at school. He couldn’t really call any of them close friends. So he hadn’t experienced the kind of close-knit camaraderie and brotherhood the Boudreaus felt, though it was clear they’d all stick together. Circle the wagons like in the old-timey western movies he’d loved watching as a kid.
“My colleague, Ivy McNamara-Barnes, is going to look over everything we’ve provided. She’s curious, and a curious Ivy is definitely a person you want working your case, Salem. She’s smart, savvy, and she’s most definitely a shark. Plus, she’s got connections in Washington I could only dream about.” Chance paused for a second, before adding, “Her mother is Congresswoman McNamara from Maryland.”
Jack almost laughed as recognition of the name spread around the table. Congresswoman McNamara was a staunch conservative known for not putting up with any shenanigans, digging deep for the truth, and was well respected on both sides of the aisle. She had a reputation for getting the job done, and didn’t mind stepping on anybody’s toes if they got in her way. Sounded like her daughter was cut from the same cloth, which was what Salem needed in her attorney if she was going to fight the Amir family.
In the meantime, he’d do a little digging on his own, because he wasn’t about to have Salem and Chloe railroaded into an untenable situation. She’d barely escaped the clutches of an abusive man, one she’d apparently cared about, and Jack had the feeling the Amir family had stood by and done nothing to help Salem. For all he knew, they might have helped Amir in keeping Salem prisoner.
“Sounds like we’ve got a good starting point. I’m sure Ms. McNamara-Barnes will fight for Salem and Chloe. Who wouldn’t, once they know all the facts?” Ms. Patti stood, Chloe still nestled in her arms. When she looked down at the bundle in her arms, the look on her face nearly brought Jack to tears. So much unconditional love was in her gaze. He was definitely envious of the Boudreaus having grown up with that kind of affection.
“I’m going to call it a night. I’ve got court in the morning, and I still need to go over everything. Salem, if you need anything, or think of anything Ivy might need to know, don’t hesitate to call me.” Chance rested his hand lightly on Salem’s shoulder, squeezing gently. “We’ve got your back. Try not to worry. Yeah, I know that’s hard, but you won’t do Chloe any good if you’re a nervous wreck.”
“Thank you all. I knew you’d be able to tell me what to do. You’ve become such good friends. Meeting you all, it’s the one of the few bright spots out of the whole Tarik fiasco.”
“Come on, Salem. Let’s get you and this precious one upstairs, so you can unpack and get settled. Everything will look better in the morning.” Salem rose and walked behind Ms. Patti out of the kitchen, Jack’s eyes following them closely.
“I need to be going too. Douglas, thank your wife for a lovely dinner.” Chance’s muffled snort drew his gaze to the other man. “What?”
“You sound so formal, like you’re practically a stranger, instead of one of Rafe’s good friends. I think you’ve been around us Boudreaus long enough to realize we don’t stand on formality.”
“What my son’s trying to say is you’re welcome at our table and in our home anytime, Jack.” Douglas’ arm went around his shoulder and, for a moment, Jack knew what it must feel like to be part of their clan—and it felt right.
“I—thank you. That means a lot.”
Rafe walked him to his car, and Jack opened the door, ready to slide inside for the long drive back to town.
“She’s scared, rightly so. I hate to say this, buddy, but now might not be the time to pursue the girl.”
“You’re an idiot, you know that? Even if I had any intention of pursuing Salem, as you so succinctly put it, she’d never consider starting a relationship now. After the way Tarik treated her, and now his family going after her child? I doubt she’ll ever date anyone again.”
“I’m sorry all the same. Honestly, I think you’d both be a good match. Maybe, after this all plays out and the dust settles, you might think about asking her out then.”
Jack shook his head. “Nope. I missed my shot not asking her out months ago. Now—well, my loss.”
Without another word, he climbed behind the wheel of his car and pulled down the drive, watching Rafe in the rearview, standing with his hands in his pockets, staring at Jack’s departing car. It hurt to say those words to his friend, even though they were true. He’d missed any shot at having anything with Salem.
He’d have to settle with helping her defeat the Amir family and keeping Chloe safe.