Close To Home (Westen Series) (32 page)

Mama was spending her first day at the adult day care center with Libby and the boys wouldn’t get home from school for a few hours, but Emma needed the time between this meeting and then to get herself under control. She wouldn’t allow them to see her fear.

Clint’s hand settled on hers, its warmth penetrating her frozen nerves. “Wade, since Talbert’s a dead end, literally, what have you and Anne planned that’ll win us this case?”

Wade opened the file on his lap. “Our best defense is to paint your ex as bad as we can, Emma. We know he didn’t help financially at any point in your marriage. We can use that. We can prove his affair with Loreene happened during the marriage. Something your first attorney let slide.”

“He didn’t go after the affair because he rested the whole case on the DNA samples.” A heavy sigh escaped her. “He and I believed all I had to do was prove I hadn’t been unfaithful and the court would rule in my favor.”

Wade’s eyes narrowed and he shook his head. “If I’d been your lawyer then, I’d have gone after Hazard’s character from the get go. If your first lawyer weren’t retired, I’d want him disbarred.”

“Down, boy,” Anne teased from beside him. “Six years ago you were still in law school. Little help you would’ve been to Emma then.”

“Any first year law student would’ve done a better job.” Wade raised his eyes to Emma then flushed slightly. “Sorry, Emma, but he was lousy.”

She gave him a half-hearted smile. “You’re probably right, Wade. But at the time, he was all I could afford. The whole case took place two weeks after I gave birth to the boys. Neither of my jobs had maternity leave pay and of course Dwayne spent almost all our savings before he left. What little money I’d saved before I gave birth, the lawyer took.”

“I still wish we could prove Hazard switched those lab results.” Clint wrapped an arm around Emma, and pulled her against him. “Even with the subpoenaed evidence that Talbert received the same amount of money as Hazard’s father-in-law gave him, it’s all still circumstantial. Anyone could have switched those results.”

“That’s her ex’s accusation. He’s claiming that Emma had them switched, or that it was a lab error.”

“That’s ludicrous.” Anne crossed one leg over the other, tapping her glasses against her hand. “What purpose could Emma have had to switch the lab work?”

Emma laughed harshly. “I guess he could claim I wanted sole custody of the boys. I didn’t want to share the responsibility with him, or the cost, or the time, or the heartaches.”

“Emma, no judge in their right mind could see this evidence and think you had anything to do with the switched lab work.” Wade gave her a steadying look.

“I was naïve enough to believe the court would have to find in my favor last time. I thought I had indisputable evidence to prove my innocence of the adultery charges. This time I have even less evidence to prove Dwayne is the guilty party. I know it’s your chosen profession, but trust me when I say I have little faith in the legal system.”

Silence filled the room.

For purely selfish reasons, Emma leaned into Clint. At least this time she had him on her side. She wasn’t alone. It felt good to have someone to lean on. She studied his brother and sister across the room. They’d put in countless hours to help her fight this custody battle. In fact, all of his siblings had rallied around her. Every day Gwen called to talk. Despite the zany time she’d had with Mama while they were in Florida, she even offered to babysit the boys on occasion once they won this case. Her positive attitude helped as much as her brother’s constant presence beside her.

Even the people in town—Harriett, Libby—who’d become a close confidant—the Millers, Lorna and the crew at the Peaches ‘N Cream—all lent her moral support. Her uncle and Gage stood solidly behind her.

“Anne?” She focused on Clint’s sister. “Did you have any luck tracking down those nurses, whose names I gave you?”

“Two of them are still living out of state, and I couldn’t get more than a ten minute conversation with them.” Anne put her glasses on and opened a file. “Of the ones still living close by, one refused to say anything about your ex. She said something about her relationship with him had been brief and not worth risking her marriage by testifying for us. Now, we could subpoena her, if you wanted me to.” She glanced at Wade. “Do we still have time, if it gets delivered tonight?”

“No.” Emma stopped them before the idea took root. “I don’t see the need to destroy someone else’s family with this. Dwayne shouldn’t hold that much power over other people’s lives.”

Anne gave her an approving nod. “The other one harbored no good will for your ex. She was used, abused and abandoned. Or at least she feels that way. Wade and I interviewed her last week to review her testimony. We think we can keep her from sounding too much like the woman scorned and more like an innocent victim of his infidelities.”

Wade nodded. “If we show how he’s manipulative, unfaithful, and a liar the judge will have to at least consider the circumstantial evidence we present.”

“I don’t suppose you found any outstanding malpractice suits against him?” Clint asked. “I can’t believe a guy this arrogant hasn’t screwed up somewhere along the way.”

“Oh, we found a few, but they conveniently never made it to court.” Wade flipped through a note pad in his file. “My guess is his father-in-law’s money took care of those, too.”

Emma shook her head. “Why’s he going after custody of Brian to get his hands on this money, when Loreene’s family is rolling in it?”

“Perhaps, he’s in the mood for a change of spouse?” Clint replied.

“Or maybe she is,” Anne suggested.

“Whatever the reason, he’s decided to use my child to secure his financial future.” Emma stood and paced to the window. “I knew he was a selfish, self-centered pig. But to use an innocent child? If I didn’t hate him already, this would make me wish he were dead.”

* * *

With their game plan for the hearing the next day in place, Wade and Anne headed back to the city. Clint went in search of Emma, who’d disappeared upstairs as soon as his siblings pulled out of the drive.

He found her in her bedroom, suitcase lying on the bed. His heart jumped into his throat as he watched her jam in pants and shirts. “What’re you doing?”

“Preparing.”

“For what?” He hated asking the question and realized he held his breath, awaiting her answer.

She didn’t pause as she folded another pair of jeans then shoved it in the bag. “I won’t let him have Brian, Clint. I can’t. I can’t allow my child to suffer like that.”

“So, you plan to pack your things and leave. You’re just going to run?” He closed both hands into tight fists. “Forget about me, this thing between us. Not to mention your mother who needs you right now.”

She paused and stared at him, her beautiful blue eyes full of pain. “You once accused me of being a neglectful mother. What kind of mother would I be to my sons if I let one of them fall into the hands of that monster?”

“He hasn’t won yet, sweetheart. You’ve got to stay and fight him.” Clint moved to the bedside. “If you run now, he’ll win by default. Eventually the police will catch you. Then what will happen to the boys? And what about your mother, Emma? What will happen to her if you go underground?”

“I’ll find a place for her. Someplace nearby with good nurses. You know as well as I that’s where she’ll end up soon anyway. Especially after last week’s trip into never-never land.” She shook her head and huffed out air in frustration. “What else can I do? Our case is weak. There is every likelihood that Dwayne’ll win custody of Brian. If I leave now, before he knows what I’m doing, maybe I can save my son.”

“Emma, listen to me. This isn’t the answer. Things may not be as dark as you think. Things can change.” Panic that she might disappear from his life warred with his need to keep her and her sons safe.

“How, Clint?” She stared at him, naked fear etched on her face. “What can we do to change this? How do we stop him?”

“Emma, I know you think this is the only answer. But I want you to trust me. Stay until the hearing is finished.” He pulled her to him, her head resting against his heart. “If the judge decides against you, then I promise I’ll help you hide the boys. We’ll take them and run as far and as deep into hiding as we can.”

She pulled away from him and stared into his eyes. “I can’t ask you to risk your life and your future like that, Clint.”

“Don’t you see, Emma? Without you, and Ben, and Brian, I have no future, no life.”

She studied him for what seemed an eternity. Then her head bobbed in acquiescence. She trusted him. It was a long road to travel, to be able to trust again. She would stay—for now.

Clint led her back to the bed and gently sat her on the edge. Then he knelt in front of her. “Emma, you made me promise you a while back, that no matter what, I wouldn’t hide anything from you regarding this custody battle. Remember?”

For a moment Emma wanted to plug her ears. Clint’s suddenly grave tone sent a chill coursing through her. She stared straight at him and nodded.

“Something happened which you need to know about.”

“Don’t drag it out. Just tell me.”

“Hazard’s asked his detective to arrange to have you killed.”

She couldn’t breathe. She gulped trying to take in air. None came.

“Emma?”

The ringing in her ears muffled Clint’s voice. Her lungs burned with the lack of air, yet she couldn’t seem to make herself inhale.

“Emma, take a breath, dammit.” Clint shook her.

Finally, her body’s need for oxygen overcame her shock and forced her to inhale. Then she couldn’t seem to breathe fast enough. She gasped for air and panted.

“Okay, sweetheart, try to slow your breathing.” Clint scooted the suitcase onto the floor and settled on the bed next to her, gently patted her back and breathed in rhythm with her to slow the pace. “I know you weren’t expecting this. None of us were.”

“Us?” The reality of the situation made her head swim. Dwayne was trying to have her killed?

“Gage, you, me.”

“Gage knows about this? How?”

Clint held her hand and wrapped his arm around her as he quietly told her what had transpired in Gage’s office the week before. Even though she heard the words, she couldn’t believe Dwayne was that desperate.

“No. I can’t believe he’d sink this low. Not even Dwayne could be this mean to his sons, to take away their mother.” She shoved herself off the bed and paced the room. Panting again, she shook her head and leaned against the large bedroom window. “Why? Why would Dwayne do this?”

“Who knows what he’s thinking? Maybe he realizes his case is flimsier than ours. Maybe he just wants to leave the court no other option than to give him custody of the boys.” Clint came to stand beside her, one hand on her back. “Whatever the reason, you have to face the fact that Hazard wants you dead.”

They stood that way for a few minutes, the numb panic inside Emma slowly easing. A small spark of indignation started deep inside her.

“He always dismissed me, my wants, my needs. It took me a long time to realize that. I think the boys were nearly three when it hit me.” She whispered the words, the spark building inside her. “I was sitting on the floor, folding their clothes, and the boys were playing with their toys. Suddenly, they both stopped what they were doing and threw themselves on top of me, giggling and trying to tickle me. For the first time in my life I knew deep down inside that I was the complete center of someone’s universe.”

The fire inside her flamed to life and she shoved herself away from the window and Clint. She paced the room, accenting her words with the wave of her arms. “I never had that feeling in my marriage. Never once. Dwayne came first. Dwayne’s education. Dwayne’s career. Dwayne’s divorce!”

She came to a stop in front of Clint. “I’m not insignificant. I won’t be shoved to the side or discarded like yesterday’s trash anymore.”

“No one in this room thinks of you as insignificant.”

His calm words and patient expression suddenly irritated Emma. Of course he could remain calm. It wasn’t his life being bought and sold. “And why did Gage go to you with this information, and not me? It’s my life, not yours!” She poked him in the chest, wanting some reaction out of him.

Clint grabbed her hand before she could poke him again, and hauled her against him. “Your cousin came to me because he knew how much you’ve come to mean to me. You may not see it, but everyone else in town can. I love you. I love the boys. And I’d do anything I could to protect you.”

She started to protest, but he put his finger on her lips to stop the words.

“I know you don’t need protecting. I’ve watched you these past months. Anyone thinking you’re helpless, including yourself, is sorely mistaken. You are the strongest woman I’ve ever met. What you need is someone to walk through life with you and share the burdens, not take them all away.” He kissed her with a gentle slowness. “So I’m here, telling you about the contract, so you can help decide what to do about it.”

His words calmed the rage inside her. She didn’t trust herself to think about his profession of love or their relationship right now, much less discuss them. So she grabbed onto the safest topic. “You and Gage have a plan?”

A slow smile spread across his face. “If you’re done trying to put a dent in my chest, I’d be happy to fill you in on what your cousin has cooked up.”

She nodded and listened as he told her of Gage’s sting operation to trap her ex-husband.

“I want to be there,” she said when he finished.

His face grew hard and the muscle in his cheek flexed. “I wish you wouldn’t. I don’t trust Hazard. If you’re there, he might try to take matters into his own hands. You could get hurt.”

She shook her head. “He’s sneaky, underhanded, and egotistical, Clint. He doesn’t have the courage to come at me directly, like a real man.”

His jaw clenched in that stubborn way it always did when she raised the subject of paying for the supplies for the remodel on her house. “I wish you’d trust me enough to let me handle this for you. You should spend the evening with the boys.”

She pulled away from him and went to unpack her suitcase. “I’ll think about it.”