Chapter 26
Hez picked up his notes from the classroom lectern and went straight for the door. Most evenings he hung around for a few
minutes in case any students had questions—but not today. He had two hours before his next class, and he intended to make
every minute count.
The smell of fresh paint greeted him as he walked down the hall, and the sound of power tools floated through an open window.
Savannah’s increases to the maintenance budget were paying off. Hopefully she’d find some money for new computers for the
law school too, but Hez wasn’t holding his breath.
“Professor Webster!”
Hez turned to see Ed Hernandez hurrying after him. “Hi, Ed. What’s up?”
Ed caught up to him. “Thanks for putting in a good word with Jimmy Little. He offered me a summer associateship with his firm.”
“That’s great news!” Hez stuck out his hand, which Ed shook vigorously. “Jimmy was impressed with your work at the Justice
Chamber.”
“Do we have any new cases coming in? Now that swimming season is over, I have more time. I’d love to get as much experience as possible before starting my summer job.”
Hez paused. Ed and the rest of the Justice Chamber crew would be a big help in the fight to bring Michael to justice, but
this wasn’t a pro bono case. The Justice Chamber was supposed to promote the public interest—it wasn’t Hez’s personal law
firm. Besides, Ella’s death was a personal matter in more ways than one. “Nope, nothing new for the Justice Chamber. I’ll
let you know if that changes.”
Hez walked into his office, shut the door, and tossed his notes on the desk. He pulled out his cell and dialed Hope’s number.
She picked up on the second ring. “Hey, Hez. What’s up?”
He told her about Deke’s confession. He stayed in lawyer mode, describing events from a clinical, legal perspective. It kept
him from breaking down—barely. “I’m not objective, of course, but it seems like there are grounds to open an investigation.”
“Yes, of course. I . . .” Her voice trailed off. “This is such a shock. I’m so sorry, Hez. H-how are you doing?”
He gritted his teeth. “I’ll be doing a lot better once Michael is behind bars.”
“I’ll contact the Birmingham DA’s office as soon as I’m off the line with you. I’ll get a copy of the file and make a pitch
that our office should handle the prosecution. The murder took place up there, but the perps and witnesses are all here.”
Hez thanked her and ended the call. Then he dropped the phone on his desk and buried his face in his hands.
Rage and grief swirled through him, but also a thread of relief.
Savannah was right: It hadn’t been all his fault.
Guilt and self-loathing stepped hard on the relief—how dare he feel relieved that his daughter had been murdered!
He should have been with Ella, watching her like he’d promised Savannah.
His practical side reminded him of Michael’s tenacity and determination.
If that attempt had failed, he would have kept on trying.
Hez closed his eyes and groaned as he wrestled with the injustice. “Oh, God. Help me get through this. Help Savannah. And
give Ella justice. Please.” He pictured Ella with God, like Savannah had said in the cemetery. He saw her holding the nail-scarred
hand of a young man with kind brown eyes. It helped. A little.
His phone vibrated on the plywood desktop. Hope was already calling back. He took the call. “That was quick.”
“I just got off the phone with the Birmingham PD.” Her voice was tight and tense. “The file on Ella’s death is gone.”
The bottom dropped out of Hez’s stomach. “What?”
“But the good news is that the thief didn’t spot one of the security cameras. We know who Pelican Harbor’s mole is. I’ve told
Jane, and they’ll make an arrest any minute.”
Savannah sat hugging herself as the rest of the grieving parents filed out of the classroom at TGU where the group session
was held every week. Spilling the news that her daughter had been targeted had gutted her, but she needed to get it out. She
withheld the perpetrator’s name, but Michael’s insolent smile still hovered in her brain.
Seated beside her in the back row of blue folding chairs, Nora touched her hand.
“I’m so sorry, Savannah. Th-this is beyond horrible and tragic.
I wish I could take the pain.” She leaned down and snagged her purse and Savannah’s as well.
“Let’s get some air. It’s stuffy in here with the AC already off. ”
Savannah nodded and rose to go with her. “I’ll take my purse.” She retrieved it and slung it over her shoulder. She lifted
her face to welcome the cooling night breeze fragrant with the scent of magnolia.
Nora stopped in the lot by Savannah’s car. “I know you couldn’t say who was behind the plot, but do you want to tell me?”
Accusations against Michael hovered on her lips, but she pressed them together. Did Nora already know he’d been involved?
She pushed away the disloyal thought. Nora would never conceal something like that from her. “Deke talked about all the Legares
had done to his family. He didn’t specifically say who was behind it, but Hez and I have our suspicions.”
The illumination from the overhead parking lot light revealed Nora’s expression shifting from concerned to uneasy. “I—I don’t
know what to say.” Tears glimmered on her lashes. “I’m so sorry.” She moved her purse to her other shoulder. “I put out some
inquiries about Martine. She’s gone to ground, but I’ll find her.”
The determination in Nora’s voice bolstered Savannah’s confidence. While Nora might not be comfortable tearing down her uncle’s
character, she would help in any way she could. “I appreciate that. I believe Hez was set up, and she didn’t come up with
that idea on her own. I want to get her to admit who was behind it.”
“You think it was Uncle Michael.” Nora’s flat tone said it all. This was no surprise to her.
“Michael is bent on revenge.”
“How did you handle Deke’s request for forgiveness?”
“Hez and I both forgave him for trying to kill us.” Savannah touched her car door handle and it unlocked. She opened the door
and tossed her purse onto the passenger seat, then leaned against the car. She absently fingered the bracelet Nora had given
her. “We’re still processing what happened to Ella. I’m not sure I can let go of that yet.”
“Don’t become Uncle Michael.” The words burst out of Nora in a rush. “He’s eaten up with the need to get even.”
In her mind’s eye Savannah saw the determination on Hez’s face to enact justice. Was that the need for revenge? She swirled
the tiny beads on the bracelet. The bracelet couldn’t help her with this problem, though. Only God could.
Her phone sounded from inside the car with a text message. She leaned inside and retrieved it to see a message from Hez. Call me. We need to talk ASAP. She wanted to finish with Nora before she answered him, so she tossed her phone on top of her purse.
Two police cars, sirens blaring and lights flashing, pulled into the parking lot and parked behind them. The vehicles’ doors
flew open, and Jane, still in uniform, got out of the first car. Jane Dixon could have been a younger brunette Reese Witherspoon
but was more competent than her youthful appearance implied. Detective Augusta Richards stepped out of the second one, and
they both approached where Savannah stood with Nora.
Savannah’s gut tightened at Jane’s grim expression. Augusta’s was equally serious. Had they come to give her bad news? Her
fingers curled into her palms, and she held herself erect for the coming blow.
She took a step toward them. “Is it Simon? Is he okay? Or Hez?”
Jane’s hazel eyes softened. “Everyone is fine.” Her attention moved from Savannah to Nora. “Nora Craft, you’re under arrest.”
She nodded at Augusta, who moved to Nora and turned her around.
Augusta pulled Nora’s arms behind her and slapped on the cuffs. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can
be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to counsel, and if you can’t afford an attorney, one will be provided
for you. Do you understand your rights?”
“What are the charges?” Nora asked in a quiet voice.
“Do you understand your rights?” Augusta asked again.
“Yes, but I don’t understand. What am I charged with?”
“Evidence tampering, obstructing government operations, and hindering felony prosecutions.”
Savannah gasped and took a step back. “I don’t believe it, Jane. Nora wouldn’t do that.”
Jane remained expressionless. “Hez will explain it to you.”