Chapter 27
Hez sat at the table in the Justice Chamber, trying to grade papers. That would be easier if he sat at his desk or stopped
watching the open door in front of him. But if he did either of those things, he wouldn’t know when Erik Andersen walked by.
Andersen’s office was at the end of the hall, and Hez had urgent business with him.
Last night’s phone conversation with Savannah didn’t help his focus. He had been so excited to tell her that the PHPD mole
was about to be arrested that he hadn’t immediately realized she was saying something about Nora—or that she was crying. He’d
talked over her tears for nearly a minute before her sobs broke through the torrent of words pouring from his mouth.
He winced at the memory. He had apologized, of course, but he needed to do something to make it up to her. Soon.
Still, he couldn’t help being excited. Hope hadn’t just caught the mole.
She’d caught a Willard—and that meant they were one step closer to catching Michael.
Nora seemed like a sweet woman, but she’d clearly betrayed her best friend—even if Savannah didn’t want to believe it.
Nora must have been taking orders from Michael.
And if anyone could find the proof, Hope could.
She would draw the net tight around Michael and haul him in—but netting a shark was tricky, and Hez planned to give her all the help he could.
That was one reason he had staked out Andersen’s office this morning.
There he was! Hez caught a quick glimpse of khaki slacks, black polo, and perfectly coiffed blond hair as his target passed.
Hez dropped the student paper he was reading and hurried after Andersen. He caught up just as the man was turning into his
office. Hez rapped on the door as Andersen reached to shut it.
The professor’s blue eyes went wide with surprise and he jerked back. “Hez! I’m surprised to see you.”
“Likewise.”
Andersen cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
Hez glanced around to make sure they were alone. “Well, you offered to consent to our adoption petition in return for control
of Jess’s trust plus a permanent vacation in France or Hawaii, but then you consented to Michael’s petition before we could
respond. His offer must have been so good that you didn’t even bother to negotiate with us. So I’m surprised you’re still
here and not off on a private island or something.”
A spasm of anger crossed Andersen’s face. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Then just listen. Give me five minutes. I don’t think you’ll regret it.”
Andersen eyed him with wary indecision for a moment, then nodded. “Five minutes.”
Hez stepped into Andersen’s office, which felt a little like a walk-in trophy case.
Polished walnut bookcases and a matching table were mostly decorated with awards and honorary degrees Andersen had received as well as pictures of him with famous people.
He seated himself behind an ornate walnut desk as Hez settled in one of the leather guest chairs.
Andersen glanced at his watch, then steepled his fingers. “I’m listening.”
“Michael Willard is a thug and he’d make a terrible father for your son. I think you know that. So why did you consent to
his adoption petition? It wasn’t money, at least not the kind of money you were demanding from Savannah and me. If he’d handed
you a mountain of cash, you wouldn’t be here. So I’m guessing Michael took your consent by force. He threatened you, and the
threat was serious enough that you gave him what he wanted.”
Andersen’s eyes narrowed and little lines formed around the corners of his mouth. “Get to the point.”
“The point is that neither of us likes Michael—and we’re not the only ones. I still have connections in the law enforcement
community, and I have reason to believe someone is investigating him. If he committed extortion or made threats of violence,
he could be in serious trouble—especially if he did it to corrupt a judicial proceeding.”
Andersen leaned forward. “Like an adoption proceeding?”
“Yep.”
“How much trouble would he be in if he did that?”
Hez resisted the urge to smile. “That would be a felony, and probably not the only one. If Michael could also be tied to the artifact smuggling that went on last year, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.”
“Hmm. Could he adopt Simon if he’s in prison?”
“No.”
Andersen’s eyes held a crafty gleam. “So my consent to the adoption would disappear and I could consent to someone else adopting
my son?”
Hez’s stomach churned at Andersen’s willingness to sell Simon to the highest bidder. The boy deserved so much better. “Yes.”
“I see.” Andersen tapped his fingertips against each other. “Tell your law enforcement connections that there’s a person who
can prove Michael engaged in extortion, artifact smuggling, and other serious crimes. This person will need protection, of
course. Immunity too.”
“I’ll deliver that message.”
Andersen gave an oily smile, showing too-perfect teeth. “Good. You were right. I don’t regret sacrificing five minutes of
my day for this.”
Hez ended the conversation and got out of Andersen’s office as quickly as possible. Andersen made Hez’s skin crawl, and he
felt like he needed a shower. He and Hope were going for a run in a few minutes, and he could tell her what he found out.
She’d be very interested.
He didn’t like the idea of Andersen getting immunity for his crimes. And he really didn’t like the idea of haggling over Simon’s
future with Andersen’s lawyer, Nita the Knife. But it would be worth it if Michael was permanently behind bars.
It was no wonder Simon loved spending time at Michael’s property.
It was a kid paradise with the lush green yard and a tree house at the edge of the woods.
Savannah spotted a glimpse of a small lake or pond through the canopy of trees as she drove along the property to pull into the driveway.
The wide porch on the two-story home held several chairs and a swing.
Helen sat on an Adirondack chair, and Michael rose from the one beside her as Savannah parked.
It took all her strength not to leap at him and claw his face. Hez had warned her to say nothing about what they’d learned
from Deke, so she swallowed down the accusations burning the back of her tongue.
She got out, and Helen’s hard, suspicious expression dimmed Savannah’s spirits even more. If only Hez could have come with
her, but the court order forbade any contact with Simon.
Shading her eyes with her hand from the morning sun, she approached Michael as he descended the steps. “I don’t see Simon.
Is he getting his things inside?” A smoker on a trailer parked by the house puffed out the aroma of brisket, but she was too
tense to find it appealing.
Michael folded his arms over his chest, and his biceps bulged in his blue tee. “He’s out back playing with his cousins in
the woods. I think they’re catching crawdads in the creek. I’ll get him.”
“He is supposed to be ready for custody transfer.”
Michael’s glowering stare let her know he cared nothing about a court order. “Stay here.” He stalked to the side of the house and went around toward the back. His two German shepherds approached, and one gave a low growl. Savannah froze and eyed the dogs.
“Lie down,” Helen commanded.
The dogs backed away and settled on the ground. Savannah’s fingers touched the bracelet at her wrist, and she fondled the
words Best Friends. She’d been doing the same thing when she overheard Nora talking to Helen. Nora needed help, and her great-aunt might have
some information to help free her. Savannah was certain Helen knew something.
Savannah mounted the steps and approached Helen. “Mrs. Willard, I need your help. I love Nora like a sister. She gave me this
bracelet when I was going through a hard time a few months ago.” She extended her arm and showed Helen her bracelet. “I know
you love her too. I think you might know who framed her. Please, help me get her out of jail.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Helen said in a dismissive tone.
“I overheard you and Nora talking at University Grounds. Nora said, ‘It could get real ugly,’ and you responded, ‘No one will
ever know.’ I’m not trying to get anyone in trouble—I just want Nora cleared. What were you talking about?”
Savannah thought she caught a bit of surprise in the woman’s brown eyes. Helen’s expression went blank, and her lips flattened.
She glanced away and then back at Savannah. Her mouth opened, but she shut it when the sound of children laughing floated
their way.
Simon came into view first, and he rushed up the steps to throw his arms around Savannah. She relished his tight hug. “You smell like the creek.” She smoothed his sweaty hair. “Did you catch any crawdads?”
“We sure did. Pawpaw is going to clean them and freeze them so we can have them when I come back.”
His cousins rounded the corner of the house and ran for the tree house. Simon took a step after them, and she put her hand
on his shoulder. “We need to go. Grab your backpack.”
“Aw, man.” He scowled and trudged to the door. “I wish we could all be together here. Why does it have to be so hard?” The
screen door banged behind him to punctuate his displeasure.
The dogs rose and raced toward the side of the house, and Savannah tensed, knowing they’d alerted to Michael’s presence. His
mood appeared to have worsened, and if looks could kill, she’d be six feet under.
His gaze flickered from her to his mother, then back again. “I told you to stay put. What are you doing bothering my mom?”
“Just chatting.” Savannah kept her tone casual and walked down the steps. “Next time have him ready and your family won’t
have to put up with my presence.” He reached toward her as if to grab her arm, and she fixed him with a hard stare of warning.
“I wouldn’t if I were you.”
His hand fell back to his side, but his face twisted into a harder expression.
Simon tore out of the house with his backpack slung over his shoulder. “I’m ready, Aunt Savannah.”
Michael’s hands curled into fists. “I wasn’t going to let him go at all, but my mother talked me into it. Get off my property
before I change my mind.”
Savannah steered Simon toward her car. He flung his pack into the back seat, then climbed in on the passenger side. She went around to the driver’s side and got in, then shot a final backward glance toward Helen, who stared after the car with a thoughtful, remote expression.
Nothing seemed to get through to the Willard family. Did Helen care nothing about Nora?