Page 72 of Carver’s Crusade

Maestro sets the laptop on the table and opens it. “I finally tracked down the stepmother of the Filby kids.”

That gets my full attention immediately.

“Their mother was Sandy Filby,” he continues. “She died five years ago. Their father, Mark Filby, remarried about a year later.” He glances at the screen. “Then Mark died last year.”

“And the kids got stuck with the stepmother from hell?” Caitlin asks.

“Something like that.” Maestro leans back in his chair. “Her name is Nancy Filby. Long history of drug abuse. Multiple arrests for prostitution and drug dealing.”

A chill creeps down my spine.

“She’s also been trying to gain access to the trust funds Mark set up for the children,” Maestro says. “She’s made several attempts. Each one denied. The trust is under the control of the lawyer who drew up the papers. The trust is pretty straightforward. Each kid can tap into the fund to pay for college, but they don’t gain full control until they reach twenty-one.”

“What happens if one dies?” I ask.

Maestro nods at my question. “The money is split between the survivors. If none of the kids survive, then Nancy gets it all.”

“What an idiot,” Min spits. “Didn’t he realize that he was setting his kids up to be murdered?”

Maestro shakes his head. “I don’t know. He married her. He probably thought she was a good woman.”

Caitlin glances around the room. “We need to get those kids away from Nancy permanently.”

Min crosses her arms. “You think CPS will listen?”

“They’ll listen to me,” Caitlin says firmly. “I have contacts through Crossroads.”

Athena looks up from the recliner, a tablet balanced on her knee. “It’s Sunday. That’s gonna make things harder. Most offices are closed.”

Caitlin grimaces. “Yeah, but emergencies don’t exactly care what day it is.”

“I can call my father; he’ll help,” Evie says. She sees my confused frown and explains. “He’s a judge. He can expedite the paperwork. I can give him a call and tell him what we’re dealing with. The kids are with Jackson and his wife. They should be safe for today. Dad can start on the paperwork today so that we can contact CPS in the morning.”

Relief flashes across Caitlin’s face so quickly it almost hurts to see. “That could work.”

“It will work,” Evie says with complete confidence as she searches her contacts.

Caitlin does the same on her phone.

“Hey, Denise, it’s Caitlin.” Her voice softens slightly. “Sorry to bother you on a Sunday.”

I can only hear Caitlin’s side of the conversation, but the tension in her shoulders slowly eases as she listens.

“We have a situation that we’re trying to get ahead of. You know about the case of the Filby kids? That’s right. Four kids. Two boys. Two girls. Their legal guardian is Nancy Filby. She’s the children’s stepmother.”

Pause.

“We’ve just learned some troubling information about Nancy Filby.” Caitlin passes along the information Maestro dug up. “We’re worried that the stepmother may want to harm the children to gain access to their money.”

“The children are safe right now,” Caitlin continues. “They’re under the care of Jackson and Marcia Donner.”

Another pause follows while Denise speaks.

“They’re stable, fed, and protected,” Caitlin says firmly. “We want to start proceedings to strip Nancy of her parental rights. CPS should not return those kids to her care. Judge Buchanan is processing the paperwork. I’m hoping that you can handle things from your end first thing tomorrow morning?”

Across the room, Evie paces slowly while speaking into her own phone.

“Yes, Dad, I know it’s Sunday,” she says. “But these children are in danger.”