Her eyes were narrowed and her mouth was pinched when she climbed aboard. It must not have been a good visit.
“Who was there?” he asked.
Her hazel eyes were stormy, and she began to haul up the dinghy. “Gabriel and several other men.”
His pulse kicked up, and he grabbed the rope to help her. “He had to have followed us here.”
“He did.” Jane went past him to speak to Alfie.
The wind snatched most of her words away, but the way she gestured to the shore indicated she was in a hurry to get back. Alfie barked out orders to the boys, and the old shrimper turned his trawler toward land.
Reid followed her to the bow of the boat where she stood tapping out a message on her phone. When she didn’t look at him, he dove in anyway. “Did he say why he’s here?”
She lowered her phone and glanced his way. “He says my mother hid something. He called it ‘stuff,’ so I have no idea what he means. Items belonging to the cult? Money?” She shrugged. “He wants me to tell her to come here and face him. Like she’d listen to me anyway. He’s delusional. You were there for a while after Dad and I left. Did you hear any scuttlebutt about Mom stealing something?”
He shook his head. “But you have to remember, so many people died the day of the police raid. My dad would have known, but he was one of the first ones killed. I wandered over to Liberty’s Children but didn’t know all that many people.”
“I had to ask.”
The boat slowed, and Reid went to help the boys dock the boat into its slip. It was nearly lunchtime, and Pelican Harbor residents milled the grassy areas and picnic table with sacks of food and cups of sweet tea. A vendor sold raw and grilled oysters from a food truck, and the aroma of beignets wafted from another vendor on the other side of the street.
Jane stepped onto the dock. “Have Will take care of Parker.” She hurried toward her SUV. She slammed her door and accelerated away in her vehicle.
Will joined him with Parker at his side. “What’s up with Mom?”
“I think she had to go to the crime scene again. She wants you to take care of Parker for her.”
The boy had been through a lot in the past couple of months and, at fifteen, was nearly a man now, but Reid didn’t want to hurt him with the knowledge of how Lauren was trying to destroy them all.
“I think it’s more than the murder.” Will glanced over at Isaac and Megan, who waved him over. “We’re going for ice cream. Wanna join us?”
Reid recognized the reluctance in the invitation and grinned. “I’ve got some stuff to do, but have fun.”
He stepped off the boat rocking in the waves and walked through the shimmering heat toward his attorney’s office. Without an appointment, he didn’t know if Scott could see him—or if he was even in on a Saturday—but Lauren’s new attack merited alarm.
The brick sidewalks buzzed with activity, and he nodded to several acquaintances who were shopping or eating on busy Oyster Bay Road. He spared a glance at Jane’s French Quarter–style apartment above Petit Charms. He and Will had played dominoes with her there over pizza on Tuesday. After the day’s events, it seemed like an eternity ago.
The door to Scott’s office opened when he pulled on it. The air-conditioning was a relief from the humidity, and Scott’s receptionist smiled when she saw him. “Going to hit ninety-five today, Reid. I don’t have you down for an appointment though.”
“Sorry. I’m surprised you’re open on a Saturday, but I took a chance.”
“He’s taking off a few days next week so we scheduled a few clients for today.”
She was in her forties and always wore a smile, but he didn’t know her name. He looked past her to Scott’s closed door. “Is there any chance I could talk to Scott for a few minutes? It’s important.”
“It depends on how long his current client takes. I might be able to squeeze you in for fifteen minutes.” She gestured to the bank of chairs. “Have a seat.”
He dropped into a chair and watched the news flashing across the television screen on the wall, though he didn’t have enough of an attention span to name what new disaster was playing out. News these days was a constant play on people’s fears, and he seldom watched it.
Scott’s door opened, and Reid stood as a man dressed in a gray suit walked out. The guy smiled and nodded at the receptionist, then exited the office.
She lifted the phone and spoke too softly for Reid to hear before she gave him a nod. “Scott has about twenty minutes before his next appointment.”
“I appreciate it.” Reid hustled back to Scott’s office and closed the door behind him. “Sorry to bust in on you this way.”
“Not a problem.”
Scott Foster always reminded him of a woodpecker with his fading reddish-brown hair and thin neck. He had been Charles Hardy’s best friend for years, and Reid had found him very calming and knowledgeable.
Reid dropped into a chair in front of the desk. “Lauren tracked down Jane this morning. She’s claiming we’re still married.”
Scott pursed his thin lips. “I got the papers today, but I haven’t had a chance to read them yet. Her attorney hinted there might be a big surprise in the lawsuit she’d filed. And I warned you we might not prevail in court.”
“How do we make sure I’m not tied to her? I don’t trust her to take any money I give her and leave me alone in the future.”
“Getting her to sign paperwork promising not to sue for more money won’t necessarily ensure that she won’t ignore it and sue you anyway. I’m afraid the only way to be certain you’re not married is to file for divorce.”
Reid slumped in his seat. “That’s not what I wanted to hear.”
Scott tapped his pen against a pad of paper. “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe there’s any other solid way to handle this, Reid. The Nevada law isn’t clear. She seems to want to test it.”
“Wouldn’t she have a right to more money if I divorce her?”
“She deserted you and Will and hadn’t been heard from in almost eight years. I think it’s likely an Alabama judge would take that into consideration. For a divorce, we wouldn’t have to go to Nevada and see how it all turns out.”
Jane wouldn’t like a divorce proceeding any more than Reid did. “What about Will? She legally adopted him. Can she sue for visitation even though his real mother is here?”
“It’s a crazy, mixed-up mess, but yes, it’s possible. Do I think the judge would lean her way? No. Will is a teenager, and any judge is going to take his preferences into consideration. I think that’s a meaningless threat. The property and money issues are the only things you have to deal with. And honestly, that’s all she’s interested in. If she sued to see Will, it would only be to annoy you.”
Reid exhaled a long sigh. “Can we file for divorce and invalidate the suit she’s filing for money?”
“I think I can get that dismissed since it will be dealt with in the divorce.”
Reid stood. “I guess I have to do it then.”
“I’ll draw up the papers. Stop by at the end of the week to sign them. I’ll be back in the office on Thursday. My assistant will get them done before then.”