“They require more of you,” Brad said. “Same as a family.”
“What if I don’t have more to give?” Drew had worked over the years to disassociate from his emotions. Emotions never strengthened an oral argument or improved a cross-examination. Emotions only ever detracted. And he’d adopted the same philosophy in his personal life.
“You’d be surprised how much you have inside you.” Brad opened a cabinet and took out a dog snack from a plastic container marked Treats. He gave the biscuit to Nala. “You just have to believe in the reason. In yourself.”
Drew closed his eyes. “Well, maybe I’ll start to believe once I get my old life back.”
“Just be careful,” Brad warned. “It might be too late then.”
He disagreed with his brother. It was poor timing right now. His life wasn’t settled. Wasn’t even in a place where he could consider a relationship with anyone, most especially Molly. She needed, no, deserved more than a part-time helper. But he wasn’t ready or willing to be all in. That required a commitment he’d only ever given to his work. He understood the risks and rewards in his career. The same of upholding justice.
But the rewards of love were much more elusive. And the risks so high. Love offered too many hurtful scenarios and no guaranteed positive outcome. Molly and Hazel deserved a lot better than any chance it might work out. “That’s all I have to share today. Tell me about this fraud group you and your team are investigating? The one you want me to help with.”
Brad launched into his investigation, reconstructing the background and history of the fraud ring in detail. From its formation by two longtime friends to inclusions of family members to the corporate structure it now mimicked. Brad listed the crimes to date. They included counterfeiting, forgery and illegal loan schemes.
Drew settled in. He was at his best when it came to understanding and interpreting the law and how it related to suspected misdeeds. Love and relationships were not his strength. Or his specialty. Surely even Molly realized that.
It was past time to deal only in facts and undisputable truths.
Fact: Molly was his legal counsel.
Fact: Molly was the reason they’d discovered the evidence to exonerate him.
Fact: he was more than grateful.
Fact: gratitude was not love.
He had to plan his withdrawal. No more handholding. No more kisses. And definitely no more confessions.
As for those wishes he’d tossed into the water fountain, he’d keep those to himself.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TEN MILES INTO their destination to Sacramento, Drew disconnected from his hands-free conference call with Brad and his brother’s investigation team. The meeting had lasted for the whole hour and eaten up their entire drive from the Bay.
Now Drew was close. So very close to getting his life back.
Molly took out her earbuds and turned to glance at Hazel sleeping. He parked his truck outside the Cotes’ home. A small but inviting bungalow. Drew exhaled. “You told Lorrie we wouldn’t stress out her father, but I can convince her to allow us to speak to her dad frankly.”
“That’s my job.” Molly put her legal pad away, gathered her briefcase and the diaper bag. “You have to let me do what you hired me to do.”
“Sorry. I know that.” Drew winced. “I’ve never been in the client’s seat before.”
Never had to cede control of his future to someone else.
He always led his cases. Always dictated the direction and managed the result. Now the outcome was entirely personal. And those emotions he’d cautioned his own clients to get in check stampeded through him. He needed to listen to his own advice. Especially since there were good, honest people caught up in this case. Though he was the client, he had to be mindful not to forget that.
“We’re going to get you out of the client chair soon.” Molly opened the truck door and stepped out to retrieve Hazel from her car seat.
He also had to be mindful that he wouldn’t be standing outside Reuben Cote’s home without Molly. He wanted to thank her. Wanted to kiss her. But he’d vowed to withdraw. After all, once he returned to his old life, his world would be in perfect balance again. And his focus would be on work, where it belonged.
He loved his work. Doing his best to uphold justice meant everything to him.
He accepted a smiling Hazel from Molly.
Hazel’s big blue eyes locked on his. Her cheerful babbles joined the spring breeze. And her drool dripped onto his favorite courtroom shoes as if Hazel had just claimed him. As if he mattered very much to such a precious little girl.
Drew tucked Hazel against his chest and denied the surge of joy she infused him with every time he held her. As if she gave his life meaning. He liked kids just fine. Any kid really. Kids made him smile and laugh. Kids made him happy.
That hardly meant he wanted his own. Hardly proved Hazel was anymore special to him.
Besides, he was committed to his job. Ex-girlfriends had accused him of being emotionally unavailable. A workaholic and distant even when they were in the same room together. Not exactly glowing praise. Or high recommendation for him as a partner.
Clearly, he was better staying in his professional lane where he knew how to succeed. After all, failing Hazel and Molly wasn’t acceptable.
Drew waited for Molly and together they walked up the driveway to the front porch. An ornate wreath of brightly colored ribbons and sunflowers adorned the door, welcoming spring and its visitors.
Lorrie Cote opened the door and introduced herself to Drew and Molly, then aimed her warm smile at Hazel. She blew Hazel air kisses. “It’s been a few years since I’ve had a baby in the house. Do you think she’d mind if I held her?”
Hazel lifted her head off Drew’s shoulder and patted her palm against her mouth. Lorrie’s soft laughter carried across the pretty porch.
Molly handed Lorrie a llama-and-heart-print blanket. “It’s her favorite.”
Lorrie draped the blanket over her shoulder with the fast, precise movements of a seasoned mom and held out her arms to Hazel.
Hazel dropped into the woman’s arms and continued trying to blow air kisses.
“The books all talked about babies at this age being wary of everyone but their mothers.” Molly patted Hazel’s back. “Yet this one doesn’t seem to have much of a problem.”
“Except with the nanny candidates,” Drew corrected and glanced at Lorrie. “I think Hazel knew before we did that none of them were the right nanny for her.”
Lorrie smiled and tapped her finger on Hazel’s nose. “That’s because she’s smart and discerning. Babies have a good sense of things.”
And Drew hoped Hazel sensed she had the task of distracting Lorrie. He wasn’t there to pressure Reuben, but he wasn’t prepared to leave without Cote’s consent to testify either. If Hazel and her big blue eyes could inject her daily dose of adorable into the room, perhaps everyone would be in a more accommodating mindset. And the afternoon would remain stress-free for all the parties involved.
Lorrie carried Hazel inside the house. Drew and Molly followed the pair into a compact kitchen connected to a tidy family room. Lorrie transferred Hazel back to Molly. “My father’s room is down the hall. Let me make sure he’s feeling up to company.”
Molly sat at the kitchen table, propped Hazel on her lap and pulled a fabric book about forest animals out of the diaper bag.
Drew paced in a small circle, his gaze skipping from the stained coffeepot to the dull counters to the hand-drawn crayon art of a happy stick-figure family taped on the refrigerator. “We have to come back if Reuben refuses to talk to us today.”
“We will,” Molly assured him.
Hazel scrunched a page of her book, babbled and kicked out her legs in joy. The tension inside Drew released. He moved to stand beside Molly and glanced over her shoulder. Hazel tugged o
n a flap and cheered for the soft fox underneath. Again, the stress squeezing his spine eased. He wanted to believe it was only the Hazel effect. But he knew Hazel’s mother played a part too. Having Molly beside him calmed him. Surely, because he knew her talent and skill as an attorney. She most likely calmed all her clients.
But was he just a client? Drew paced away from the truth. He’d already vowed to stay in his professional lane. That included with Molly. He glanced down the hallway. “I don’t think Reuben is going to see us.”
“Or he’s getting ready to see us,” Molly countered.
Drew pressed his palms over his eyes. “We have to convince him to testify.”
“Drew, look at me.” Molly’s matter-of-fact voice ordered him to comply. “The man down the hallway is critically ill. He’s also a decent man and a loving father and he will protect his family at all costs. He’s already proven that by coming forward to exonerate Van.”
Drew nodded and his gaze slid to Hazel. He wasn’t Hazel’s biological father or even her stepfather, yet he was beginning to understand a parent’s protective instinct. The one that made someone want to move the universe to safeguard his or her own child.
Molly shifted and smiled when Lorrie reappeared in the kitchen. “Is your father up for a visit?”
“He is.” Lorrie reached for the blanket Molly had draped over the empty kitchen chair. “And if you don’t mind, I’d like to keep Hazel company while you three talk.”
“Are you sure?” Molly stood and adjusted Hazel on her hip.
“If I’m honest, I’m being selfish.” Lorrie’s one-sided grin hinted at her playful, lighthearted side. “I’d like to hold this bundle of joy for a little while and remember what it was to be innocent and full of wonder.”
Molly transferred Hazel into Lorrie’s open arms.
“We won’t take too much of your father’s time,” Drew said.
“I appreciate that,” Lorrie said. “You should know my father leans toward a more outdated code. He still puts stock in firm handshakes and solid eye contact. And he distrusts cell phones and most technology and particularly when they’re distractions.”
Molly pulled her cell phone from her pants pocket and tucked it into the diaper bag she’d hung on the kitchen chair. “I find it’s better not to be tempted when the notifications go off.”
“Thanks for the advice.” Drew turned his cell phone off and slid it back into his pocket.
“Dad’s room is the last door on the left.” Lorrie picked up the farm animal book and sat into the rocking chair near the front window. Drew smiled as Lorrie sang the first verse of a nursery rhyme. Her melodic voice added a comforting, welcome energy to the home.
At the end of the hallway, Drew opened the bedroom door and motioned Molly inside.
Reuben Cote sat in a rocking chair similar to the one in the family room. A patterned quilt draped across his lap. His grin pressed his wrinkled cheeks upward, closing off his eyes. “My daughter sings and her voice fills my tired old soul. I’m uplifted.”
Drew left the door open to allow Lorrie’s next song about sunshine to flow into the room.
Molly smiled. “Does she sing often?”
“Only when she feels safe.” Reuben tugged the blanket around his waist and set his rocking chair into a slow sway.
Molly’s gaze connected with Drew’s. That, he supposed, was at the core of every parent: wanting his or her child to feel safe. He’d want that for Hazel. And Molly. But would her heart be safe with him? Drew cleared his throat. “We will protect you and your family.”
“I trust that you will try.” Reuben paused. His chair creaked in the sudden silence. “Lorrie believes in you, as well. Otherwise she wouldn’t have invited you here.”
“Mr. Cote.” Drew stepped forward, reached his hand out.
“Reuben, please. We spent too much time together working on that trial to be so formal now.” The older gentleman shook Drew’s hand, then patted the last few gray curls framing his otherwise bald head. “Besides, my wife, Trina, only called me Mr. Cote when I displeased her. I can tell you it wasn’t often. And because of that we celebrated fifty-four years of marriage before she passed.”
“We are sorry for your loss,” Molly said.
Reuben nodded. But it was not sadness or despair that embraced him. More like love and gratitude for his wife and what they had shared. Drew glanced at Molly. What would it take for a marriage like that? Would Molly believe he could be a husband like Reuben? Did Drew believe?
“Trina told me she was leaving this life early to get things ready for us.” A quiet wise smile dented Reuben’s cheeks. “Promised she’d be waiting for me when I finished my work here.”
“How do you know when you’ve finished your work?” Molly’s arms were relaxed at her sides. Her voice was genuine. Her gaze sincere.
“My dear, I lived, loved and lied in this lifetime more than most.” A wry gleam flashed in Reuben’s deep brown eyes. “Married the love of my life and was blessed to raise a family. Tried to do right. Now, I can hear my Trina calling me.”
Drew wanted Reuben to have peace. To be with his beloved Trina for all eternity. And, selfishly, Drew wanted very much to save himself too.
“But you both aren’t here for life advice from me.” Reuben’s gaze settled on Drew as if the older man had been blessed with clairvoyance.
“We will welcome any advice you’re willing to share.” Drew meant that. He liked Reuben Cote very much. Would gladly return for a personal visit to learn more about his life. But to do that, business had to come first. “But we’ve also recently discovered a recording of your first interview in the Van Solis murder trial.”
Reuben rubbed his finger over his eyebrows. “I was told that recording had been destroyed. That’s why I never mentioned it in my new statement to the boy’s lawyer.”
“Not exactly,” Molly said. “Reuben, we need your sworn statement to verify the recording. To verify it is you and Cory Vinson in that video.”
“I had to make a deal.” Reuben’s worry was palpable in the room. “I was told by Vinson that I was about to lose my home and everything I owned because of unpaid back taxes. I’d made a terrible mistake. The penalties and fines were more than I made my entire life as a mechanic. My daughter and grandkids would’ve been forced onto the streets. Lorrie had fallen on rough times. Vinson stressed I would spend years in prison. A man can’t provide for his family in jail. I promised my wife I’d look after my family. Always.”
Molly sat on the ottoman beside Reuben’s rocking chair. “And you did that the best way you knew how.”
“I took Vinson’s deal, but I sentenced someone else’s son to a life in jail.” Reuben pinched his eyes closed. “Who was I to decide my life mattered more than that boy’s?”
“I was the prosecutor,” Drew confessed into the quiet. “I’m responsible for that outcome.”
“You wouldn’t have had that outcome without my testimony.” Reuben peered at him. “No man should ever tamper with fate. I’ll have to answer for that.”
“We can correct things.” Molly set her hand on the arm of the rocking chair. Her voice was earnest and forthright. “For the innocent and the guilty.”
“I want things made right. I’ve waited far too long.” Reuben’s chin dipped. “Funny, the things I convinced myself of the past few years, since the trial ended, to lessen the guilt and the regret. But when your final days are staring right at you, it’s only the truth that matters.”
“Reuben,” Molly said. “Your legacy will be all the stronger for owning the truth now.”
“What happens now? I’ve recanted my testimony publicly and already gave a statement to Van’s attorney for the boy’s appeal trial.” Reuben curled his fingers around the rocking chair armrests. “What charges will I face?”
“We aren’t here to charge you.” Drew stepped fo
rward, wanting to reassure the older man. “We’d like your testimony at my upcoming hearing to prove the witness-tampering charges against me are false.”
“I gave my first interview to Vinson,” Reuben said. “No one else.”
It was Cory Vinson, the current DA, that should be accused of witness tampering and so much more. Drew said, “That’s what we’d like you to say at my hearing.”
“And if I don’t agree to do that, what happens then?” Reuben asked.
“We’d like you to sign an official statement. An affidavit, like you did for Van,” Molly explained. “Of course, we can’t make you do anything. But you should know Drew’s livelihood is at stake. He could lose everything at his hearing if he’s declared guilty. I’m trying to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
Drew remained still and held the older gentleman’s gaze. Reuben’s eyes held wisdom and experience.
“Lorrie believes you’re one of the good ones.” Reuben rubbed his chin.
“Drew Harrington is one of the good ones.” Molly set her hand on top of Reuben’s arm. “Drew has built his career on trying to uphold justice. He’s never faltered. Never deviated. Now he deserves justice too.”
Molly’s words gave him comfort. He added, “I want to keep doing my job.”
“World needs more good ones,” Reuben offered. “I want to help.”
The tension in Drew disappeared. He smiled. “Thank you.”
“I’ll need to make arrangements. I want to do this in person.” Reuben set his chair back to its slow rocking motion. “Though traveling is not like it used to be. Now I have doctors and a daughter who monitor every hour of every one of my days.”
“We can arrange to return to video your witness statement,” Drew suggested. “In case traveling is not approved.”
“Don’t you worry, son.” Reuben shook his finger at Drew. “I’m going to be telling them where we’re going, not asking.”
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