Epilogue
A year later, Raquelle sat beside her husband, Landon, and Katie, Zach, and Penelope at the Matthew J.
Perry, Jr. United States Courthouse on Richland Street in Columbia.
Eddie was on the stand, testifying against a smug-faced Ivan Pimentel—who was sitting beside his lawyer, Ashley Vasquez—before US District Judge Noni H. Trujillo.
Though Landon and Assistant US Attorney John C. Potterfield—a fifty-year-old, tall, no-nonsense career lawyer who was bald-headed—felt that they had a slam-dunk case against Pimentel, they were taking nothing for granted till the verdict was in.
Neither am I, Raquelle told herself. She wanted nothing more than to put this dark chapter of their lives behind them for good.
After being limited in her communication with Eddie for the past twelve months, it was generally thought that with a conviction for Pimentel Eddie was free to return to his real life.
The fact that Penelope had supported him from afar throughout his being in the WITSEC and expressed interest in getting back together was a good sign.
Speaking of good signs, Raquelle marveled over her own blessings of late.
Eight months of being remarried to Landon—and welcoming him back into their home—had certainly gone a long way in giving Raquelle the happiness that had been missing in her life since their divorce.
Being two months pregnant with their first child was yet another feather in the blissful cap of matrimony.
I wonder if our son or daughter will one day choose to become a college professor, FBI special agent—or neither of those, Raquelle thought, but she was more than content to allow them the joys of childhood and Landon being a doting dad first.
When the verdict came down several hours later, Ivan Pimentel was found guilty by a jury on multiple charges related to the theft and forgery of Native American art, including murder and attempted murder.
Six weeks later, Judge Trujillo—her silver hair perfectly coifed—peered at the defendant before sentencing Pimentel to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Others caught up in his international criminal enterprise had already either pled guilty or been convicted on various charges related to the art criminality, with a few cases still pending but believed by Landon and Katie to be sure bets.
When word came down of the judge’s impactful ruling, Raquelle breathed a sigh of relief as she and her husband, along with the Art Crime Team, joined Eddie and Penelope afterward for a much-needed victory celebration.
* * *
BETWEEN THE FBI Art Crime Team’s assignments and other work-related business, Landon managed to squeeze in a long overdue honeymoon with his beautiful and seven-months-pregnant wife.
He chose Kiawah Island, a breathtaking beach resort town on Betsy Kerrison Parkway, just southwest of Charleston, for some fun, frolic, rest, and relaxation in the sun and water.
It turned out to be the perfect spot for a getaway as—among other entertaining things such as checking out sea turtles and bottlenose dolphins—Raquelle got to see a magnificent theater production from a few of her former students, which filled her with a tremendous sense of pride.
Landon could only imagine the sheer delight that would come her way when she got to see her own child or children blossom into young adulthood and then adulthood—while pursuing higher education—and going on to have their own families and the inevitable interesting directions from there to carry on life’s journey.
He imagined the same might be true for Eddie and his once-again girlfriend, Penelope.
Though they were taking things slowly the second time around, it appeared as if the romance was headed in the right direction now that Eddie had been officially cleared to resume the life he had temporarily left behind while awaiting the trial and conviction of art criminal Ivan Pimentel.
In the evening, Landon and Raquelle went for a romantic moonlight stroll along the beach, holding hands lovingly.
“I think I could get used to this,” Raquelle cadenced. “Minus feeling like there’s a giant balloon protruding from my belly, doing its best to ruin my figure.”
Landon laughed. “Trust me when I say you’ve never looked more beautiful than you do now.”
“Hmm…” She eyed him. “You really think so?”
“Absolutely.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Motherhood definitely agrees with you. And having our first child out in the world will only further illustrate that. Besides, I have no doubt that your figure will be back to where you’re most comfortable with it in no time at all.”
“I think you’re right.” She grinned, staring at his face. “I can see that fatherhood agrees with you as well, Landon. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if I found myself fighting for your attention with one or more little ones occupying your time, precious as it is.”
With a hearty chuckle, Landon responded appropriately, “I’ll always have time for the single most important person in my life, Raquelle—which is you—while never sacrificing the needs of any or all offspring that comes our way.”
She laughed. “Very good answer.”
“I aim to please—always,” he assured her smoothly and concluded this comfortable line of thought with a searing kiss before they resumed their nice stroll down the beach.
* * * * *