Augusta pulled Nora’s arms behind her and slapped on the cuffs. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to counsel, and if you can’t afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand your rights?”
“What are the charges?” Nora asked in a quiet voice.
“Do you understand your rights?” Augusta asked again.
“Yes, but I don’t understand. What am I charged with?”
“Evidence tampering, obstructing government operations, and hindering felony prosecutions.”
Savannah gasped and took a step back. “I don’t believe it, Jane. Nora wouldn’t do that.”
Jane remained expressionless. “Hez will explain it to you.”
Chapter 27
Hez sat at the table in the Justice Chamber, trying to grade papers. That would be easier if he sat at his desk or stopped watching the open door in front of him. But if he did either of those things, he wouldn’t know when Erik Andersen walked by. Andersen’s office was at the end of the hall, and Hez had urgent business with him.
Last night’s phone conversation with Savannah didn’t help his focus. He had been so excited to tell her that the PHPD mole was about to be arrested that he hadn’t immediately realized she was saying something about Nora—or that she was crying. He’d talked over her tears for nearly a minute before her sobs broke through the torrent of words pouring from his mouth.
He winced at the memory. He had apologized, of course, but he needed to do something to make it up to her. Soon.
Still, he couldn’t help being excited. Hope hadn’t just caught the mole. She’d caught a Willard—and that meant they were one step closer to catching Michael. Nora seemed like a sweet woman, but she’d clearly betrayed her best friend—even if Savannah didn’t want to believe it. Nora musthave been taking orders from Michael. And if anyone could find the proof, Hope could. She would draw the net tight around Michael and haul him in—but netting a shark was tricky, and Hez planned to give her all the help he could. That was one reason he had staked out Andersen’s office this morning.
There he was! Hez caught a quick glimpse of khaki slacks, black polo, and perfectly coiffed blond hair as his target passed.
Hez dropped the student paper he was reading and hurried after Andersen. He caught up just as the man was turning into his office. Hez rapped on the door as Andersen reached to shut it.
The professor’s blue eyes went wide with surprise and he jerked back. “Hez! I’m surprised to see you.”
“Likewise.”
Andersen cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
Hez glanced around to make sure they were alone. “Well, you offered to consent to our adoption petition in return for control of Jess’s trust plus a permanent vacation in France or Hawaii, but then you consented to Michael’s petition before we could respond. His offer must have been so good that you didn’t even bother to negotiate with us. So I’m surprised you’re still here and not off on a private island or something.”
A spasm of anger crossed Andersen’s face. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Then just listen. Give me five minutes. I don’t think you’ll regret it.”
Andersen eyed him with wary indecision for a moment, then nodded. “Five minutes.”
Hez stepped into Andersen’s office, which felt a little like a walk-in trophy case. Polished walnut bookcases and a matching table were mostly decorated with awards and honorary degrees Andersen had received as well as pictures of him with famous people. He seated himself behind an ornate walnut desk as Hez settled in one of the leather guest chairs.
Andersen glanced at his watch, then steepled his fingers. “I’m listening.”
“Michael Willard is a thug and he’d make a terrible father for your son. I think you know that. So why did you consent to his adoption petition? It wasn’t money, at least not the kind of money you were demanding from Savannah and me. If he’d handed you a mountain of cash, you wouldn’t be here. So I’m guessing Michael took your consent by force. He threatened you, and the threat was serious enough that you gave him what he wanted.”
Andersen’s eyes narrowed and little lines formed around the corners of his mouth. “Get to the point.”
“The point is that neither of us likes Michael—and we’re not the only ones. I still have connections in the law enforcement community, and I have reason to believe someone is investigating him. If he committed extortion or made threats of violence, he could be in serious trouble—especially if he did it to corrupt a judicial proceeding.”
Andersen leaned forward. “Like an adoption proceeding?”
“Yep.”
“How much trouble would he be in if he did that?”
Hez resisted the urge to smile. “That would be a felony, andprobably not the only one. If Michael could also be tied to the artifact smuggling that went on last year, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.”
