Epilogue
One Week Later
Sundays were typically family day. Dinner at Amanda’s parents’ house was a tradition, but today, she intended to make it count even more.
She’d picked up Zoe that morning and was with her on the couch now.
The girl snuggled against her side as they watched Frozen.
While Amanda would normally take that as a sign that Zoe had regressed in her grief, it didn’t feel that way when Zoe had asked if they could watch it together.
There was a subtle slant to her request, as though acceptance was moving in.
Zoe was doing better than ever since Amanda told Zoe that she and Trent caught her teacher’s killer and found his family. She wasn’t deceiving herself to think the darker feelings wouldn’t rise up again, but when they did, Amanda would be there.
Upon hearing Amanda’s update, Zoe had beamed and said, “You’re like a superhero, Mom.”
Tears threatened, and Amanda turned to humor and mocked offense. “Just like?”
Zoe giggled. “No, you are!”
Then it had been Zoe’s suggestion to watch the movie. They had eaten ice cream, half of which ended up on Zoe’s outfit, requiring a change of clothes. But pajamas were far comfier anyhow.
Amanda’s mind drifted to the past week. They had informed Malone about their chat with Hernandez and what he’d said about US Marshal Russell Holden.
Malone had made another call to the director, but she couldn’t leave it at that.
An epiphany had prompted her to call Detective Briggs.
It had been two days, and she still hadn’t heard back from him.
Amanda turned to Zoe. “What do you say to popcorn?”
“Yay!”
Amanda paused the movie and got up to make some. “Coming right up.”
She stuck a bag in the microwave and pulled out her phone. It was convenient for her that her PJ bottoms had pockets. Still no message from Briggs. It was Sunday, and she should have let him be, but she just couldn’t let it go. She called his cell phone, and he answered on the first ring.
“Amanda? I was just getting ready to call you.”
“Good news?”
“Depends how you look at it. But I ran through the footage from the camera on Hernandez’s rural property again. That photograph you sent me of the US marshal looked familiar, and sure enough…”
Tingles ran through her. It sure sounded like her hunch was paying off. She’d thought digital proof might confirm Holden had been in contact with Hernandez.
“Mom?” Zoe called out from the living room.
“Just a minute, sweetie.” Back to Briggs, Amanda said, “So Deputy Russell Holden was there?”
“Yes, during the time Abigail McGee and the Archers would have been.”
“He came for his payoff.”
“My guess. It’s surprising he lived to tell about it. But I have more.”
Amanda leaned against the counter. There was still a minute left on the timer for the popcorn. It was like time had slowed down to a crawl.
Briggs continued. “You know I have Lucas Hernandez’s phone. Well, I’ve been through it. There is call history between him and Holden.”
“He didn’t even try to block his number?”
“Nope.”
“And how far does it go back?”
“Two weeks.”
When Abigail McGee had come to Woodbridge to meet up with Valerie Archer. “Unbelievable. He’s dirty and needs to pay. He’s an accessory to all of it.”
“I’d say we have enough to pursue charges against the marshal from my discoveries alone. And I’m sure once his bank accounts are accessed, there will be hard proof.”
“Thank you, Jacob.” She didn’t pull out his first name often, but it felt right.
“Don’t mention it. Now I’m heading home for some sleep.”
“Pleasant dreams.” She’d sleep soundly when the time came for her.
Briggs was gone, and after seeing there was still time left on the popcorn, she called Malone.
“It’s Sunday,” he grumbled.
“Yeah, well, you need to hear this.” She laid out everything she’d just learned from Briggs.
“I’ll forward all of this along. He’ll be arrested, Amanda. Great job. Now, just take the remainder of the day, would you, and get some rest? Recharge? Go eat roast beef and mashed potatoes at your parents’.”
She smiled. “Will do.” As she pocketed her phone, her eye caught the wedding invite stuck to the fridge for Libby and her fiancée, Penny… Anderson. It hit her like a truck. She’d never given it any thought before. Was she related to Judge Gene Anderson?
The microwave beeped.
“Mom!” Zoe called out.
“Just a minute.” Amanda emptied the bag of popcorn into a bowl.
Judge Anderson was still one loose end from all of this.
There wasn’t enough to prove he was corrupt.
How Amanda wished she could just bury her head in the sand and ignore what her gut was telling her.
She’d tried to convince Malone that Hernandez and his men were ready for them because of Anderson.
Malone reminded her again that they needed solid evidence.
But there was no way they’d be getting authorization to see the judge’s call history anytime soon.
She left the bowl to sit on the counter for another minute, pulled out her phone again, and this time she searched social media for Penny.
Amanda wasn’t on there much at all, and it looked like she had an outstanding friend request from her.
She accepted and scrolled down Penny’s feed.
She skimmed the photos and came across one of a wedding that had been marked up with the words, Elise actually did it!
Amanda brought up the attached post and found there were several photos attached. She had tagged an Elise Anderson and Branson Colter. He must have been the groom. The post said, My cuz said “I do” to the man she loves. I wish them all the happiness in the world.
Cuz, as in cousin…
Amanda zoomed in on a picture of Elise dancing with a man and nearly dropped her phone when she recognized him. It was Judge Gene Anderson. He was Penny’s uncle.
She gripped the counter, trying to calm herself down, trying to enforce rationale. There may be another way of flipping her recent suspicions. A viewpoint that didn’t implicate the judge’s character.
“Mom,” Zoe groaned, coming into the room with her arms dangling at her sides.
“I’m coming.” She was about to put her phone away when she caught something on the screen. “Here, you take it, and I’ll be right there. Just don’t spill it.” Her daughter and food were a recipe for a mess.
“Okay.” Zoe sauntered back to the couch with the popcorn.
Amanda narrowed in on what she saw. Penny had tagged her location for the wedding.
It was in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Andersons claimed they were going to visit their daughter in Maine.
She could have moved after she got married, but it still niggled.
Doing a background check was out of the question.
It would be traceable. She opted for a Google search and found Elise Colter with an address in Minnesota.
So what was going on, and why had the Andersons lied about where they were going?
Amanda was on her way back to be with Zoe when there was a knock at the door.
Zoe grumbled. “I’m not waiting any longer.” She then stuffed her mouth with popcorn.
Amanda opened the door to a man holding a bouquet of orange lilies.
“Amanda Steele?”
“I am.”
“These are for you. Have a nice day.” He handed the blooms over and was turning around before she got out, “Thank you.”
This was a pleasant surprise, especially after the week she had. Not that she had any clue who would have sent them.
She caught sight of the police cruiser parked a few doors down before shutting the door. Since Hernandez’s implied threat, Malone had insisted an officer watch over them twenty-four/seven.
“Oooh, they’re beautiful,” Zoe said. “Who sent them?”
Amanda plucked the card. “Hope you and your daughter, Zoe, enjoy the lilies.” It was strange the sender had stressed the flower type, and it sent goosebumps traipsing down her arms.
She looked out the front window, but the delivery guy was long gone.
“Hello? Who sent them?” Zoe asked again.
“They don’t say, just that they hope we like them.”
“I do.”
“They are pretty,” Amanda pushed out. “Just give me a minute.” She tucked into her bedroom and made a phone call to the florist on the card.
When they answered, Amanda said, “I was just wanting to confirm everything was settled to my boss’s card for the delivery to be made this afternoon. ” She provided her address.
“Yes, it was settled and the flowers should be delivered at any moment.”
“I will need a copy of the receipt. Just quick, could you confirm the spelling you have for the name on the invoice?”
“Sure, one minute.” The woman put her on hold, and when she returned said, “I have Lucas Hernandez.” She then spelled it out, but Amanda was no longer listening.
She dropped the lilies. They were poison.
Their representation death. Hernandez wanted her to know he was coming for her.
He hadn’t even tried to hide behind one of his numbered companies.
“Is that all, ma’am?”
“Yes, it’s all perfect. Thank you.” She forced herself to speak, then hung up and put her phone away.
What was she going to do now? She’d put a monster away and had just earned herself a dangerous enemy.
Saving his life had meant nothing. She should have let the bullet pierce his skull.
His underlying implication he could get to her and Zoe was more promise than taunt.
She’d be a fool to take this as anything other than a viable threat.
There was a knock on the bedroom door. “Movie?”
“Yes, sweetheart. I’m coming.” She tucked the card into a drawer of her nightstand, and she tossed the flowers in the garbage, telling Zoe she was allergic. Amanda felt horrible lying to her daughter, but it was to protect her.
Zoe took it in stride and belted out “Let It Go,” the movie’s theme song.
Letting it go wasn’t something Hernandez was wired to do. Neither was she. Tomorrow was the start of a new week, and she’d make sure he got her message. If he wanted a fight, he had one.
* * *