Close To Home (Westen Series)

by Ferrell, Suzanne

  Without raising his hooded gaze from where he studied his whiskey, Gage tapped the transmitter beneath the table twice. The signal that Hazard had arrived.

  Hazard scanned the room. His gaze wandered over the few pool players in the side parlor, the lone couple necking on what passed for a dance floor and the two old men seated at the bar. He dismissed each one without a second glance. Finally, his attention riveted on Gage’s table in the corner. His decision made, he approached.

  “You the man I’m looking for?” he demanded, standing opposite Gage’s seat. Arrogance dripped off him like sweat from a cold beer bottle in July. What had Emma ever seen in this guy?

  “Depends on what your business is.”

  The weasel pulled out a chair and sat despite the lack of invitation. “I was told if I met with someone bearing your description tonight, I could arrange the execution of a certain business matter.”

  Gage sipped his drink. “That’s not all you were told.”

  “I have the money.” He set a briefcase on the table then slipped a folded note toward Gage. “That’s the address. I need both parties wrapped up.”

  The guy was clever. If Gage didn’t get him to incriminate himself on tape by saying exactly what he wanted, this whole ordeal was for nothing. “You’re going to have to tell me the names and the address, mister.”

  “Why? You can read it all for yourself.”

  “Can’t read.”

  Hazard swore under his breath, something about the local school system’s success, then leaned in closer. “The address is 2517 Main Street. The woman is Emma Lewis and her son Benjamin Lewis. I need this done tomorrow. And be sure you get the right kid. There’s two of them.”

  * * *

  Clint couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. The guy wanted him to kill Emma and Ben? He wanted to storm in there and beat the hell out of this bastard.

  “I don’t do kids.” Gage’s tense voice came through the headphones. He was probably fighting the urge to take out his gun and blow the guy away.

  “There’s an extra ten thousand in it for you if the lady and her son cease to be a problem to me.”

  “An extra ten thousand?” Gage sounded as if he were considering the added money.

  “Paid once the death certificates are filed.”

  Greed and something like decaying flesh oozed off this guy. Clint was glad Emma wasn’t here to hear this. What had she ever seen in this creep in the first place? How could she have believed herself in love with him?

  Clint studied the scene in the bar on the closed circuit television. Hazard had the audacity to smile, then stood and held out his hand.

  Static came over the two-way radio on the Sheriff’s hip, followed by Deputy Cleetus’ anxious voice.

  “Sheriff, you’re not gonna like this.”

  “What’s wrong, Cleetus?” Lloyd asked.

  Clint’s attention wavered from Gage to his father.

  “Emma’s car just pulled into the parking lot.”

  “What the hell is she doing here?” Clint whispered to the sheriff.

  “Cleetus, try to stall her and keep her outside.”

  Don’t come in here, Emma. His heart pounding, Clint stood, watching the scene in the bar play out.

  Gage drained the last of the whiskey in his glass instead of shaking Hazard’s hand. It took the other guy a moment to realize the slight. He blustered with embarrassment before he turned and strolled toward the door.

  Clint threw off his headphones and slammed his chair back. No way was Hazard leaving here in one piece! He stormed through the back door into the bar, just as the front door opened, and Emma stepped in.

  Silence fell on the room for a moment.

  “You! No. You can’t be here.” Dwayne stopped in his tracks, looking around the room like a wounded animal in a cage. “This is a setup? You’ve ruined everything. It’s all your fault!” Then he lunged for Emma.

  Gage grabbed him by the collar and shoved him onto the nearest table. “Dwayne Hazard, you’re under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder,” he said, as he cuffed Dwayne from behind.

  Emma watched in a sort of dazed numbness. He’d really done it. Somewhere deep inside her she’d hoped Clint had been wrong, and her ex hadn’t really deemed her life so worthless he’d try to throw it away so easily. But he’d really tried to buy her death.

  Her disbelief quickly turned to white-hot rage with the realization. As she looked into the sputtering face of her ex-husband and vaguely listened to Gage read him his Miranda rights, the undeniable truth hit home. The undercover troopers at the pool table were dismantling the hidden cameras and recorders. The police couple who’d been dancing were taking eyewitness reports from the other patrons and bartender.

  Then she heard what Gage was saying.

  “…for attempting to arrange for the deaths of Emma Lewis and Benjamin Lewis…”

  Emma’s attention focused entirely on Dwayne as Gage hauled him off the table.

  Her hands clenched in fists, she stalked to block the exit between the door and Gage and his prisoner. When she heard her cousin say Dwayne had tried to buy Ben’s death, as well as her own, her self-control snapped. She took a step forward.

  “Emma, get out of the way,” Gage warned softly.

  “You bastard!” Without thinking, she hauled her arm back and punched Dwayne in the stomach.

  He grunted, bent over, then came up gasping for air and sputtering even more. “She hit me. I want you all as witnesses. This is police brutality.”

  Gage hauled him to the door then stopped. “Anyone see anyone other than me touch this guy?”

  Everyone in the bar shook their head.

  “No one here left a mark on him.” A familiar voice sounded from behind Emma.

  She turned and saw Clint standing in the rear door, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression hard and angry. Gage slammed the door open and dragged the whimpering Dwayne from the bar. The remaining officers filed out carrying equipment. Yet, Clint made no effort to come to her or speak to her. He just stood there watching.

  “I had to come.”

  “You promised to stay away from here tonight.” The words were tight and clipped. He made no move to ease his stance or comfort her.

  For the first time since that day the boys broke their wrists, Clint was angry. Not just over the situation or about the threat to her or her boys, but furious with her. Behind the ire in his eyes there lay raw pain.

  She took a step backward. Her doubts and fears had caused him that pain. Then she stopped her retreat. He needed to understand how important coming here tonight was to her.

  “I stood on the sidelines last time, and Dwayne manipulated the divorce to his favor.”

  “You said you’d trust me to handle this situation for you. I needed to know you were safe and be allowed to protect you.” He strode toward her, stopping a foot away. “But you just can’t let anyone help you, can you? You have to be in control of everything.”

  His words stung.

  “You can’t believe that.”

  “Every time I’ve tried to help you, to ease some of the stress you’re under, you’ve stopped me.”

  “I’ve been on my own for so long, even before my divorce, it’s hard for me to give up that control. But then you stormed into my life and gave me a reason to lean on someone.” She shoved her hands into her pockets. “And it frightens me. You frighten me.”

  He blinked and stared at her for a second. “I’ve never done anything to hurt you.”

  Frustration grew in her and she stared at her feet. She didn’t want to have this conversation with him. Not now. Not ever. “Of course you wouldn’t do anything to knowingly hurt me or the boys. I trust you more than anyone in my life—ever.”

  He slipped his hand under her chin and raised her face until she stared into his dark eyes. “Then what has you so frightened?”

  “This thing between us. Deep in my heart I don’t want what we’ve shared here to end. But
in my head I know it has to. When your aunt and uncle return, you’ll be going back to your ER practice and your life in Columbus.”

  “And you and the boys will be left behind?”

  She shook her head. “No. We’ll stay behind. This is a warm, loving community. I couldn’t have raised the boys on my own without the support of the people here. I want my sons to have that sense of belonging for as long as they can.” She stepped closer to him, her body still not touching his. “When you go, I’ll hurt for a long time. But I can’t leave Weston.”

  For the first time since he’d walked into her bedroom that fateful morning, Clint read the honesty and heartache in Emma’s face. She truly believed they couldn’t have a future together. That pain washed away all his anger.

  He dragged her into his arms, holding her tight against him. It felt so good to hold her in the warm haven of his arms, even as the world bustled around them. The sounds of the sheriff’s men and the troopers milling about, the bar’s regular patrons discussing the big sting operation, all faded to a muffled hum as he felt her steady breathing against his chest.

  She might think they had no life beyond this time, but he knew better. He’d confessed that he loved her, and he didn’t say that lightly. Tomorrow wouldn’t be the end for them, not if he had anything to say about it.

  After a while he leaned back and brushed her hair off her face. “If I ask you to trust me, that things will work out for all of us, will you try to not worry about it? At least until this hearing tomorrow is over?”

  “I can try.”

  He released her and looked at the people milling about the bar, trying not to appear conspicuous as they watched the two of them. “Then let’s get out of here.” He grabbed his coat from the back room, then taking her arm, led her out the Wagon Wheel’s front door.

  She shook her right hand for a moment.

  “Something wrong?”

  “I’ve never punched another human being before. My hand stings.”

  He grinned at her. “I’m surprised you feel anything at all. You did pick the softest part of him to hit.”

  “Good thing I didn’t go for his chest.”

  “Why?”

  “Because the man has a heart of stone.” She stepped through the door. “When I heard he’d tried to pay to have Ben killed, that’s when I lost it.”

  “Face it, Em. Your choice in men has definitely improved with time.”

  That brought a smile to her face.

  At her car, he held her door for her then crouched beside her seat, keeping the door open.

  “Emma, when we get back to your house, we’re going to call Gage, then my brother, Wade.”

  “Why?” Her eyes lit with curiosity.

  “I think we might be able to use Hazard’s little game tonight to our advantage.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Tension twisted Emma’s stomach as she sat alone in the courthouse’s hallway waiting for her case. Since Dwayne had filed in Franklin County, she’d had to come all the way to Columbus for the hearing. Harriett had come to the house to see that Ben and Brian got off to school earlier that morning and Libby was scheduled to take Mama to the center again. Before Emma could ask about Clint, Harriett handed her a note from him telling her that he had gone into the city earlier to talk with Wade, and the two of them would meet her at the county courthouse before the hearing.

  Emma looked at her watch for the hundredth time. Where were they? Her case was scheduled for eleven and it was ten forty-five now.

  She stood and smoothed the wrinkles from the skirt of her forestgreen suit, and tugged the jacket down in place. Then she paced a few times in front of the bench, where her coat and purse lay. Trying to relieve her tension, she clenched her fists tight then spread her fingers out wide.

  God, she hated waiting. And no way did she want to walk into that courtroom by herself. Of course she would if it became necessary. She’d do anything to keep Brian, even face one of her biggest nightmares.

  “Emma.”

  She turned to see Wade striding toward her with a smile on his face.

  “Where’s Clint?” she asked when his brother caught up with her.

  “He’ll be along in a moment.” Wade steered her back to the bench, and they both sat. “We’ve met with the District Attorney and you ex-husband’s attorney already this morning.”

  “And?” Emma knew the plan. She and Clint had discussed it thoroughly last night. They’d approach the Licking County DA about a sentence plea for Dwayne. They planned to use the attempted conspiracy-to-commit-murder charge to force her ex to drop the custody case.

  Before Wade could answer her, the door to the courtroom opened and out stepped the bailiff. “Hazard versus Lewis.”

  “That’s us.” Wade stood and waited for Emma to get her things.

  Fighting her nervousness, she once again tugged on the suit jacket. Then she grabbed her purse and coat and headed to face the judge.

  Seated next to Wade in the mahogany-lined courtroom, Emma wished Clint was with her. She had grown so accustomed to his presence at her side throughout this ordeal. But maybe it was just as well. It was greedy of her to want more. In less than two months his aunt and uncle would return from their world tour, and she’d somehow have to learn to face life again without him.

  She nervously pulled her upper lip between her teeth. She’d get through this hearing and survive when Clint moved back to his own life. No matter what anyone else believed, she was strong enough to face this crisis and any others that might come in the future.

  Then why did her heart hurt so much at the thought of losing Clint? Because she’d done the one thing she knew better than to let herself do. She’d fallen in love with him.

  Suddenly, a hand settled on her right shoulder. She turned to see Clint settling into the chair beside her.

  “Stop worrying, sweetheart.” He leaned in, kissing her lightly.

  “I wasn’t worrying,” she lied, trying to ignore the quickening of her heart and sudden calm his presence beside her always brought these days.

  He tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear. “Yes you were. Every time you worry, you nibble on your upper lip.”

  Heat filled her face. “Okay, I was worrying. Where’ve you been?”

  “Taking care of something.” He stopped talking as the judge’s chamber door opened and the bailiff entered.

  “All rise. This session of the Franklin County Common Pleas Court is now in session. The honorable Jeremiah Waters, presiding.”

  Emma gripped the edge of the defendant’s table to steady herself as she watched the black-robed judge enter through the door and take his seat. The urge to flee almost overwhelmed her then a warm, steadying hand rested on her back. She glanced at Clint’s confident face as he watched the judge, and reassurance filled her.

  “You may be seated,” the judge said, then turned to whisper to the bailiff for a few minutes.

  Emma sat between Clint and his brother, her hands in her lap with her fingers laced together. Being back in court, even after nearly seven years, sent a wave of nausea through her. The breakfast bar she’d eaten on her trip into the city now lay in her stomach like a granite rock.

  “Emma,” Clint reached beneath the table and covered her hands with one of his. “Take a deep breath, sweetheart. Relax.”

  “Do I look that bad?” she whispered.

  “No. You look beautiful, but scared. You don’t want to pass out and miss winning this case, do you?”

  She inhaled deeply and shook her head, digging deep within herself for a little more strength. If this court appearance was different from the last and things went her way, she could put her life with Dwayne completely behind her. She didn’t want to lose out on that experience for anything.

  The judge sat back in his seat. “Mr. Reynolds,” he addressed Dwayne’s lawyer, who sat alone at the plaintiff’s table, “your client isn’t joining us for these proceedings today?”

  Emma peeked around Wade
as the other lawyer, dressed in a hand-tailored navy suit which spoke volumes about his standard fee, stood to answer the judge. This was the same attorney who’d stolen her life and reputation for Dwayne years ago. He tugged at his tie for a moment, and the heat of a chagrined flush crept over his slightly paunchy features.

  An urge to grin teased Emma’s lips. The man didn’t like to be embarrassed by his clients or their actions. Good. She hoped he died of mortification for agreeing to help Dwayne in the first place.

  “Your honor, due to an unfortunate situation, my client, Doctor Hazard, cannot be in court today.”

  The judge lifted both eyebrows, and studied Mr. Reynolds for a moment. “And what could have kept your client from attending a case that he brought to this court?”

  “Your honor,” Wade stood. “If we may approach the bench?”

  “You may.”

  Both Wade and Dwayne’s lawyer went to stand in front of the judge. They talked in hushed whispers, and Wade presented the judge with several papers, which he read over as they waited.

  “This is where Wade tells the judge of the plea bargain he negotiated with Hazard last night,” Clint whispered to Emma.

  “And those are the papers he’s signed to drop the case?”

  “Not just the case, Em. Hazard has signed away any legal right to custody of either of the boys.”

  “For now?” Hope filled her, but she didn’t believe what she was hearing. Dwayne was giving up custody of the boys?

  Clint squeezed her hands in her lap. “Now and forever. It was the only way he could keep from going to jail for the next twenty-five years.”

  “You may step back,” the judge ordered the two lawyers, who both took their respective seats.

  “Ms. Lewis.” The judge fixed his full attention on Emma, the weight of which forced her to squeeze Clint’s hand with both of hers to prevent herself from visibly trembling.

  “In accordance with a plea bargain agreement between your ex-husband and the district attorney of Licking County,” the judge continued, “I have been presented with a signed affidavit stating that Mr. Hazard waives all parental rights to either of your sons, Benjamin or Brian Lewis, for the remainder of his natural life.” He paused for a breath and smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling with true pleasure in his decision. “Therefore, Ms. Lewis, I am pleased to render a decision in your favor, granting you full and permanent legal custody of your sons, Brian and Benjamin Lewis.”