30. Savannah
Today is the big day, and Aiden looks amazing in his suit and tie when he comes downstairs. He was up early this morning and spent time on his inline rink to get in some training since he would be missing the official practice today.
I approach him, adjusting his tie with a gentle touch, my hand lingering over his heart. “You look impeccable, Aiden. You’re the pride and joy of Savannah, and I can’t believe that there is a judge in this city who would dare to rule against you without facing a political backlash. I know that I certainly wouldn’t.”
He takes hold of the hand I have on his chest and stares deeply into my eyes. “Thank you for agreeing to come with me today. Having you in my corner means the world to me.” He reaches down to take my left hand in his as well, gently tracing the ring on my finger. “I know that our engagement isn’t real, Anna, but my feelings for you are. I have come to care for you in a way I never expected, and I’m falling more in love with you with every day that passes.
A small tear leaks from my eye, trailing a path down my cheek. I’ve never been loved by a man who sees beyond the surface into the heart of me. When I arrived on his doorstep a few weeks ago, I was afraid my emotional scars made me ugly on the inside. Aiden makes me feel like they are a symbol of strength and fortitude. He makes me feel beautiful and desired, but for who I am deep down, and not just by what he sees on the outside.
“I’m falling in love with you, too, Aiden, and it scares me.”
“Why does it scare you?”
“I’ve never loved a man before, and I’m afraid I’ll mess it up. What if I get it wrong?”
Aiden’s lips tenderly press against mine. “Savannah, listen to me very carefully. Love isn’t always easy. In fact, it can get downright messy at times. What it should be is unconditional. Are you going to mess up? Absolutely. Am I going to mess up? There’s no doubt about it. We are imperfect beings in an imperfect world, and we will make mistakes. The question is, are we perfect for each other?”
He doesn’t give me time to answer but shows me how much he loves me by kissing me again, this time the tip of his tongue lightly caressing my bottom lip. His hands tangle in the hair at the nape of my neck as he deepens the kiss, pulling my body flush against his.
I hear a soft giggling and pull away to see where it’s coming from. Penny and Martha stand at the base of the stairs, each wearing a ten-mile smile. Martha clears her throat, “We didn’t mean to interrupt, but you guys need to get going if you plan on making it on time. Jerry and Jessie are waiting out front for you.”
The Shaw Squad will remain here at the house today with Penny and Martha. Reggie is currently at the courthouse with Aiden’s team of lawyers. I wanted Jerry and Jessie with Aiden and me because they’ll be monitoring and surveilling rather than providing protection. It doesn’t hurt that they can blend in a little easier since they aren’t as recognizable as four muscle-bound men in suits.
Aiden hugs his mother before picking up Penny and providing words of comfort. “Everything is going to work out just as it should. I love you, Pumpkin.”
“I love you, too, Dad. I want to live with you forever.” Penny hugs Aiden and runs over to me once he lowers her to the ground. Wrapping her arms around my thighs, she looks up at me and says, “I love you, Anna.”
I hug her back. “You have my heart, Penny. Now and forever.”
Jerry and Jessie ride in their rented Suburban while Aiden drives us to the courthouse in his vehicle. I’ve never been much of a “truck” girl, but I could be convinced after riding in his Sierra.
Traffic is light, and we end up arriving almost half an hour ahead of schedule, giving us plenty of time to touch base with his legal team before the proceedings. Jessie and Jerry park down the street, where they will monitor the feed from the recording device embedded in my necklace.
“Testing. Testing. One. Two. Three,” Jessie says as she runs through a quick comms check.
“I read you loud and clear. How about me?” I respond.
Jerry’s deep voice comes over the line, “I’ve got you five by five. Watch your back in there and stay alert. We’ve got your six, and we’ll have the cameras plastered to the exterior of the building in short order so we can monitor all the clock positions.”
I chuckle. “Roger that. We’re parking on level three of the garage. Make sure to get a visual on our vehicle. You don’t have much time.”
I hear a door opening and closing and the sound of cars passing by. “I’m already on it. We’ll be fully up and running in less than ten minutes,” Jessie says.
I trust them to get the job done, and then I face Aiden, “Are you ready to do this?”
“Not really. I’m going to have to trust that God knows what He’s doing.”
I’m new in my relationship with God, and trust has never come easy for me. It’s difficult for me to comprehend how Aiden can have such blind faith. “What if God’s will is that Patricia will gain custody?”
Aiden sighs deeply. “It might be, and I’m sure it will test me in ways that I have yet to imagine. But then I remember the story of Job, where God allowed Satan to attack Job and take everything away from him. God knew that Job was strong, faithful, and devoted. I’m no Job, but I believe good will triumph over evil in the end.”
Aiden and I pray before we head into the courthouse, where Reggie and the team are waiting for us. I’m immensely relieved when we’re escorted through a private entrance because of Aiden’s fame. I didn’t want to have to explain why I was carrying a gun, even though it would have been allowed the moment I showed them my Shining Knight credentials.
“Right this way, Mr. Shaw. They’re waiting for you,” the guard says, gesturing to a secure room.
While the lawyers are discussing the last-minute details, Aiden’s phone rings with an incoming email. I glance over his shoulder to see who it’s from and ask if he recognizes the sender.
“No, but whoever sent it attached a video.”
I whisper low into my comm. “Jerry, are you seeing this?”
“Yeah. Let me send a link that will allow me remote access to Aiden’s phone. I’ll scrub it to make sure it doesn’t contain any malware before you open up the file.”
I tell Aiden what Jerry said, and as soon as the link comes in, Aiden downloads the program. Aiden’s screen starts flickering as Jerry navigates through his phone.
“It’s clean. Go ahead and open it,” Jerry says a minute later.
Aiden does as directed, gasping when the camera pans around, and Swank comes into view. Swank is bound to a chair; his chin touching his chest and blood dripping down the side of his face. A synthesized voice says, “If you want to save your friend, you’ll do as we say. When the time comes, don’t put up a fight, or otherwise, you’ll meet the same fate.”
“Can you trace that, Jer?” I ask, hoping he can work his magic quickly.
“It’s going to take me some time to locate their IP address, but they can’t hide from me.”
Time is the one thing we don’t have, and I have a feeling this is all coming to a head.
The bailiff knocks on the door to escort us down the hall. Reggie gives Aiden a few words of encouragement before we follow the legal team to the courtroom, where Patricia and Gerald McFadden are waiting for us.
Patricia sits prim, proper, and dressed to impress; her hands folded on the table in front of her. When she glances our way, she looks like that cat who got the cream, and it’s at that moment that I know she has something up her sleeve. I don’t find out what it is until I’m asked to take the stand.
Patricia claims that Aiden and his parents are endangering Penny by not creating a safe environment and have failed to remove her from the dangerous situation. She feels that the time has come for her to step in and take action, despite having signed away her rights. She claims that she did so under duress, but she had held on to hope that Aiden would have Penny’s best interest at heart.
Aiden’s lawyers counter by explaining that action has been taken, hence the six bodyguards hired for protection. They purposefully refrain from including me in the number stated.
Gerald clears his throat, “Two times in the past month, Penny has been subjected to possible life-threatening conditions. Not only was she in the general vicinity when a shot was fired at her father, but also when a known stalker managed to infiltrate the ‘secured’ home. If that isn’t bad enough, Mr. Shaw became engaged after a mere four days to a woman with ties to the local mafia. Let me introduce Exhibit A.” The same picture of me with the O’Sullivans that was in the envelope is put on the screen.
One of Aiden’s lawyers argues that I had no idea who the men were when they approached me, which is why I didn’t appear to be nervous.
McFadden smirks at Aiden, who remains calm and composed in front of me. “Unfortunately, you don’t have any proof to back up your argument. ‘A picture is worth a thousand words,’ and this one speaks volumes.”
“In fact, we do have proof,” another of Aiden’s lawyers says. He plays the video of the entire conversation, and McFadden’s eyes widen. However, instead of being taken aback, he almost looks happy.
“I don’t know how you managed to get this recording, but all this proves is that Aiden is associated with local criminals, and Penny is in more danger than we originally thought.”
Eventually, I’m asked to take the stand, and my integrity is questioned. I’m blindsided by the amount of information McFadden has regarding my childhood experiences, and I have to wonder if my mother sold me out. Other than Aiden, she’s the only one who would have had the details.
My greatest fear is confirmed when McFadden says, “Gretchen Jones, now Gretchen Wilson, has openly admitted that she groomed her daughter Savannah Jones to marry wealthy, giving credence to the accusations that Savannah is only after Aiden’s money and doesn’t care about Penny’s welfare. What do you have to say to that, Ms. Jones? Or should I call you Ms. Anna Blackwood? Why would you need to hide your identity if you weren’t trying to scheme your way into a life of luxury?”
I keep my face neutral as I answer despite the rising temperature of the blood flowing through my veins. “As you clearly pointed out, my childhood was controlled by a woman with an agenda. That agenda was hers and hers alone. I used an assumed identity upon my arrival in Savannah because I didn’t know that my mother had changed. I felt I needed to do whatever I could to avoid an unnecessary encounter with her.”
Gerald walks up to me and then leans casually against the banister. “Might I ask how much is currently in your bank account, Ms. Jones? Actually, don’t answer that because I already know. You have nearly two million dollars in assets, and it begs me to wonder. How does a ‘nanny’ have so much money? If you aren’t luring wealthy men with your undeniable beauty, then how did you come to have so much?”
Aiden and Reggie both nod, permitting me to reveal who I am to the judge. “I’m not a nanny. I’m actually a protection specialist currently working for Shining Knight, headquartered in New York City. I spent nearly eight years working for the FBI prior to my current position, and because I lived out of a suitcase for most of that time, there was no need to spend frivolously. Through solid investments and savings, I created a nest egg for when I retire. I don’t need anyone else’s money because I have plenty of my own. I live within my means and work hard for everything I have.” I look pointedly at Patricia during the last part of my statement.
Gerald is genuinely shocked this time, having had no idea about what I truly do for a living. He looks a little nervous now that he knows. He doesn’t ask any more questions, but one of Aiden’s lawyers does. “Ms. Jones, as a security expert, do you feel that Penny is in danger by living with Mr. Shaw?”
“Aiden has done what any great father would do. He has gone out of his way to ensure the safety of his daughter. In my professional opinion, Penny would actually be in more danger living with Patricia since she doesn’t have the means to provide the same level of protection.”
I’m excused from the stand, and I retake my seat directly behind Aiden. I begin to think all might be lost, but then a man hands a folder to Aiden’s team of lawyers. They ask for a minute to peruse the documents and then ask the judge for permission to submit additional evidence that just came to light.
Handing the folder to the judge, Aiden’s lawyer says, “Let the record show that Patricia Shilling is associated with the O’Sullivans. If you look closely, you’ll see an exchange between Mrs. Shilling and Conor O’Sullivan in progress. Inside, there is also documentation that she was recently diagnosed with Anhedonia and had been prescribed low-dose ketamine to manage the symptoms. Anhedonia is the inability to feel joy, Your Honor. If you look on page two, you’ll see the doctor’s notes regarding Mrs. Shilling’s abuse of the medication and his refusal to continue that particular form of treatment. Based on the photograph, it appears as if Mrs. Shilling has taken it upon herself to self-medicate. Can you imagine what would happen if a child were to come into contact with such a substance? I shiver at the thought.”
Gerald scowls at Patricia before addressing the judge. “Your Honor, the picture is but a moment in time, and Mr. Shaw is grasping at straws. It’s not possible to tell what is going on with just a glimpse.”
The judge peers over his glasses at Gerald, “Yet you submitted a photo and accused Ms. Jones of conspiring with criminals. Are you not the one who said, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words?’ Do you have video evidence that would explain the nature of this encounter?”
Gerald shakes his head. “No, Your Honor. I do not.”
The judge gathers up all the evidence submitted by both parties before addressing the courtroom. “This is a special case with much to consider. I will spend the weekend going over everything and all the character testimony provided today. We will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning. I will have my decision for you then. Good day.”
“All rise,” says the bailiff as the judge leaves the room.
Patricia approaches Aiden in a huff, “You haven’t won by a long shot! I don’t know how you managed to get your hands on my medical records, but I’ll sue you for invasion of privacy.”
Aiden’s lawyer steps forward, “Mr. McFadden should have warned you that medical files can be obtained for the purpose of a custody hearing, especially when the welfare of a child is in question.”
Gerald mutters and glares at Patricia, “I would have had it been disclosed to me that there was a concern.”
Patricia watches her lawyer walk away and then turns back to us. “I’m surprised Swank isn’t here to defend you, Aiden. Could it be that he is indisposed with more pressing matters? You might want to check on him and make sure he’s still around. He is your best friend, after all.”
She cackles as she pushes open the courtroom door. I face Aiden—a bad feeling churning in my gut. “Whatever happens next, you need to follow my lead. I have eyes and ears that you don’t see or hear.”
Aiden turns toward his father, “Dad, go straight to my house and stay put. The O’Sullivans are targeting my loved ones now, and they took Swank. I don’t want to see the same happen to you.”
The lawyers rally around Reggie, and one says, “We’ll make sure he arrives in one piece.”
I address them all, “Keep your eyes peeled for anyone following you. If you even remotely suspect that someone is watching you, head for the nearest police department and wait there.”
Reggie promises to let Aiden know when he is secured and back at the house.
As Aiden and I are heading toward the garage, I hear Jessie’s voice in my ear warn us, “There is a black van entering the garage and heading in your direction.”
Jerry calmly adds, “Do as they said in the video and don’t put up a fight if they approach you. I was able to track the source of the IP address, and it’s coming from an abandoned warehouse just North of the city.”
“Are you sure that’s the correct location?” I ask.
“Positive. Roger has been monitoring the same feed from the house and keeping his contact appraised of the situation. The FBI is already en route and will wait for our signal. They can’t engage unless we can confirm the O’Sullivans are there. We need you on the inside to gain as much intel as possible,” Jerry explains.
“Why didn’t you mention any of this while we were in court?” I ask.
“I’m telling you now, Savvy. Would you have left Aiden unprotected when it’s him they want? You didn’t need the distraction when there was nothing you could do. Isn’t that why you brought us along instead of the Shaw Squad?”
I see his point. My team lined up the pieces for a solid strike, so when the inevitable happens, we’re already ten steps ahead of them. “Thanks, guys. I knew I could count on you.”
Jerry grunts, “One more thing. Amy was spotted watching the courthouse. She kept her distance, but she could be feeding the O’Sullivan’s information.”
“Do you still have eyes on her?” I ask.
“No, but she’s around somewhere.”
I let Aiden know the situation as we head toward his truck. I take his hand in mine and stop his forward momentum. I hear screeching tires as the van barrels up the ramp and kiss him lightly on the lips.
“Brace yourself. Things are about to go sideways.”