Page 102 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

JP tilted his head. “You don’t believe that.”

She sighed, rubbing her temples. “I don’t know what I believe. Bay shows up out of nowhere, insists I represented her, then someone starts sending me reminders about a case I handled years ago.” She paused. “That’s not coincidence. I just don’t know what it is yet.”

“Hannah Caldwell.”

The name carried weight. “You said the records didn’t line up.”

“They don’t,” JP said. “But they don’t rule anything out either. Birth records conflict. Dates are off just enough to make you question everything. If someone wanted to bury a kid’s identity, this is exactly how they’d do it.”

Sabre stared down at the table. “Then why would they come to me now?”

“Because the girl is in trouble and whoever’s behind it wants you involved.”

JP reached for his fork again but didn’t eat. “I’m going to check the 7-11 that Hayes frequented.”

She frowned. “That was almost ten years ago. You really think someone who worked there is still around?”

“People stick,” he said. “Managers, owners, regulars. Someone might remember something. Or maybe a paper trail. Receipts, old logs, security layouts. Sometimes you don’t find people, you find habits.”

Sabre thought for a moment, then nodded. “You’re chasing a ghost.”

“Yeah,” JP said. “But I’m running out of real people to chase.”

Sabre almost smiled.

The sound of a phone ringing cut through the room. Sabre glanced at the screen and softened. “It’s my mom.”

“I’ll let you take it.”

Sabre answered. “Hi, Mom. You’re on speaker with JP.”

Beverly’s voice came through bright and fast, the way it always did when she had news. “Sabre! Are you sitting down?”

Sabre exchanged a quick look with JP. “Yes. What’s going on?”

“We’ve set the wedding date.”

Sabre blinked. “You what?”

“Our wedding,” Beverly repeated, laughing. “This summer!”

Sabre met her eyes, trying to process. “To Harley?”

“Of course, to Harley,” Beverly said. “Who else would it be?”

JP grinned from across the table, clearly enjoying this.

Sabre shook her head, a smile finally breaking through. “Wow. Okay. That’s fast.”

“It’s not fast,” Beverly said. “You’ve known for months we were engaged. And listen, this is the fun part, we’re doing it on a cruise. To Alaska.”

Sabre sat up straighter. “A cruise?”

“Yes! Harley’s taking everyone. All of us. His three kids, their spouses, the grandkids, Ron and Lana, and your family.”

Sabre let out a quiet laugh. “That’s a lot of people.”

“And Gene,” Beverly continued. “We want Gene there. And the kids, Dené, Conner, Morgan. Everyone.”