Chapter 14
Elegant and powerful was the only way Nellie could describe Olivia’s office. Nellie and Rowan were the first to arrive. They had waited outside for only a couple of minutes before Olivia arrived to unlock the front door. Next to arrive was Sue Ellen and Gator.
Nellie hugged her sister extra tight. Everything Ingram threw at her would be worth it to set her sister free of him. “Where are the kids?”
“Kenzie Faulkner, who is the absolute sweetest, came over to clean James Avery’s wounds and offered to take them over to the Langstons’ house to play with the kids. It was such a kind offer.” Sue Ellen turned to give Rowan a smile. “Thank you so much for sending her to check on James Avery.”
“No problem. I was going to come this morning but my sister was over for breakfast and Nellie decided to play with knives.”
Nellie held up her finger and Sue Ellen promptly started to flutter like a mother hen. “Sue Ellen, I’m fine. My boyfriend got it cleaned and stitched up immediately.”
Nellie glanced at Rowan and winked as everyone else froze.
“I’m sorry, did you say boyfriend? For real and not the fake story we told some people?” Sue Ellen asked.
“Okay, so you heard it too?” Olivia asked Sue Ellen as everyone seemed to get closer to Nellie and Rowan. Nellie reached for Rowan, but he was already there, putting his arm around her waist.
“That’s right. Her very real boyfriend. And as her boyfriend, I’m worried about my girlfriend’s sister’s honor. So, Gator, what are your intentions with Sue Ellen?”
Nellie’s eyes went wide, Sue Ellen turned bright red, and Olivia grinned.
“Rowan!” Sue Ellen finally gasped.
“Sue Ellen, it’s okay,” Gator said gently. “He’s teasing us. And if he weren’t, I’d tell him that I have never met a stronger, more beautiful woman with a kinder heart in my life,” Gator said as he looked longingly into Sue Ellen’s eyes.
Olivia sniffled. “Damn hormones. But that wasn’t a tear. That was allergies.”
Nellie smiled as she leaned against Rowan. Sue Ellen looked so happy that it made everything Ingram was putting Nellie through worth it.
“Which one of you is my client? I’m guessing not the model-looking man, not Olivia, and not the biggest man I’ve probably ever seen wearing a COCKS hat. By the way, Clemson’s better.”
Everyone groaned.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know if you can be my attorney anymore,” Sue Ellen said so seriously that the slick-looking man in a suit laughed aloud.
“Sue Ellen Faust, I’m Matthew Williams.” He held out his hand and Sue Ellen shook it. “Good to meet you.”
Matthew turned to Gator, who looked pretty sharp in jeans and a T-shirt that really showed off how wide his shoulders were. Matthew’s eyes traveled down to the T-shirt. “I wrestle alligators for fun,” Matthew read. “I believe that.”
“Gator,” Gator said, holding out his hand. “I’m looking after Sue Ellen and the children.”
Matthew shook Gator’s hand. “That’s probably the safest place she could be.” He turned to Rowan and held out his hand. “And you are?”
“Rowan Townsend. My girlfriend is Sue Ellen’s sister, Nellie Katherine Hale.”
“Nice to meet you both.”
“I have the conference room ready,” Olivia told everyone as they relocated to a large room where everyone had a place at the oval table.
“Well,” Matthew said, pulling out a thick file folder. “I got all the paperwork and notes from your previous attorney and read through them, but I’d like to hear from you, Sue Ellen. Could you tell me what led you to file for divorce and what has happened after doing so?”
Nellie watched her sister tell the painful truth about her marriage to Ingram.
The emotional abuse. The physical abuse.
The way Ingram would berate her in public and beat her in private.
The fear. The shame. The loneliness. Finally the determination to protect her children and herself.
Gator held her hand while she talked and Nellie was amazed by the strength Sue Ellen was showing.
She’d changed since meeting Gator. And from Nellie could see, it was very much a change for the better.
“You were very brave,” Matthew said, turning back to his file. “And so were you, Dr. Townsend.”
“Me? I didn’t do anything.”
“You lied to a judge that has an intimidating reputation and got Sue Ellen and her kids to safety.”
Rowan chuckled and Nellie wondered what was funny.
“Ingram isn’t intimidating. He’s a blowhard and a bully.
A narcissistic asshole who would back down the second a man actually challenged him because he’s a coward at heart.
I’ve met men like him before. I’ve reported them to the police as I’m trying to save their child in the operating room. They don’t intimidate me.”
“I guess not much would,” Matthews said, looking impressed.
“You’ve met my sister. I was raised with her, and my eldest brother is just like her.”
Matthew looked impressed. “Understood. I’ve tried to get Olivia to join my practice, but she never would take me up on it.”
“Sorry. I don’t like to share.” Olivia smiled, but there was truth there. Olivia had told Nell all about how and why she started her own practice and, now that she was her own boss, she’d never go back to being part of a large firm.
“Well, here are the divorce papers, Mrs. Faust.”
“Ms. Hale, please. Or Sue Ellen. I never want that man’s name near mine again.” Sue Ellen picked up the pen he handed her and began to sign. “I still can’t believe Ingram signed these.”
“That’s what I wanted to discuss with you now that I got them all signed.” Matthew signed them as her attorney. “I’ve looked over all the evidence from the explosion, not that there was much. I take it Sheriff Faust is a relative?”
“His cousin,” Sue Ellen responded.
“The file he passed on to me, via a private investigator I hired to keep my name secret until we file, is very thin. They’re saying it was user error.
That you somehow blew up your own car.” Matthew paused as everyone rolled their eyes.
“I think you were never supposed to get these papers, Ms. Hale. I think Ingram signed them then meant to kill you. That way he could claim he had no motive to kill you since he’d already signed the divorce papers. ”
“Do you think he killed my lawyer when he couldn’t kill me?” Sue Ellen voiced what Nellie had been thinking.
“I don’t bet on much, but I would bet on that. I’m sure whoever killed him was looking for your paperwork. But the secretary had it on her desk,” Matthew told her.
“Aren’t you worried for your safety?” Nellie asked the attorney who did not look worried.
He pushed aside his expensive suit jacket and inside was a lethal looking gun in a dark leather holster. “No, ma’am. I am not worried but thank you for your concern, Ms. Hale.”
“What’s next?” Gator asked, looking down at the signed papers Matthew was putting in his case folder.
“I have a plan, but I want to get your approval first, Ms. Hale.” Sue Ellen nodded for him to go on, and Matthew did. “If I file this right now, I can’t guarantee it’ll actually be filed. I can see Ingram or one of his cronies destroying it and suddenly it’s not part of the record.”
Sue Ellen sighed and nodded in agreement. “He’s friends with everyone there. It will get ‘lost’ for sure. So, what do we do? How can I make my divorce official?”
“Desperate men do stupid things. I say we wait a week and see if we can’t prove Ingram is exactly who you and the FBI say he is.
I heard there’s a reporter investigating him now.
I’d like you to send the video evidence we have against Ingram to her.
Once he’s out of power, we can file. If that fails, and there’s been no downfall in a week, I’ll file to transfer the case to Charleston first and file it there as soon as I get it transferred. ”
“He won’t let that happen.”
“I know. But I’m not without my own connections once we get to the appellate level. It’ll take months, but it’ll be approved.”
“So,” Sue Ellen frowned, “my best bet to be free of Ingram is to talk to this reporter and continue to work with the FBI to help bring Ingram down.”
“You don’t have to talk to her. You only have to get the evidence to her. That’s what I would recommend. Do you think you can wait or should I try to file this on Monday?” Matthew asked.
Sue Ellen shook her head. “No. I have enough to take him down and maybe that’s what I need to do to be free. I need to vanquish the demon. Send whatever you need to the reporter.”
“I’ll be here every step of the way. And if all else fails, Mean Abe will eat him,” Gator said gently to her.
“I don’t what to know what any of that means. Let’s just say you were joking.”
“Totally joking, Mr. Williams,” Gator said, who was not joking at all.
“I see why you moved here, Olivia. They’re as bloodthirsty as you are.
” Matthew stood and shook everyone’s hands.
“It will be my honor to help you destroy this monster.” Matthew reached into his briefcase and pulled out a large envelope and handed it to Sue Ellen.
On the front was a white sticker with the reporter’s name and studio address.
The postage was even affixed. “My first way to help. It’s a copy of all the evidence I could gather about you and the other cases.
My hope is that the reporter will be interested and go to the clerk to request more details.
They won’t be able to tell who sent it. I know there’s a video of you, but you’re not the only one Ingram hurt.
They’re in there too. I suggest mailing that first.” Matthew put the envelope in Sue Ellen’s hand. “The decision is yours, Ms. Hale.”
“And if I do this?” Sue Ellen asked, looking at the envelope.
“Then, if the reporter wants to talk to you, Miss Tibbie will let you know.”
“You know Miss Tibbie?” Nellie asked, surprised, as Sue Ellen placed the envelope in her bag.
“You can’t be from Charleston and not know her and her husband. You have a powerful woman in your corner. I’ll be in touch.” Matthew closed his briefcase and left.
“What are you going to do?” Nellie asked her sister.
“Gator, how do you feel about a quick drive somewhere to mail this?”
Gator pulled off his COCKS hat, readjusted its size, and put it on Sue Ellen’s head. “Sullivan’s Island is a great place to mail it from. We can even sit on the beach for a while.”
“Sounds like the perfect date,” Sue Ellen said, and blushed as she realized what she’d said.
“It will be.” Gator placed his hand on Sue Ellen’s lower back and left with her.
Nellie smiled, watching how small and protected her sister looked with Gator next to her. But more importantly, how happy she seemed.