Chapter Fifteen
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
T he next morning, Jack finished his call with the arson investigator, who officially confirmed the fire as arson. He also reported there had been no casualties, only a few minor injuries which had been treated at the emergency room and released. Most of the contents of the apartment might be salvageable, though a good portion of the furniture and appliances were a total loss. He’d check with Salem, but he doubted she had a lot of stuff there that she’d want to keep.
Salem and Andrea, along with Gunner’s wife, Maggie, had gone shopping to replace clothing and other essentials for her and Chloe, while Chloe was having a play date with Ranger’s daughter, Abby. He’d already told Samuel they’d take the apartment and found out as one of the perks of his employment with Carpenter Security Services, as part of what Samuel classified as his elite team, the apartment was considered part of his sign-on bonus and salary, and came rent free. Which was a great perk, because he wasn’t sure how he’d have afforded something like that on his salary—though the salary was extremely generous.
Now he was headed downstairs to the conference room, to join Samuel and Jean-Luc for a meeting. He’d found out Jean-Luc was second in command of C.S.S., and that he and Samuel had been friends since childhood. In fact, most of the elite team had known each other and worked together for years.
Walking through the door, he froze when he spotted a dark-haired woman seated at the conference table. One that he knew, and she spelled trouble with a capital T.
Jennifer Baptiste.
The woman who’d come to Shiloh Springs last year looking for Gabi on orders from Tarik Amir. She’d really been looking for Salem, but knew if they found Gabi, they’d find Salem. Luckily, she’d been discovered and picked up by Rafe’s deputy before she managed to follow Gabi to Salem’s hidden location.
“What the hell is going on? What’s she doing here?” He started around the table, before Jean-Luc grabbed his arm. All he could think was she’d put Salem in danger before, and her being here meant she’d brought trouble with her.
“Wait! You need to hear what she has to say. We’re waiting for Salem to get here.”
Jack jerked his arm free of Jean-Luc’s grip and stared at Jennifer. She didn’t so much as blink at his angry glare. Her cool exterior held a core of ice, he was sure. They’d managed to break her when she was in Shiloh Springs, forcing her to leave the county with her tail between her legs. Salem hadn’t heard a word from or about the Frenchwoman ever since.
Yet here she was, smack dab in the place where Salem lived. Now that he’d had a minute to calm down, he figured she had to be here about the Amirs. She’d willingly worked with Tarik, but had vehemently protested when asked about giving information to the other members of the Amir family last year. From what Rafe had been able to glean from her, before riding her out of town on a rail, she’d been shunned by her father’s family, an outcast, a pariah, a blemish on their proud heritage.
The sound of female laughter could be heard from the lobby, and moments later the women made their way to the conference room, arms loaded with shopping bags. The minute they spotted Jennifer, all talking stopped.
“Sorry to cut your trip short, Salem, but we’ve got a situation.” Samuel moved to stand behind Jennifer. “I’m not sure if you met Jennifer Baptiste when she was in Shiloh Springs last year. Ms. Baptiste, this is Salem Hudson.”
“Salem Sutton,” Jack growled. “My wife.”
A calculating smile lit Jennifer’s lips, like a cat eyeing a tasty bird. “I’m aware of your marriage, Mr. Sutton. Congratulations. Salem, it’s nice to finally meet you.” Her French accent was like her entire persona, elegant and aloof. Her ensemble reeked of money and power, an air of sophistication surrounding her. Jack had been around people like her before, Texans with money and political ambition. It didn’t impress him.
“Baptiste? You’re the woman who worked with Tarik.”
“It’s a long story, and we really do not have the time to go into the complicated relationship I had with my brother. Suffice it to say, I’ve learned a lot about him and my mistaken choices in the past year. I deeply apologize for my actions. I would apologize for Tarik’s—stupidity—but, would it be crass of me to say my half-brother got what he deserved?”
Not quite what Jack had expected the Frenchwoman to say. The year before, she’d been arrogant and controlled, until Rafe managed to get her to admit she was working with Tarik to find Salem. They’d later found out Jennifer had been played by Tarik, just like everyone else. He’d been very good at hiding his sadistic side. Jack wished again he could bring the man back from the dead so he could dole out some extra justice for Salem before putting him in the ground again.
“How are you here? How did you find me?” Salem sank onto one of the chairs at the end of the table, and Jack went to stand behind her, his hand squeezing her shoulder. She needed to know he was there, keeping his promise to never leave her.
“It’s a long story, and we do not have a lot of time. I contacted the sheriff in Shiloh Springs. Not a conversation I want to have again, I must say. A very unpleasant man. I needed to find you, to warn you.”
“Warn me?”
“Yes. The Amir family will stop at nothing to get their hands on your daughter. She is the key.”
“The key to what? I can’t protect Salem and Chloe without knowing why the Amirs are dead set on gaining custody of Chloe.”
“Hold up, Jack. We’ll get the answers you need, but first, ladies, time for you to go.” Samuel stared at his wife, who simply leaned against the wall.
“Andrea…”
“Not going anywhere. You should know better.” She leaned against the conference room wall, arms crossed over her chest.
“I do, but I had to try,” he muttered under his breath. “Don’t suppose I can get the rest of you to leave?
In answer, Stephanie and Maggie sat in chairs on either side of Salem.
He blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine. Shut the damned door. We don’t need anybody else overhearing this.”
Andrea turned and closed the door, winking at Salem when her back was turned to her husband. Jack almost laughed at her smirk. It was definitely going to be fun working here, he thought.
“Let’s start at the beginning. As Ms. Baptiste stated, she contacted Sheriff Boudreau, trying to find a way to get in touch with Salem. Once he heard what she had to say, he directed her to contact me.”
“The mistrust you Americans have boggles the mind, as you would say,” Jennifer added, flicking a speck of invisible lint from her jacket sleeve. The sapphire blue color with her dark hair made her look chic and in control, yet Jack spotted a chink in her deceptive armor. The slightest tremor of her hands betrayed her calm demeanor. She was scared. But of what he wasn’t sure yet. He had the feeling before the end of this contretemps, he’d have a better clue.
“Once Ms. Baptiste told me why she was looking for Salem, I told her to head to New Orleans. The time it took her to get here allowed me to check out a good portion of her story.”
“May I continue?”
“Please do, Ms. Baptiste.” Uh oh, even Jack, who didn’t know Samuel that well, could hear the barely disguised threat beneath his professional demeanor. While he might be the owner of a prestigious and world-renowned security company, and a billionaire with influential friends, Samuel wouldn’t hesitate to get his hands dirty if the need arose.
“I had no idea how depraved my half-brother was. He never showed that side of himself to me. It is possible he used me the way he used everyone. Tarik could be charming when it suited his needs. But I digress. All of my father’s family disavowed me. The only person I had was my mother, and she refused to talk about my father or his family. When Tarik reached out to me, I finally had a connection. Someone who wanted to get to know me, provided a link to my past. You probably wouldn’t understand, unless you grew up not knowing anything about yourself except what one parent told you. I loved my mother, but I craved knowledge of my father. Tarik approached me at my business in Paris and explained who he was. Over time, he ingratiated himself into my life, though he admitted the rest of the family didn’t know he maintained contact with me. They told him to cut all ties. I won’t regale you of the things said about me by my other half-siblings. They were…not kind.”
She paused to take a drink of water, and Jack leaned down and whispered in Salem’s ear, “You okay?” At her nod, he straightened, keeping his hand on her shoulder. He wanted that touch, that connection with her, even something so small.
“I left the U.S. immediately after Tarik’s death.” She looked at Salem. “And, no, I do not blame you or hold you responsible for his death, no matter what his family says. I am…ashamed of my actions. I humbly apologize for the distress I caused, though I know nothing I say can alleviate the harm I did to you and your then unborn child. But I am trying to make amends, to change the person I was, and maybe become a better one in the process.”
“I think you need to skip ahead, Ms. Baptiste. Start with Rashid’s visit.” Samuel gave her an encouraging smile, and Jack heard the almost imperceptible growl from Andrea. Looks like Samuel might be eating crow when this meeting is over.
“Of course. As I said, prior to Tarik’s death, the Amir family basically refused to acknowledge my existence. However, a few months after arriving back in Paris, Rashid appeared in my office, claiming he didn’t care what the family wanted, that he wished to forge a relationship with me. He claimed that Tarik told him all sorts of things about me, and now that Tarik was dead, he needed to know his sister. I was leery at first, but he seemed sincere, coming to Paris every other month. Rashid is a playboy, travels around Europe, although he mostly enjoys London and Paris. Abdullah handles the family’s business now that Tarik is gone, and Rashid lives a decadent, hedonistic lifestyle. Parties and women fill his every waking moment, because he isn’t responsible for or required to work. Money isn’t an issue because the Amirs are wealthy beyond belief. They have more money than they can spend in any one lifetime.”
“Tarik handled the family’s business interests when I lived at the compound. I always believed that was partly why he was so stressed all the time. He had so many lives dependent upon him.” Salem stared down at her hands, which she’d placed in her lap. Jack noticed them bunched into fists.
“Abdullah has that responsibility now, and Sayifa is unhappy.” Jennifer looked at Jack. “Sayifa is Tarik’s mother. To her, Tarik was the golden one, perfect. Her firstborn son, she doted on him, and she is the one who is calling for Salem’s head. Rashid told me his mother refuses to believe Tarik did anything wrong. Feels like the Americans murdered her son in cold blood to protect the filthy harlot. I’m sorry, Salem, but that’s what she calls you.”
“It’s not like I haven’t heard it before. That’s probably one of her kinder names for me.”
“She sounds like a peach,” Stephanie muttered.
“Rashid gets a little talkative when he’s drinking and partying. And he loves both, so he does it a lot. He let slip that Sayifa hired private investigators to find out where Salem lived, where she worked, whether she was dating anyone. She has files on every aspect of Salem’s life, right down to the brand and color undergarments she chooses. This was all handled through a company in the U.A.E., contracting the work to people in New Orleans. Salem, she hasn’t forgiven you for Tarik’s death, and she will see you pay.”
“It makes sense, we knew it had to be the Amirs targeting Salem. Things have happened which point to them.” Jack looked at Samuel, ready to ask if Stefan had gotten anything, but Samuel’s subtle shake of his head forestalled him. He mouthed the word “later” and Jack nodded. He’d get the answers he needed, and protect Salem and Chloe, even if it meant leaving the country and going into hiding.
“Rashid let it slip his mother is making plans to come to the United States, ostensibly for the custody hearings, but he thinks she’ll make some kind of move to harm Salem. He feels she wants to be there, to watch as Salem suffers the way her son suffered.”
“How does Rashid have this information if he’s rarely in Dubai? Is he that close to his family, to his mother, that she’d confide murderous intentions to him?”
“Mr. Carpenter, Sayifa is an intelligent woman. Though I’ve never met her personally, I make it a habit to know my enemies. She hated me and my mother from the time she discovered I existed. Many times she interfered in my life, costing me job opportunities, and even caused me to lose my fiancé. He backed out of our engagement when confronted with the very real threat of Sayifa’s wrath. Dubai is a metropolitan area, for all its ties to the Muslim religion, and she has many who will do her bidding without question, regardless of the fact that she is a woman. The Amir name means something over there. The world may think Abdullah runs the family, but I assure you, Sayifa is the true control behind the throne.” She brushed a hand through her bangs, ruffling them, the first break in her perfectly coiffed appearance since Jack had come into the room, and for the first time he really looked at her. Beyond the perfect outward appearance, there were lines of fatigue bracketing her eyes and her hand continued to tremble. He was beginning to feel sorry for her. She’d come all the way from France, traveled to Texas, and then to New Orleans to share information with Salem. Maybe she wasn’t all bad, simply misguided.
“Could I get a cup of coffee? I’ve been traveling for so many hours, I could use the caffeine.”
Stephanie jumped up from her chair. “I’ll get it. Be right back.”
“Thank you. You asked about Rashid. He’s the youngest son, and a bit of a mother’s boy—is that the right phrase?”
“A momma’s boy. That’s what we call it here in the South.” Andrea was the one who answered her.
“Yes, that’s it. A momma’s boy. Sayifa confides in him, feeds him her poisonous thoughts, and her plans for revenge. He listens, garnering information, doing what he can to talk her out of her rash acts, but this time he claims there will be no stopping her. When I questioned him about why it was so important for her to eliminate Salem, his answer surprised me. It was a shock because I didn’t see, didn’t anticipate Tarik taking such action.”
Jack straightened, his back ramrod stiff as the answer morphed in his head like a streak of lightning. “Son of a…it all ties back to Chloe, doesn’t it? Tarik made her his heir. If he controlled all the family finances, the business, that means everything the Amirs own rightly belongs to her. That’s why they need to get custody so badly. If the money belongs to Tarik’s daughter, control of the money would go to—”
“Salem. Tarik’s will states everything he has be bequeathed to his unborn child. Sayifa tried to have the will destroyed once she found out, but it had already been filed. Abdullah is acting as the executor of the estate, handling the day-to-day affairs, keeping the businesses running and thriving. Sayifa has been able to keep the contents of the will a secret, but she hasn’t been able to change what Tarik did with the stroke of a pen. Chloe has inherited a multibillion-dollar estate, and unless Sayifa can get Salem out of the picture and get custody of the child, they stand to lose everything.”
“Why would Tarik do this?” Samuel posed the question, tossing it out like a grenade. “It goes against not only common sense, but flies in the face of his family’s traditions. If Tarik died, almost always the next in line inherits. Which would have been Abdullah Amir. Why would Tarik fly in the face what he knew his family would want, bequeathing the family livelihood, all their worldly goods, to a child that at the time his will was written had not even been born?”
“Tarik was obsessed with Salem to the point she was all he could think about, all he talked about. Incessantly. Every time he would call, Salem was all he could talk about. His unborn child became his hope for getting her back. He told me he changed his will leaving everything to his child. Of course, he was convinced he’d have a son, a boy to carry on the Amir family name. It was his obsession, to raise his son in his image. He never imagined he’d have a girl child, much less that he’d die before ever seeing his progeny. Fate had other plans it seems.” Jennifer looked at Salem, pity in her gaze. “I promise, he would have taken your child whether you accompanied him back to his home or not. He meant to raise his child to be the next Amir leader.”
“I don’t want his money! I don’t wany any of this! I’ll sign away all rights, give it back to the Amirs. I never asked for this. I just want to be left alone with my daughter.” Salem’s body shook beneath Jack’s hands and she tried to jump from her seat. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, whispering in her ear.
“It’s going to be okay. Now that we know why they want Chloe, Chance and Ivy will be able to destroy them in court. They will never touch our daughter.” He placed emphasis on the word our, letting Salem know he’d fight for Chloe as hard as she would, protect them both with his life.
“Rashid told me about the cameras, about Sayifa spying on you. He said Chloe was injured. Then when I got here, I heard about the fire at your apartment. You know it had to be Sayifa behind it. I can contact Rashid to confirm she ordered the fire, but it’s of no coincidence.”
“My daughter could have died in the fire if we hadn’t managed to get out. What would have happened then?”
“I asked Rashid about that. He is very talkative when he’s drinking. Tarik’s will states that in the event of Chloe’s death before the age of twenty-one, all Amir assets revert to the family, specifically to Abdullah Amir. If they cannot get custody, where they can control her, they have no compunction about causing her untimely death.” A look of sympathy crossed Jennifer’s face, and it looked like she wanted to say more, but instead took a sip of the coffee Stephanie placed before her.
“What about Abdullah? Is he part of trying to murder my daughter?”
“Strangely enough, he knows little to nothing about what his mother is doing. He filed the custody suit because Sayifa convinced him she wants Chloe because she is the last link to Tarik. He sees it as progress that Sayifa is healing from the loss of her eldest son, when nothing could be farther from the truth. The woman is evil to her core, and she never gives up once she sets her mind to something.”
“You’re sure you can trust what Rashid says is true? Not twisted to benefit himself in some way?” Samuel threw out the questions in rapid-fire succession.
“Mr. Carpenter, I have learned the hard way not to trust anything an Amir says. I’ve been burned by them too many times now. I felt it was my duty to tell Salem what they are doing, what their plans are. I am not a bad person, though I did something I’m ashamed of because I trusted my half-brother. I’m hoping that helping Salem and her daughter helps make up in some small way. Consider it my redemption, if such a thing is possible.”
“One last thing, Ms. Baptiste. I know there’s a time difference between here and Europe, but do you think you could call Rashid, find out if there’s anything new he’s heard about Sayifa’s plans. We might be able to stop her, if we can get a step ahead.”
Jennifer reached into her clutch and lifted out her cellphone. “I can try. I will put the call on speaker, so you can hear what he says. Fortunately, Rashid likes to speak English, though he’s fluent in French. Says he likes to practice for the day he comes to America.” She quickly dialed the number and set the phone down on the table. It rang twice.
“Hello, my darling. Where are you? I stopped by your flat and your maid said you were out of town.”
“Just a small business trip. A few provincial pieces I thought to add to my gallery. Unfortunately, they turned out to be not what I was looking for.”
“When will you be back? I found this fabulous club I think you’ll like. Live music and dancing.” He laughed at something someone said in the background, though it was too muffled to make it out.
“Possibly another day or two. The provincial lead didn’t pan out, but I got one on a Georgian chest one of my clients has been dying for, so maybe the trip won’t be a total loss. Rashid, how are things at home?”
“Mother is still obsessing about going to the States for the custody suit. Says the battle is already won, but she wants to gloat. See Salem’s face when she snatches her daughter away from her very hands. Abdullah indulges her whims, but he’s too busy with the business to see what she’s doing. I do think they’ve managed to get the court date moved up, so things will be happening soon.”
“Is she still spying on Salem? I can’t imagine. Do you know I actually checked my apartment to see if she’d had cameras or bugs installed?”
Rashid laughed. “My dear sister, it’s more likely Abdullah would do that rather than mother. My brother does love looking at beautiful women. However, you’re no threat to her, but Salem…she could cause the family unimaginable harm if she found out about Tarik’s will. But in answer to your question, they found the cameras, so no more watching Salem. The child is growing. Fortunately, she looks like her mother, which disappoints Sayifa.”
Samuel motioned for Jennifer to continue pumping Rashid for information. She nodded her understanding.
“I imagine losing the camera feed infuriated Sayifa. I’m sure she has something else planned for Salem. Has she told you?”
“It’s already happened. I can’t say over the phone, because we know no phone line is secure. I’ll share all the gory details with you when you get back, if I’m still here. Mother’s insisting I go with her to America for the custody hearing. Might be fun. I haven’t been to the United States in years.” He chuckled. “I hear that New Orleans entertainment is decadent. All ghosts and voodoo and magic. I love it.”
“Sounds like fun. If I finish up my business, maybe I can meet you there.”
“Wonderful. Keep me abreast of your plans.”
“Love you, my brother.”
“And you, my sister.”
Jennifer disconnected the call and looked at Samuel. “You need to find out the date of the new hearing, and know they will be here before that time. That is the best I can do, I’m sorry. If I’d tried to get more information, Rashid would have become suspicious.”
“You did great. At least we know Sayifa is behind the knife and the fire.”
“But can we prove it?” Salem asked. “We don’t have any evidence.”
“Well, we’ve got this.” Andrea wiggled her cellphone. “I recorded the whole conversation. Might not stand up in a court of law, but it’s a definite motivator for getting wheels turning.
Jack’s phone rang and he looked at the caller ID. It was Chance. What were the odds he was calling to tell them about the court date changing?
“Chance, I’m here with Salem. I’m going to put you on speaker.”
“That’s good. Salem, the Amirs have managed to get the date of the custody hearing moved up. And because you reside in New Orleans, it’s going to happen there, before Judge Lyle Bernard.”
“When?”
“Next Monday. I’m sorry, I know it’s short notice. Ivy’s not sure how they managed it. We haven’t had time to prepare a case, get depositions, and subpoena witnesses to testify on your behalf. Plus, she’s been trying to get someone local to New Orleans to be co-council, because the laws in Louisiana are different. I don’t want to say we’re screwed, but we’re going to be scrambling to get everything done in the next four days. But I don’t want you to worry, you have some amazing people who have your back.”
“Chance, it’s Samuel. I’m going to call you in about an hour with the name of someone who’ll be happy to coordinate with you and Ms. McNamara-Barnes on Salem’s case. And Jack will be calling you with a report of information we’ve garnered this morning that will be pertinent. You might say we’ve got the smoking gun.”
“Brilliant. We appreciate any help. Ivy’s convinced they don’t have a case, but any evidence will be a bonus.”
Jack grinned, knowing Chance was going to do a happy dance at what he was about to tell him.
“Dude, the Amirs are after Chloe because she’s Tarik’s heir. He named her in his will, leaving her the entire Amir fortune. Businesses, homes. Everything.”
There was dead silence on the end of the phone for long seconds before Chance’s laughter floated over the line. “I knew it. Ivy owes me a hundred bucks. Told her it all boiled down to money.”
“I’ll send you everything we’ve discovered here as soon as I write up a report. Talk to you soon.”
“Okay, people. Show’s over. Go do your jobs.” Samuel stood and held out a hand to Jennifer. “Thank you. I know how hard it was to come forward with the truth about what the Amirs are up to, but you might have just saved Salem and Chloe’s lives. I’d say you’ve come a long way toward redemption.”
Jack watched tears fill Jennifer’s eyes and a sob broke free. The ice princess fa?ade from earlier disappeared as she dug through her purse for a tissue, blotting at her eyes. Salem stood and walked slowly around the table to sit in the chair beside Jennifer.
“What you did today? It took a lot of courage. You’ve more than made up for any wrongdoing in Texas.” She placed her hand atop Jennifer’s and met her tear-filled gaze. “I forgive you.”
“Thank you, Salem. But, please be careful. Sayifa is a viper, filled with venom, and she will not stop until she gets what she wants.”
“She might be a viper, but she’s about to be defanged.”
With that, Salem stood, walked over to Jack, and held out her hand. Without hesitating, Jack slid his into hers. Their enemy was exposed and now they had a fighting chance. Everything was going to be alright.