A Following Sea

by Michael Lindley

  Hanna felt her heart sink even deeper as she saw the overwhelming sadness in the boy's face. "How will he ever get beyond this?"

  "We have one of our best counselors working with him," Greta said. "It will be a long process."

  Jonathan asked, "Where will he go now?"

  "We're working with the court to get assigned custody for now. We also have people trying to track down any other family members related to either the mother or father."

  "Can I speak with him?" Hanna asked.

  "It's probably better you didn't. He has so much going on right now, he doesn't need any more confusion."

  Hanna said, "Please let me know what we can do to help. I have resources at the office to help with the search for his family... anything."

  "Thank you," Greta said.

  Hanna looked at her son sitting across the table from her at the small coffee shop down the street from her office. After the sad encounter at the shelter, she felt so blessed to have Jonathan with her, safe and healthy.

  Jonathan broke the silence between them. "Mom, you can't take this all on yourself."

  She offered a weak smile. "I just can't help think there was more I could have done when Jenna first came to see me."

  "It was a bad situation from the start."

  "I know," Hanna said, thinking back to the first meetings with the Moe family."

  Jonathan said, "The man could have killed you. You did what you had to do."

  She sighed and took a sip from her coffee. "I know he never would have been a good father for William, but..."

  "You did the right thing."

  Hanna said goodbye to Jonathan after they got back to the legal clinic. He needed to get back up to Chapel Hill. Their embrace was long and tearful before he got in his car and drove away. She was consumed with an emptiness and sadness for William and Jenna Moe, and when she was honest with herself, for her own life, mostly alone now.

  As she started back into her office, she saw Lonnie Smith pull up and park. The big police officer got out of his car, ending a call on his cell.

  "Hanna, I'm glad I caught you. Got a minute?"

  "Of course."

  "Has Alex called you about Beau Richards?"

  "No, what's happened?"

  Lonnie said, "Richards surprised Alex in his father's house and was there to kill him."

  Hanna was stunned and couldn't respond.

  "Alex is okay and Richards is under arrest, but it could have been... well, fortunately Alex was able to deal with the situation."

  Hanna's thoughts were spinning, and she said, "Does this have anything to do with the case against Alex's father?"

  "We're not sure yet. There's a lot going on up there."

  "You're sure he's okay, with his arm and all?" she asked.

  "I just spoke with him again a few minutes ago. I can tell he's a little shaken up. It looks like Richards hired the man who tried to kill Alex the other night."

  Hanna shook her head in disbelief.

  "They found the guy shot dead in his house. Richards admitted to Alex that he did it and was going to make it look like the hitman came back to finish the job."

  "Does Phillip Holloway know about all this?" she asked.

  Smith nodded and said, "Alex told me they've spoken, and Holloway is up to date."

  "Okay, good," Hanna said, thinking about the fate of Alex's father, still sitting in the County Jail.

  Smith said, "Alex asked me to check on you. See how you're doing."

  She had to admit to herself she was pleased Alex was concerned and thinking of her, even with all that was happening. "To be honest, I've been better. We just got back from the shelter to check in on the son. He's not doing very well."

  "They have the department helping in the search for other family members," Lonnie said. "We're trying to track down parents, brothers or sisters."

  "I'm glad to hear that, but I'm not holding out much hope. Jenna seemed to have nowhere to turn."

  "I'll keep you posted."

  Chapter Fifty-five

  As Alex pulled up to Ella Moore's house, he looked around to see any sign of Adrienne or Scotty. He wasn't in the mood for another encounter with his ex-wife, but he needed to speak to her mother. He got out of the car and walked up to the small house, looking around at the disrepair and neglect of the place. As he came up the drive, he was surprised to see a Sheriff's patrol car pulled up close to the garage in the back. His senses went on alert and he approached the front door cautiously.

  He rang the bell and then rang it again when no one came to answer. He was about to walk around to the back when he heard someone moving inside. Both the screen and main door were closed, so he couldn't see in. Then, a small crack opened, and he saw the disheveled face of Ella Moore looking out.

  "Ella, sorry to bother you."

  "What?" she asked, pushing hair away from her face.

  "I need to talk to you."

  She hesitated and looked back into the house. "It's not a good time."

  Alex heard a car door close and an engine start up. He looked over and saw the patrol car backing out of the drive. Sheriff Pepper Stokes was at the wheel. Alex watched as the car backed into the street and sped away.

  Alex sat across the kitchen table from Ella Moore. She pulled an old robe up tightly around her neck. It appeared she didn't have anything on beneath. "You want a beer?" she asked.

  "No. So, what's with you and the sheriff," Alex asked.

  Ella flushed and didn't answer at first, then said, "Me and Pepper go way back."

  "Surprised I never heard about that," Alex said.

  She didn't respond.

  "Just came from talking with Meryl Bayes." He watched as the woman blanched and squirmed a bit in her chair.

  "Seems you and Horton were a pair, too."

  "That's none of your business!" she said quickly.

  "Oh, I think it is my business, Ella. How long you been seeing Horton?"

  Again, she didn't respond.

  "Meryl was pretty upset about the two of you, as you can imagine."

  This set the woman off. "That old bitch..." and then she stopped herself.

  "What, Ella?"

  "Horton should have dumped her years ago. Can't see how he's lived with the woman all these years."

  Alex considered her comments for a moment, then said, "So, was Horton gonna leave Meryl?"

  Ella took a deep breath but didn't answer.

  Alex pressed, "Was Horton going to leave Meryl for you?"

  Finally, she said, "That bastard didn't know what the hell he wanted."

  "When was the last time you saw Horton, Ella?"

  She stood and backed away from the table, the anger rising in her face. "I don't need to tell you anything!"

  "Why don't you want to talk about this, Ella?" he persisted.

  "You need to leave!"

  Alex pushed his chair back. He heard the front door opening. When he turned, he saw Adrienne and Scotty come into the house and then join them in the kitchen.

  Adrienne said, "Alex, what's going on?"

  "Just having a little chat with your mother."

  "What in the hell for?" Adrienne demanded.

  Alex turned back to Ella Moore and said, "She can fill you in." He knelt down. "Hey Scotty. How are you?"

  "Good, Alex," the boy said. "Mom just took me to the movies."

  "What did you see?"

  "The super hero guys!" Scotty said.

  "That's great, " Alex said, standing. He looked over at Ella Moore. "We're not done here, Ella."

  As he walked back to his car, he couldn't put aside the guilt he was feeling in not taking more proactive steps to bring his son into his life. A few complications at the moment, he thought, trying to reconcile with himself.

  Alex saw Sheriff Stokes' car parked in his assigned spot at the department offices. He went in and was cleared back through to see the sheriff. When the m
an saw Alex coming up to his door, he ended a call and stood, then said, "Alex, it's not what you think."

  "What's that, Pepper?" Alex said, slamming the door behind him, "That you've been screwing a woman apparently close to this case with my father and you didn't tell me about it?"

  "She doesn't have anything to do with your father's case," Stokes said.

  "Oh, you don't think so?" Alex said, coming up and standing directly across the desk. "Meryl and Ella have been having a dispute over the woman's husband who is now dead, and you don't think that has anything to do with it?"

  "Just settle down, Alex," Stokes said, taking his seat again. Alex remained standing. "No secret Ella and Meryl have a feud going." Half the town's seen them after each other."

  "So, why am I just hearing about it now?"

  "Alex, let's talk about something important..."

  "This is important, dammit!" Alex snapped back.

  "The Feds stopped Connor Harris and the girl trying to charter a boat out of Nassau," Stokes continued. "They'll be back in the country by tomorrow morning."

  Alex paused for a moment, then said, "We need to get access to talk with them as soon as possible."

  "I've already informed the DEA."

  Okay, fine," Alex said. "Now, what has Ella told you about her relationship with Horton?"

  "We haven't talked about it."

  "Don't you think you should?"

  "Alex, look, I'm a married man. Ella and me, is just an occasional thing. I don't know what she does with the rest of her time and I don't ask."

  Alex tried to control his anger and frustration. He walked to the window and looked over the parking lot and people coming and going from the Sheriff's Department. A thought occurred to him and he turned back to Stokes. "We need to bring Ella Moore in, Pepper."

  "What?"

  "We need a complete statement from her on her relationship with Horton and particularly where she was the night of his death."

  The sheriff stood and paced behind his desk, then picked up his phone and pressed two numbers. "This is Stokes. Have someone bring Ella Moore down here." There was a moment while he listened to the response. "No, do it now!"

  Ella Moore sat across a small table from Alex and Sheriff Stokes. Her anger was clear at being asked to come down to the Department. She had thrown every conceivable expletive at the two men as she was led in.

  She continued, "You have no damn right to treat me like this!"

  Stokes said, "Ella, you need to settle down. You're not under arrest. We just need a few questions answered."

  Ella fumed, "Pepper Stokes, I swear...!"

  Alex cut in. "Ella, that's enough! We're going to ask you some questions and you're going to tell us everything we need to know. If you want a lawyer here with you, you have every right."

  "I don't need a damn lawyer!" she spat, standing to leave.

  "Ella, sit down," the sheriff demanded.

  Reluctantly, she took her seat again.

  Stokes began, "How long you been seeing Horton Bayes?"

  "It's none of your damn business!"

  Alex said, "Ella, we can be here all night, or you can make this a lot quicker by answering our questions. How long have you and Horton been having an affair?"

  The woman sat, just staring back defiantly.

  "Ella?" the sheriff asked.

  In a low voice, she finally began, "Me and Horton have been off and on for a couple of years."

  "Off and on?" Alex asked.

  "It wasn't a regular thing," she said, "until more recently."

  Alex perked up at the last comment. "Until recently?"

  Ella hesitated, then said, "We were pretty tight these past few months."

  "How tight?" Alex pressed.

  Ella looked over at the sheriff as if she was feeling guilty about talking about this in front of him. "Pepper, I'm sorry, but you know what we have is just for fun, right?"

  Stokes jumped in, "Let's not worry about that. Answer Alex's question."

  She looked back to Alex and hesitantly said, "We were talking about moving in together. He was going to leave Meryl."

  Alex was stunned, and his mind raced with the implications and contradicting facts and evidence surfacing in the case against his father.

  Alex focused on Ella's face and asked, "Had Horton told Meryl about your plans."

  Ella seemed flustered, searching for a response. "He never told me," she finally said. "He died before he told me."

  Chapter Fifty-six

  When Hanna returned to her office, one of the phone messages was from her partner at the firm she now worked part-time for on Pawley's Island. She called Trevor Hampton back and waited for him to take the call from their receptionist.

  "Hanna, thanks for getting back," Hampton said. " Sorry about the late notice, but the Petersons want to meet with us in the morning and I need you here."

  "What time?" Hanna asked, looking at the calendar on her cell phone.

  "First thing. Can you be here by eight?"

  "Sure, I'll drive up to the house tonight," Hanna said. "What's on their minds?"

  Hampton chuckled and said, "Seems the reality of splitting half their stuff in this divorce has finally dawned on them. They want to discuss a reconciliation and new agreement on the property going forward. Alice is bringing her lawyer."

  Hanna was not excited about the meeting. The Peterson divorce case had been particularly ugly. It was the kind of work she truly loathed, but with her husband, Ben, gone, she needed the money to help keep her free clinic open. "I'll see you in the morning," she said.

  It was close to seven o'clock when Hanna assured herself the day's work was done and she had everything covered for the coming day. She found the paperwork she needed to take with her to Pawleys Island and stuffed them in her case. After packing a small travel bag in her apartment for the trip, she drove out of the parking space behind the house and began working her way through the city traffic, thinking about a quiet night at the beach house to clear her head.

  Something triggered a thought about Alex and all that he was dealing with up in Dugganville. His father was still in jail on a murder charge that would likely carry the death penalty. There had been two attempts on Alex's life in the past week, and fortunately, all he had was a bullet wound in his shoulder. She shuddered when she thought about what could have happened. And then there was his ex-wife and new son to deal with.

  Forty-five minutes later, she saw the turn-off to Dugganville and without allowing herself to second-guess the decision, she took the turn.

  Hanna drove down the quiet main street of Dugganville, closing down now as the day faded. She saw Alex's car parked in front of the old diner and pulled in next to it. She took a deep breath and again, tried not to question her judgement in being here.

  Alex was in a booth near the front of restaurant. He didn't look up when Hanna opened the door and a bell hanging from the knob clattered. She saw his left arm still in a sling and cringed as images of the attacks crept back into her mind. She walked up to the table and stopped. Alex finally looked up with a look of total astonishment.

  "Hanna!"

  He struggled to climb out of the booth and as he stood, she fell into his one-armed hug. As they held each other, she said, "I wanted to see how you're doing."

  Alex drew back and smiled, then looked down at his shoulder. "I've been better."

  "That's what I figured."

  "Sit down," he said, gesturing for her to join him. "Have you eaten?

  Hanna said, "Actually, no, and I'm starving."

  Alex got the attention of the owner, Lucy. To Hanna, he said, "Get the meatloaf. The gravy is amazing."

  Lucy took Hanna's order and then rushed off to the kitchen, sending the busboy over to bring her a cup of coffee and refill Alex's cup.

  Alex said, "Thank you for coming."

  "I have to be on the island for a client meeting first thing in the mornin
g, so I'm headed up to the beach house."

  Alex continued, "I'm the one who should be asking about how you're doing."

  "It was pretty awful," Hanna said. "Not sure I'll ever have a good night's sleep. I can still see the man's face, lying on the floor dying in my office."

  Alex reached over and placed a hand on her arm. "It will take some time. You need to keep reminding yourself it was self-defense. The man was a killer. He killed his own wife."

  "I know," Hanna said, the sadness evident in her tone. "And I've left a little boy with no family and nowhere to go."

  "Lonnie tells me the Department is helping to track down family members."

  Hanna nodded and took a sip from her coffee. "How is your son doing," she asked and saw a look of concern. He scrunched his face and looked away for a moment. "What's happening?" she asked.

  Alex looked back. "Adrienne and I don't have it all sorted out yet. Her mother has taken them back for now."

  Hanna searched for any sign of his intentions for the woman and their son but decided not to pursue it further for the moment. "How's the shoulder?" she asked.

  Alex gently touched the area of the wound on his left shoulder and said, "Good thing I'm right-handed."

  Hanna smiled. "So, the guy who tried to kill you is dead?"

  Alex recounted the story of Beau Richards hiring the man and then killing him before coming to Alex's house to finish the job on him.

  "This is one crazy town." Hanna said.

  Alex shook his head and said, "You're telling me." He went on to tell her of the arrest of both Beau and Connor Richards and then the new information about the feud with Ella Moore with Horton Bayes' widow, Meryl.

  When he was finished, Lucy had placed Hanna's meal down and she was starting in on it. "Sounds like you have some new suspects," she said.

  "A few too many loose ends," he admitted. "Connor Richards will be back in the States tomorrow. The sheriff and I will get to talk with him as soon as possible."

  "How's your dad holding up?" Hanna asked.

  "I spoke to him on the phone just a while ago. He doesn't seem too encouraged about all the new evidence in Bayes' death. He still can't remember anything after leaving the shrimp boat with Meryl Bayes there and Horton still alive. Meryl's continuing to claim Pop came back later and killed him."