"Carriage, Joe Carriage."
"Yeah, that's it. Well, he has a friend in the FBI who owed him big time, so he called in a marker. Even with all that, it wouldn't have worked except for my outlandishly handsome look-alike, Dr. Corbin Steele. I must say, he has been a prince through this whole thing. I have to tell you, it's really strange looking at someone who looks so much like you."
"He's a pretty great guy," Sabre said.
"And a handsome devil, wouldn't you say?"
"I don't have to. You've said it plenty."
The door opened and Mrs. Brown looked in. "Can anyone join this party?"
"Hi, Mom, come on in," Sabre beckoned.
The three of them spent the next few hours sharing their lives and reminiscing. They talked, they laughed, and they cried, always touching, trying to hold on to each other and to the few precious moments they had together. They feared the moment the door would open and they would be split apart.
When the US Marshal walked in, he was greeted with three very disappointed faces. "Sorry folks," he said. "I hate to do this to you, but it's time. You have a few minutes to say your goodbyes and then here's what you need to do. Ron, when you leave here, remember you are Dr. Steele. Nurses and such may be vying for your attention to ask you things. Sabre's friend Bob will be out in the hallway. He'll be asking you questions about Sabre and acting crazy, if he has to, in order to keep others distracted. You'll lead him to your office where Dr. Steele's waiting. From there you'll slip out the back and we'll be on our way. Any questions?"
"No, I've got it," Ron said. He hugged his mother for the longest time, both holding on. They had all agreed earlier they wouldn't cry when it came time to leave, but it didn't work. Mrs. Brown bawled as she gave him some last minute motherly instructions on how to take care of himself. Tears rolled down Ron's cheeks as he agreed to be careful. He turned to Sabre, gave her a hug, and whispered in her ear, "Don't ever forget how much I love you, Sis."
Sabre couldn't fight back the tears. Sobbing, she replied, "I love you, too, Bro." As he turned to leave, she and her mother squeezed each other's hands watching Ron transform into Dr. Steele and shuffle out the door.
CHAPTER 39
"Come on, Sobs, you're going to miss your flight," Bob yelled.
"Relax, Grumpy, we still have plenty of time," Sabre said, as she walked out of the bedroom with her suitcase. "By the way, how are you doing with the smoking? You still clean?"
"Absolutely," Bob said, looking at his watch. "Twenty-seven days, three hours and thirty-two minutes . . . but who's counting?"
"I'm really proud of you."
"I promised, if you lived, I'd quit. I have to admit there were a few times when I first stopped that I wanted to kill you myself just so I could smoke again." They laughed as they got in the car and left for the airport. "Well, Sobs, things haven't turned out so badly after all."
"Yup, you're right. Howard, the FBI agent, sure came through, finding Elizabeth and all."
"How did that come about? I never heard what happened to her."
"More of Gaylord's doing. Elizabeth decided she had had enough of his abuse and his gambling, and she told him she was leaving him. He threatened to kill her mother and Alexis if she left. He told her, if he couldn't have Alexis, no one would, especially not her. He kept getting worse and worse. Crazy things started to happen to her, including a red bat appearing in her bathroom during her shower. Imagine that. A few days later, the riddle about the bat showed up in her purse. Things escalated to the point where she couldn't take it any longer. When he left for work one morning, she packed some things for her and Alexis, and went to tell her mother goodbye. He must've been having her followed because those thugs intercepted her and she never made it to her mother's house. Somehow, though, she managed to escape. She hid for a while, and then she went to the police station. When she arrived, she saw one of her abductors in the parking lot. She hid behind some cars and saw him talking to a police officer. She was too frightened to go in after that because she didn't know who to talk to. Murdock had lots of friends in the police department.
"She left, went to Boston, and hid out. She had a friend in Atlanta who kept her informed about Alexis. Her friend discovered she knew one of the investigating officers on the case, named Steve Parker. She assured Elizabeth he could be trusted. Steve was Joe Carriage's best friend, remember?"
"Yeah, the cop they killed."
"Yup, so Elizabeth's friend called Steve. She planned to meet with him and tell him about Elizabeth and what had happened. She went to the meeting, but Steve never showed. She read in the paper the next day he was killed in a car accident. That clinched it for Elizabeth, too afraid she would put her mother or Alexis in danger if she came forward. She didn't want to leave Alexis with Gaylord, either, but in many ways he was a good father. She knew he wouldn't hurt her as long as she stayed away."
"So she sacrificed a life with her daughter to save her life?"
"And her mother's," Sabre added. "She's quite a woman. I can see why Ron loved her."
"Oh, by the way, do we need to pick up Alexis?"
"No, Marla's bringing her to the airport."
"I'll bet she's anxious to see her mother."
"Yes, she's excited. They've been talking on the phone every day, getting reacquainted. Everyone is anxious for Alexis to return to Atlanta. And Alexis is excited about seeing Jamie."
“Where is Jamie?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Jamie and Haley were placed with a maternal great aunt in Decatur, Georgia. Peggy has an aunt who is a nurse. She was estranged from the rest of the family and so she didn’t know what was going on for quite a while. She saw the news story and contacted Marla. It sounds like a good placement for them and the aunt has agreed to continue the contact with Alexis.”
“Do you think it will be a long term placement?”
“They want to keep him, so if parental rights are terminated, they plan to adopt him. If not, I’m sure they will do a guardianship at the very least.”
"That’s great,” Bob said. “How are the Murdocks reacting to what happened?"
"They're upset, of course; after all, they lost a son. They also feel terrible about all the suffering he caused. I expect they are terribly disappointed in his behavior. They made a public apology on behalf of the Murdock name, but other than that they're keeping it within the confines of their home and family, like well-bred southern folks do. They appear to be good people and they love Elizabeth like a daughter, so I'm sure it'll all work out," Sabre said. "They bought us all tickets for some big shindig at the country club for New Year's Eve. It might be fun, hobnobbing with the rich and famous." She laughed.
They arrived at the airport, and Sabre and Alexis flew to Atlanta, where Alexis would begin her new life. The Murdocks, Elizabeth, and Ruby were waiting in baggage claim when they arrived. The grandparents held back and let Alexis greet her mother alone. Alexis saw her flaxen- haired mother in a periwinkle blue cotton dress standing across the room, and said, "She looks like an angel."
"She sure does," Sabre said.
Alexis ran to her with open arms. "Mother, Mother," she yelled from across the crowded corridor.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Teresa Burrell has dedicated her life to helping children and their families. As an attorney, Ms. Burrell has spent countless hours working pro bono in the family court system. She continues to advocate children’s issues and write novels, many of which are inspired by actual legal cases.
Teresa Burrell is available at www.teresaburrell.com.
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THE ADVOCATE SERIES
THE ADVOCATE (Book 1)
THE ADVOCATE’S BETRAYAL (Book 2)
THE ADVOCATE’S CONVICTION (Book 3)
THE ADVOCATE’S DILEMMA (Book 4)
THE ADVOCATE’S EX PARTE (Book 5)
THE ADVOCATE’S FELONY (Book 6)
THE ADVOCATE’S GEOCACHE (Book 7)
THE ADVOCATE’S HOMICIDES (Book 8)
THE TUPER SERIES
THE ADVOCATE’S FELONY
(Book 6 of The Advocate Series)
MASON'S MISSING
(First in The Tuper Mystery Series)
The Advocate Page 27