47. Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Maci
S utton has just finished showing me all of my photography equipment in his shop when my phone rings from Hank’s call.
“Hi, Hank.” My greeting is lackluster—not rude, but nothing like my usual chipper tone with him. “You’re on speaker.”
In comparison, his enthusiastic greeting is even more lively than usual. “Hey, Maci. Hey, Sutton. How are you?”
“Truthfully?” I don’t give Hank a chance to respond before I continue. “My anxiety is through the roof. Alan is following me. I can’t live like this, Hank. You have to get him to drop this suit.”
“What do you mean, following you?” Hank asks, unamused.
“He attempted to follow us after the funeral,” Sutton tells him. “And he showed up at the Jingle Bell Bash.”
“Did he approach you?”
“Yes.” I bring the phone closer to me, like I’m about to share a secret, but my volume doesn’t decrease. “And I don’t respond the same as I used to. My gut reaction is self-defense. Offense even. I pulled a knife on him.”
Part of me is wishing we had this conversation face to face. Is Hank rethinking helping me? Thinking he needs to increase his fees? Oh my God, I didn’t even ask what he charges.
“He didn’t call the police?” Hank’s skeptical question interrupts my thoughts.
“He left. I called Detective Porter and let him know, but he’s not as invested as he needs to be. I’m sure Alan will try to use the situation to his advantage, even though he started it.”
“And no one saw these events? Surely there were witnesses at the bash.”
“No. It was dark and there were hardly any people in my area because it was time for ice sculpting.”
Sutton speaks up. “The cameras at the shopping center heading out of town may have caught something. But only our argument, not the following. I’ll look like the aggressor on that one.”
Hank hums in thought. “Ok, well let’s hope we don’t have to get into all that. I got a hit based on the info you gave me.”
Adrenaline surges through my veins. I don’t dare interrupt.
“It turns out Alan has active marriage licenses in three states.”
“Three?” The word slips out in surprise. “Sorry, continue.”
Even through the phone, I can hear the smile that tilts Hank’s mouth and affects his speech. “One of the marriages is using an alias. We were able to find it based on information he gave the police department.”
“So now what?” Sutton leans closer to me over the console.
“Two of the marriages would likely be deemed invalid. The only legal one currently is to Stephanie. However, he’s participating in bigamy, which is a felony. My recommendation would be to submit our findings to Alan’s lawyer. Notify them that we plan to share with the district attorney.”
I don’t miss the gleam in Sutton’s eyes, the hidden joy. His response to Hank’s suggestion adds to my own positive feelings.
“We’ll offer to withhold the information on the understanding of him dropping the case. I’ll also prepare documents that state if Alan decides to try this again later, we’ll immediately send documentation to the District Attorney.”
“Will that work?”
“If he gets slapped with a third-degree felony, he could be looking at ten years in prison in addition to fines. I think he will reconsider.”
It may not be a life sentence, but picturing Alan in an orange jumpsuit without any control over his own life is immensely satisfying. He’d never allow that to happen. “Do it.”
“You got it. We’ve got him, Maci. Give it a day or so and I bet we’ll have word from his attorney that they’re dropping the suit.”
Once again, I want to throw my arms around Hank’s neck. “I was right before. We don’t deserve you.”
“There’s nothing to deserve,” he says through a chuckle. “Do you want Stephanie to be included in the documentation? Alan may require it. She has intimate knowledge of his life and may be able to access more than what we have initially.”
Sutton’s eyebrows rise at me in question.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure how she planned to use the knowledge. Let’s move forward as is. If he requests it, then I’ll talk to her.”
“You got it. Talk to you soon, Maci.”
“Bye, Hank. Thank you.” A cautious relief washes over me. I’m finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Thanks, Hank,” Sutton says from next to me.
“Bye guys.” Hank hangs up.
Sutton and I stare at each other quietly for a few seconds, then he speaks softly. “Almost done, Firecracker.”