Nita emptied two creamers into the mug. “He mentioned finding Simon and Savannah in his living room, but that didn’t sound like it really qualified as getting to know each other.” She smiled. “It sounded more like breaking and entering—but you’re the criminal-law expert.”
Hez smiled back. “I personally would have charged it as unlawful imprisonment because he wouldn’t let them leave.”
“Followed by assault with a deadly weapon when you arrived, correct?”
Hez shook his head. “Self-defense and defense of others. I’ll be happy to tell the whole story at the adoption hearing if that’s what your client really wants.”
She chuckled. “There won’t be an adoption hearing. If the father doesn’t consent, the adoption is automatically denied. You’ll need to either terminate his rights—which you won’t be able to do—or get his consent.”
Hez didn’t know enough about adoption law to argue with her—but maybe he wouldn’t have to. “Are you implying that we might be able to get his consent?”
“Maybe.” She took a slow sip of her decaf. “He’s been distracted due to the, ah, employment issues caused by his recent absence.”
“You mean his claim for back pay?”
“And the unfounded allegations about misconduct with female students.”
Hez could hardly believe his ears. “He was seen taking a young woman into a warehouse with a wine bottle. And then he went AWOL for months. He’s lucky he still had a job when he came back. We had already started recruiting for a new European history professor when he waltzed back onto campus.”
“He had a mental-health crisis triggered by the stress of working under the cloud of that smuggling ring and then being attacked in his own home. Plus, he’s a tenured professor, so you can’t just fire him.”
Hez wished they could do exactly that, but TGU’s tenure rules tied their hands and Andersen still had friends in the school bureaucracy despite his antics. “That’s the only reason he’s back in his old office and not out on the street. Besides, these are HR issues between him and the university. Savannah and I can’t—and won’t—excuse personal misconduct or use TGU’s money to bribe Erik into doing what’s best for Simon.”
She took a sip of her coffee and switched gears. “You and Savannah love Simon. Despite your busy lives, you’re obviously willing to make great sacrifices for him—even to the point of risking your lives. My client is a financially sophisticated individual who also cares deeply for Simon.”
Hez resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her description of Erik Andersen. “Go on.”
Nita set down her mug. “He is open to a division of labor. You and Savannah would have plenty on your plate with your careers and raising Simon. Erik would take over management of Simon’s trust.”
So that was it. Andersen wanted access to the fortune Jess left for her son. Hez’s stomach churned. “Savannah is the trustee. Are you suggesting that she would appoint Erik as successor trustee and then resign, making him the trustee?”
“That would be one way to do it. She could also just hire him to manage the trust assets. Oh, and one other thing: In light of the, ah, tension between Erik, Savannah, and you, it would be best for the university to arrange a long-term visiting scholar position somewhere appropriate. He believes several schools in southern France would be excellent fits. He would also be open to the University of Hawaii.”
Hez could hardly believe his ears. “And if Savannah refuses?”
Nita shrugged. “Then Erik would take custody of Simon and send the trust periodic bills for expenses related to raising him.”
“Parents have a duty to provide for their minor children, don’t they?”
“Sure, but the bar is low. As long as a parent isn’t guilty of child neglect, they’re fine.”
Anger flared in Hez’s chest at the implied threat, but he kept his voice even. “I appreciate your candor.”
“I’m glad we understand each other.” She gave him a smile that wasn’t at all warm or grandmotherly. “Thank you for the time and the coffee.” She drained her mug and rose. “Talk to Savannah and let me know what you decide. I know you’ll want to do what’s best for Simon.” She turned and left.
As her footsteps faded down the hall, Hez swiveled to look at the picture of Savannah, Simon, and him. They were so right together. Hez wasn’t going to give up Simon—and there was no way he’d let Andersen use the boy as a hostage to extort money from the trust. But there was no way Savannah would—or should—turn the trust over to Andersen as a ransom. That money was Simon’s, and they would fight to protect every penny of it. And the idea of using university money to send Andersen on a long-term vacation was the sort of thing Savannah’s father, Pierre, might have done, but she never would.
“So what are we going to do?” he murmured.
Boo Radley roared from across the pond, and Marley strained at his leash and snarled. “Stay,” Savannah ordered. She let go of Hez’s hand long enough to restrain her dog. Marley’s hatred of the old gator only grew with time, and Cody offered a snaggle-toothed grimace of support.
Hez’s gaze was far away as he watched the sun setting over the tupelo trees lining the water. He hadn’t said much since he arrived for an evening stroll while Will Dixon tutored Simonafter dinner. The fact Hez hadn’t immediately told her about his meeting wasn’t a good sign.
A hard knot formed in her midsection. “What happened with Erik’s attorney?”
They reached a bench, and he tugged her down with him onto the stone seat. “It’s not great, babe. His attorney is good, very good. I don’t know enough about family law to recognize if what she said was true, but based on her reputation, I suspect it is. Brace yourself.”
Savannah listened with growing horror as he laid out Erik’s proposal and how a judge would likely react to his request for custody and his threat to basically hold Simon hostage to get access to Jess’s money. If she didn’t pay him out of Jess’s estate, he might refuse to provide more than the bare necessities for Simon—so she’d have to hand over whatever he demanded. It was a diabolical move.
