Chapter Seventeen
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
C hance and Ivy McNamara-Barnes arrived in New Orleans Sunday afternoon, and Salem and Jack met them at the airport. Salem still had a hard time wrapping her head around all the information they’d gotten both from Jennifer Baptiste and closed-circuit TV footage from the street in front of her former apartment.
It was clear that the fire was arson. The fire department’s investigator determined it was set deliberately, as well as camera footage showing two men carrying cans filled with gasoline sneaking into her old apartment building. Both men were arrested and when questioned admitted they’d been hired by a local gang leader to set the fires.
They also admitted they’d been hired to grab Salem and Chloe as soon as they exited the building, but had lost the opportunity when they’d gone with Stephanie instead. It scared her how close she’d come to being kidnapped. Just thinking about it brought back nightmares of being held against her will by Tarik. Having no freedom, answerable only to him. A shudder ran through her at the memory.
Now they were back at the apartment, going over details and fine-tuning their testimony for tomorrow’s start of the custody hearing. Chloe sat on a blanket on the floor at her feet, a pile of toys scattered around her. Seemed like every time she turned around, one of the C.S.S. people showed up with some new stuffed animal or doll for her. Pretty soon, they’d need to get a giant toy box, or they’d disappear under an avalanche of gifts, but watching her daughter’s delight with each new “baby,” as Chloe called them made, her heart swell. Somehow, she’d amassed not one but two families who loved her and her daughter, and she knew that she was both lucky and blessed.
“Let’s go over the facts that we’re going to present to the judge tomorrow. First, your marriage. The Amirs can no longer claim that you are a single mother raising a child and working multiple jobs. Mr. Sutton—”
“Jack,” he interrupted.
Ivy smiled and turned to Salem. “Jack’s spoken with Chance and I, indicating he would like to petition the court to adopt Chloe. I think that will go a long way to proving that you have a real marriage, and that it isn’t some kind of sham that you’re perpetrating on the court to circumvent their judgment.”
“Jack, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Things have been moving so fast, and with all the drama going on around us, there hasn’t been time. You know I love Chloe, and we are going to be a family, so it seemed the next logical step.”
Salem heard his words, felt the sincerity in his voice. Chloe was already falling in love with “Yack,” her name for him. He was a wonderful man, and she was already head over heels in love with him. Making their marriage a whole, true one, with Chloe as his daughter? She loved the idea.
“As I was saying, Jack being part of the big picture is a giant step in the right direction for custody. Also, Ms. Baptiste has agreed to remain in New Orleans and testify as to the veracity of her statements regarding the Amirs and Sayifa’s involvement in both the camera installation as well as the fire being set. Bubba Hebert has been subpoenaed to corroborate Ms. Baptiste’s information about the cameras, as well as admit that he was hired to put them in your apartment, along with printing and delivering the photos from said cameras.”
Ivy took a sip of her coffee after finishing her statement. Chance seemed content to let Ivy handle dispersing the information, since she would be lead council.
“Not sure Bubba will show up. He might ghost on you. Dude’s got a long record, hasn’t been out of Angola all that long, and he’s scared. I wouldn’t count on him being there.” Jack perched on the arm of Salem’s chair, and his presence eased a little of her anxiety, but she doubted anything would help until the case was over and Chloe was safe.
“Well, there’s also Rashid Amir and Jennifer Baptiste’s phone conversation that was recorded. If this was a criminal case, it would never make it into evidence, but since this is a custody hearing, and a contentious one at that, I think it will be admissible.”
“Be honest with me, please. Do you think there’s any chance the judge will award custody of Chloe to Sayifa? Don’t sugarcoat things. I need to know the truth. Can I lose my daughter?”
Ivy leaned forward and looked Salem in the eyes. “I only deal in honesty. I’ve found there’s less chance of repercussions later. Enough people already hate my guts because of who I am, and who my mother is. Lying just makes things worse. I would estimate your chances of retaining custody of Chloe at about ninety percent. I wish I could say one hundred percent, but like I said, I’m not going to lie. I don’t know what kind of evidence the Amirs might bring. We know things are going to get ugly. That’s why you hired me. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.”
“Salem, I haven’t told you everything.” Chance held up his hand to stop her from interrupting, and her stomach knotted at his expression. She reached over and grabbed Jack’s forearm, needing to anchor herself from what was coming.
“What?”
“When the Amirs sent the paperwork telling you they were suing for custody, something tickled at the back of my mind and bothered me for days before I figured out what it was. But because I’m a suspicious guy, I wanted to check my information before saying anything. You said that after Tarik died, Abdullah, as the second son, took over the family’s business dealings, right?”
She nodded. “Tarik mentioned the line of succession once, when he talked about the future. If anything happened to him, he promised Abdullah would take care of me. Why?”
“I have everything you brought with you to Shiloh Springs. Here.” He pulled out a sheaf of paperwork and handed it to Salem. “Take a close look at the signature of the person filing the case. Take a look at the petition, specifically at the signature of the petitioner.” Chance handed her the stack of paperwork with a paperclip to mark the spot.
“I don’t understand, what am I looking for…” She brought the page closer, to make sure she wasn’t seeing things. That wasn’t Abdullah’s name at the bottom of the page. The scrawling signature wasn’t one she expected, and befuddled her.
“Rashid? It’s Rashid Amir’s signature. I thought Abdullah was the one who was suing for custody.”
“That’s what we all thought. Everything else states Abdullah’s name, including the filing status. However, though the printed name shows Abdullah Amir, the signature is clearly Rashid.”
“Does this affect the custody case, if there’s this kind of error?” Jack got the question out before Salem could ask it.
“Probably not a lot, unless there’s a suggestion of fraud.”
“Once Chance caught that mistake, we had a handwriting expert compare Rashid’s signature on the forms with Abdullah’s. They are one hundred percent sure that Abdullah did not sign anything. Rashid forged Abdullah’s signature on the petition as well as all the accompanying paperwork.”
Hope blossomed in Salem’s chest. Could this mean the case would be thrown out? She looked at Jack, who looked as shocked as she felt. Leaning over, he brushed a kiss against the top of her head.
“Is this enough to get the suit thrown out?”
A pounding on the front door stopped Chance from answering. “Jack! We need you right now! Conference room.” Nate’s raised voice had everyone in the room looking at Jack.
“I have no idea what he wants. He knows we’re meeting with y’all, going over the case.”
“Sounds like it’s important. Mind if I tag along?”
Jack chuckled. “Typical Boudreau. Always wanting in on the action. Salem, Ivy, we’ll be right back.”
Taking the stairs two at a time, they quickly made their way to the conference room. Samuel, Nate, and a stranger waited inside. Jack went on instant alert when he looked at the man. Though he sat quiet and still, there was an air of menace about him, one that wasn’t a fa?ade or an illusion. This man was dangerous in every sense of the word, and the hair on the back of Jack’s neck stood at attention, warning him to be vigilant and alert.
“What’s going on?”
“Jack, Chance, this is Hassan ben Saeed.”
Chance sucked in a breath. “The Eagle.”
The dark-haired man bowed his head in greeting, a small smile tugging at his lips. “That is correct, Mr. Boudreau. Have no fear, I mean you nor your loved ones any harm.”
“Hassan is here to relay some information to you, Jack.” Samuel’s voice gave away nothing, but Nate’s body was practically vibrating with excitement.
“Mr. Sutton, Mr. Boudreau. I will get right to the point.” Hassan hadn’t moved an inch since Jack had walked into the room until now. He placed his hands palms down on the conference table, about two feet apart. Stone faced, his expression never changing, Jack was unable to read whether the news about to be imparted was good or bad, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He only wished he was carrying, because the tension in the room was palpable.
“Listen to him, Jack. I’ve got the feeling it’s critical.”
“It is, Mr. Boudreau, I assure you. I have already informed Mr. Carpenter and Mr. Blackwell that my intentions are to cause you and your family no harm.” Hassan paused, watching Jack closely. Apparently, he found whatever he was looking for before continuing. “My occupation is not one that is acceptable to most people, though I have made peace with my choices, my actions. However, the job the recent contract offered to me is…unacceptable. After much consideration, and at great risk to my reputation and possibly my life, I feel that I must decline the contracted job.”
Chance’s hand landed on Jack’s shoulder, squeezing tight. He wasn’t sure if he did it to offer support, or to keep him from lunging across the table at Hassan. Jack was no stranger to the rather precise wording Hassan used. It didn’t take a genius to work out that he was a hired assassin.
“As I explained to Mr. Carpenter, the person who executed the contract was Sayifa Amir. She wired one million American dollars into my account, with an additional ten million upon completion of the execution of you, Mr. Sutton, and your wife, Salem Hudson-Sutton. I was given strict instructions to make sure the child—the girl—survives.”
Everything in the room faded away except for Hassan’s face. Jack’s vision tinted red as anger raged inside, burning hot with the intensity of a thousand flames. This man was here to kill the woman he loved.
“Jack, stop and listen. Hassan is not going to kill Salem. That’s why he’s here. He said no. Do you understand? We’ve got them. The Amirs cannot take Chloe. They cannot hurt Salem. I’ve talked with the State Department, and they do not have diplomatic immunity. Jack, this is premeditated murder, a hired assassination contract. Sayifa will be arrested and stand trial.”
Samuel’s words finally got through and Jack’s body relaxed. Hassan still sat frozen, as still as a statue, his hands resting atop the table. Jack had no doubt beneath his American clothing, Hassan had more than one weapon secreted away.
“What made you turn down the contract?” Chance directed the question to Hassan. “I’ve never heard of you saying no to a high paying hit.”
“Regardless of what you may have heard, Mr. Boudreau, I do not kill women or children on the whim of an old woman who cannot accept her son is dead by his own design. Yes, I keep abreast of what happens in my nation. People call me a monster, and I accept it. I made the decision a long time ago to exact justice and it cost me dearly. Now I help others who can afford my fee, enough to ease my black soul.” Hassan slowly stood and turned toward Samuel and Nate. “There is one final thing you should know. Sayifa and Rashid Amir had Abdullah drugged and confined to a mental hospital months ago. Everything that has happened to Salem Hudson-Sutton had nothing to do with Abdullah. He has been kept drugged and unaware. The world believes that Abdullah is sick and receiving help for a physical illness while Rashid runs their businesses. Abdullah fought against any action being taken against Mrs. Hudson-Sutton in retaliation for Tarik Amir’s death.”
“How sure are you of your facts?”
Hassan smiled, though it didn’t reach his dark eyes. “I personally brought Abdullah from the hellhole his family kept him confined in and am in the process of helping him detox from the drugs they’ve administered to him for the last few months. His family is unaware that Abdullah is no longer their unwilling guest at the mental hospital. I assure you if the American legal system cannot administer justice, Abdullah will make them pay.”
“Why?” Jack managed to get the question out, his mind reeling from everything Hassan had told them. “Why would you help us? From what you’ve said, the contract Sayifa offered would have made you a wealthy man.”
“Mr. Sutton, I am already a wealthy man. When I was contacted by Sayifa Amir to eliminate her problems with you and Salem Hudson-Sutton, she mentioned Abdullah approved. I know this to be untrue. Abdullah is a…friend, one I cherish. He would never condone the murder of a woman. On this we concur. Knowing the Amir family through Abdullah, I grew suspicious and once I realized what Sayifa and Rashid planned, I agreed to take the contract in order to keep Sayifa from offering it to another.”
“I was telling Jack and Salem right before you summoned us here, the petition for Chloe’s custody, hell, all the paperwork is fraud, Abdullah’s signature was forged by Rashid. He made a mistake and signed his own name on the petition.” Chance’s smile grew wider, and he slapped Jack on the back. “This is definitely good news, my friend.” He turned to Hassan. “I realize that due to your circumstances, you will not testify.”
“That is correct. However, you will find that the money Sayifa Amir wired to me, foolish woman, came from her personal account. It should be easy enough to track, which places the noose around her neck. Abdullah will need a few more days of recovery, but he is willing to testify against both his mother and his brother.”
“Where is Abdullah now? Can we help in any way with his recovery?”
“My thanks, Mr. Boudreau, Mr. Carpenter, but Abdullah wishes his location to remain undisclosed for the next few days, but he will be contacting you to discuss any testimony you may need, both for the custody case as well as criminal prosecution. He must consider how this will affect his younger sister, who knows nothing about any of her family’s machinations.”
“Please let him know, if there is any way we can assist him, do not hesitate to get in touch.”
Hassan bowed his head to Samuel in response to his words, turned, and walked out the door, disappearing from view.
“That was…unexpected.” Chance crossed his arms over his chest and looked at Samuel. “Hassan ben Saeed. Do you have any idea who he is?”
Samuel simply quirked a brow and smirked. Yeah, he knew.
“I have a question. When do we arrest Sayifa and Rashid? I want to be there, to look her in the face when she realizes she’s lost.” Jack’s voice came out in a low growl, his anger rising to the surface at how close he’d come to losing Salem and Chloe.
“Sorry, they’ve already been taken into custody by the Feds. They grabbed them both the minute their plane landed. With all the evidence Hassan willingly provided, Abdullah agreeing to testify against his family, they will never be free again. No matter how much you want to take matters into your own hands, Jack, it’s over.”
Jack hadn’t been paying much attention to Nate during this exchange, until he started laughing. That was when Jack noted the tablet in his hand. He turned it so Jack could see what was on the screen.
An older woman dressed in Arab garb struggled in the grasp of two men in suits, fighting and screaming at the top of her lungs. They were at what looked like the tarmac of a private airport, because a Gulfstream was in the background. He couldn’t hear the sound, but he’d bet the agents detaining her were getting an earful. Behind her, standing stoically in a dark-colored suit was the man he assumed was Rashid Amir, handcuffs encircling his wrists. He looked resigned to the situation, while his mother continued to rant.
It was a beautiful sight.
“How?”
“Had Stefan tap into the feed at the private airport outside New Orleans, it’s the same one we use. He recorded this so we’d have it for posterity. I say this is a job well done. Yeah, team.” Nate handed the tablet to Jack. “Take this and show it to Salem. Give her the closure she needs to know she and Chloe are safe.”
“I…I can’t thank you guys enough for everything you’ve done.” Jack stared down at the screen, watching the scene unfolding, trying to wrap his head around the fact that it was over.
The big question was, what happened now?