by Marie Force
Sam waited breathlessly to hear what she would say.
“They left all decisions concerning custody and guardianship of the minor children in the hands of Mr. Armstrong’s elder son, Elijah.”
Sam felt like Alice must’ve as she fell into the rabbit hole of hope and despair and uncertainty.
“I don’t think he knows that,” Sam said. “He hasn’t said anything about it.”
“The attorney, who is in California and only heard the news about the murders from your press conference today, confirmed that Elijah doesn’t know. Apparently, his father and stepmother didn’t want him burdened by the weight of that potential responsibility while he was in college. They wanted him to be free to live his own life, but according to the attorney, they were very clear that they wanted him—and only him—to decide what should be done with the children. He is sending me a copy of their instructions now.”
“I’m almost home and will let him know about this.” Sam was waved through the Secret Service checkpoint at the end of Ninth Street and pulled into her assigned parking spot, her mind racing with possible outcomes and implications.
“The Lawsons have arranged for hotel rooms for themselves and the children for the coming week, so they have time to pack up the children’s possessions and attend the memorial service that’s being planned for next Friday.”
“I’ll pass that on to Elijah.”
“I’ll be there shortly with the Lawsons, who think they’re coming to pick up the children.”
Not so quick, Sam wanted to say, but she refused to think beyond the next ten to fifteen minutes. One step at a time, as she would say when investigating a case.
As she walked up the ramp, she left Lieutenant Holland behind and stepped into her favorite role as Mrs. Cappuano, Nick’s wife and Scotty’s mom. “Evening, Nate,” she said to the agent at the door.
“Evening, Mrs. Cappuano.”
She walked through the door he held for her and into bedlam. Nick, Scotty and Elijah were on the floor, under attack from Aubrey and Alden, whose joyful laughter was all she could hear.
Shelby stood on the sidelines with Noah, laughing at their antics.
Sam could only stand there and watch, as a profound feeling of completeness came over her.
“Uh-oh,” Scotty said, as Alden pinned him down. “Mom’s home! Mom! Rescue me from the little monster!”
“I’m coming, son! Hold on!” She leaned over Scotty to pry Alden off him. “Got him,” Sam said, kissing Alden’s cute face.
He giggled and squirmed until she put him down. The second his feet hit the floor, he was in the air again, this time aiming for Elijah, who responded with an “ooph” as his brother landed on him.
“Nice to see them laughing,” Shelby said when Sam joined her and Noah on the sidelines. The baby kicked his feet wildly, clearly wanting in on the action on the floor.
“It sure is.” Sam gave them a few more minutes to play before she asked Elijah if she could have a word with him. She gestured for Nick to come too.
“Scotty, they’re all yours,” Nick said when he got up off the floor.
“They don’t scare me,” Scotty said as both kids jumped on top of him.
Nick and Elijah followed Sam into the kitchen.
“They wore me out,” Nick said.
“You’re getting to see them the way they usually are,” Elijah said with a small smile. “First thing we usually do when I come home is have a big wrestling match. They love it.”
“They obviously love you very much,” Sam said.
“And I love them. I was an only child who’d always wished for siblings until I was fifteen and got two on the same day. Best day of my life.” He combed the hair back from his face, which was red from exertion.
“There’ve been a few developments,” Sam said.
“Nick told me you got the guys that killed my dad and Cleo.”
“We did.”
“Did they say why they did it?”
“We believe it was motivated by money.”
Elijah sighed and looked down at the floor. “My dad would’ve given them everything he had if it meant keeping Cleo and the kids safe.”
“From what we were told, he offered them a substantial amount of money, but it took too long to get it.”
Tears filled his eyes as he shook his head in disbelief. “Do people think it’s just sitting in vaults inside the house?”
“There’s something else,” Sam said tentatively. “Two things, actually. The FBI has Duke Piedmont in custody.” She filled him in on why Piedmont had come to the area.
“I’d like to say I’m surprised to hear my dad was back in touch with Piedmont, but I’m not as shocked as I should be. They were so close back in the day. Even after everything that happened and the threats Piedmont made, my dad still mourned the loss of their friendship. They went through so much together, and my dad never got over what he had to do to Duke in order to save himself from prosecution. He would’ve welcomed the chance to make things right with Duke—and to eliminate the threat that’d hung over all our lives these last few years.”
“For what it’s worth, the FBI agents involved in his case said his grief over learning of the deaths of your father and Cleo was genuine,” Sam said.
“In my mind, he’s been a monster. It’s good to know that maybe he had some humanity left after all.” Elijah glanced at Sam. “You said there were two other things.”
“The second thing involves custody of your siblings.”
“What about it?” he asked, instantly on full alert.
“Apparently, your dad and Cleo designated you as their legal guardian in the event that anything should happen to them.”
“Me?” he asked softly as his brown eyes went wide with shock.
Sam nodded.
Elijah sat in a chair someone had left pulled out from the table. “Why would they choose me when I can barely take care of myself?”
Sam sat next to him. “Probably because they knew you love them as much as they did.”
Propping his elbows on his knees, Elijah dropped his head into his hands. “I don’t know if I can do it. I’m only twenty and not even through college. They need so much.”
Nick rested a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “I don’t think anyone expects you to step up personally for them if you’re not prepared to do so. There’re other options.”
“Such as?” Elijah asked, glancing at Nick.
“Appoint guardians to stand in for you until you’re ready to assume responsibility for them.”
“Cleo’s sister and brother-in-law are on their way here now,” Sam said. “Ms. Finklestein is bringing them by shortly.”
Elijah contemplated that for a quiet minute before he looked up at Sam. “When I called Cleo’s parents to tell them what’d happened, no one asked about the kids. They didn’t ask where they were or if they were all right or what would become of them. They said they’d told Cleo this was going to happen, and she should’ve left my dad when they told her to.” He wiped away tears. “She loved my dad. She never would’ve left him. How do I let my brother and sister go to live with people who were more concerned about being right than they were about two kids who were suddenly orphaned?”
“They’re more than welcome to stay with us as long as they need to,” Nick said.
Sam could barely breathe while she waited to hear what Elijah would say.
“You’ve both been so generous toward the kids and me, but we’ve already put you out enough. I can’t ask that of you. It’s not your problem.”
“We’d like it to be,” Nick said, glancing at Sam, who took his hand and held on tightly. “We’ve talked about how much we all love them and would do anything we could to get them through this difficult time.”
“I don’t know what to say. I’m so overwhelmed rig
ht now.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Sam said. “Do whatever you think is right, knowing you have our full support. Nick and I will be there for you and for the kids, no matter where they end up. I’m sorry to say you’re stuck with us.”
Elijah gave her a weak grin. “You’ve been so incredibly nice. All of you. I don’t know how we would’ve gotten through this week without both of you, Shelby and Scotty. Even the Secret Service agents have been amazing.”
“You should talk to Cleo’s sister and her husband,” Nick said. “Spend some time with them and see how it feels. You don’t have to decide anything today or even tomorrow.”
Sam wanted to say, No, no, no! Don’t spend time with uncaring people. Leave those babies right here with us, where they’re safe and loved and protected from anything that could harm them! But she couldn’t say any of those things. She had to bite her tongue and let this play out the way it was meant to.
“I suppose that would only be fair since they came all this way,” Elijah said.
“I’ll give you a piece of advice that I often refer back to when investigating a case,” Sam said. “One step at a time. Take each thing as it comes and give yourself the time to process it before you move on to the next. The aunt and uncle have hotel reservations for the coming week, so they have time to pack up the children’s belongings and to attend a memorial service that’s being held next Friday. Are you aware of that?”
He nodded. “Some of my dad’s business associates offered to arrange the service for us. I said that was fine, because I have no idea how to go about handling that. I gave them Cleo’s parents’ phone number, so they could include her family.”
“That buys you some time to make sure you’re making the best possible decision for the kids,” Nick said.
“You don’t know us at all, and you’ve all been so amazing. I can never thank you enough.”
“We’re here if you need us.” Nick squeezed Elijah’s shoulder. “There’s no expiration date on that offer.”
“Thank you,” Elijah said softly.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
MS. FINKLESTEIN ARRIVED a short time later with the Lawsons, an attractive couple in their mid-to late-thirties, by Sam’s estimation. Monique, who was tall and blonde, resembled her late sister. Her eyes were red and swollen from days of crying. Her dark-haired husband, Robert, had a no-nonsense way about him that immediately put Sam on alert. The last thing Aubrey and Alden needed was a stern guardian.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Robert said, clearly dazzled to be in the home of the vice president and to be shaking his hand. “I’m a big fan and supporter.”
“Thank you,” Nick said.
Sam could tell Nick was unimpressed with a guy whose first thought wasn’t for his grief-stricken niece and nephew.
“Aubrey and Alden,” Elijah said, “you remember Aunt Monique and Uncle Robert, right?”
The children huddled into their brother’s embrace.
“You guys have gotten so big!” Monique said as she sat next to the three of them on the sofa. “Your mom sent me pictures, but they didn’t do you justice.”
Sam wondered if five-year-olds knew what that meant.
“They’re a little overwhelmed,” Elijah said as he rubbed their backs.
“Totally understandable,” Monique said. “Shall we head to the hotel?”
Alden whimpered and clung to Elijah, while Aubrey began to cry.
Sam’s eyes filled with tears, but after the advice she had given Elijah, she decided she needed to help him, not make everything worse than it already was. “Hey, guys,” she said. “Your aunt and uncle have come so far to see you. They want to help you. We packed up all your toys and new clothes and Alden’s blanket.”
“I don’t want to go,” Aubrey said between pitiful sobs that broke Sam’s heart.
The little girl threw herself into Sam’s arms, holding on to her for dear life. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart,” Sam said, hating herself for lying to the child. Nothing would ever be okay for her again. “Your aunt and uncle want to help you and your brother.”
“I want to stay with you,” Aubrey said, choking on sobs. Her little arms were tight around Sam’s neck. “Please don’t make us go.”
Elijah looked stricken as the scene played out.
“Who’s in charge here?” Robert asked, hands on his hips. “The kids or the adults?”
Sam wanted to punch him in the face, but since she couldn’t do that, she rubbed soothing circles on Aubrey’s back and breathed in the fresh, clean scent of her soft hair.
“I’m sorry you came all this way,” Elijah said softly, so softly that no one but Sam heard him over the heartbroken sobs of the children.
“You take Aubrey, Monique,” Robert said. “I’ll take Alden.”
“No,” Elijah said, his roar silencing his weeping siblings. “No.”
“Excuse me?” Robert said, eyebrow raised in annoyance.
“I’m sorry you came all this way, but they’re not going with you.”
Hearing that, Sam wanted to stand up and cheer.
Shock registered on Robert’s face. “Now wait just a minute—”
Sam rocked Aubrey while Elijah tended to Alden.
“It’s okay,” Elijah said. “You don’t have to go with them. We’ll figure out something.”
“I can’t believe this,” Monique said. “We were told they needed a home. We’re willing to take them.”
“No,” Elijah said, his jaw set as he met her furious gaze. In his eyes, Sam saw resolve and determination. “My dad and Cleo made me their legal guardian, and they are not going with you.”
“God, you’re just like your father, aren’t you?” Monique said, her tone shrill. “It was always his way or the highway.”
“If you think you’re insulting me by comparing me to my father, you’d be mistaken,” Elijah said. “He was the finest man I ever knew.”
“That fine man got my sister murdered!”
“Actually,” Sam said, “the reason they were murdered was because of a traffic accident that she was in.”
“You’re actually blaming her?” Monique asked, seeming astounded that Sam would have the audacity.
“Nope,” Sam said. “I blame the people who carried out the crime. But her traffic accident was what put them on the radar of the men who’ve been arrested—not your brother-in-law. And I don’t think we need to be having this conversation in front of the children, do you?”
“Let’s go, Monique. Clearly we aren’t needed here.”
His wife cast desperate eyes on the backs of her niece and nephew. “But—”
“Let’s go!”
Aubrey startled at the angry tone of his voice.
“Shhh,” Sam said, softly. “It’s okay. He’s leaving.”
“We’ll be at the W if you change your mind,” Monique said to Elijah.
“Thank you, but I won’t.”
“You’re not in any way equipped to raise these children,” she said with a nasty snarl.
“I’m certainly better equipped than you are. Now please go. You’re not needed here, and you’re making everything worse.”
Monique grabbed the purse she’d placed on the coffee table and followed her husband out the door.
For a good two minutes after the door closed behind them, no one said anything.
Aubrey finally broke the silence. “Thank you for making them go away, Lijah. I don’t like them.”
“I don’t either, honey. Don’t worry. You won’t have to see them again.” He had just made the first of what would be countless decisions on their behalf, but when his gaze met Sam’s, all she saw was despair.
* * *
HOURS LATER, after the kids were in bed, Sam and Nick sat with Elijah in the kitchen.
“I’ll leave school and buy a house for the three of us. I’ll have Milagros come back to help me take care of the kids. She loves them as much as I do. I can make this work. My dad left us with the funds to do whatever needs to be done. I can’t leave them. They need me too much.”
“You could transfer to a school in DC,” Nick said. “Maybe Georgetown? I could make some calls and see what I can do.”
“Maybe. I’ll think about that.”
“I’d like to toss out one more option,” Sam said tentatively.
“What’s that?” Elijah asked.
Sam’s heart beat so hard and so fast she felt breathless, but she knew if she didn’t make the suggestion, she would always regret it. “Leave them here with us while you finish school. You could come here for every long weekend, vacation, holiday. We would take care of them for you until you finish school. At that point, we can reevaluate and decide next steps.”
“That’s too much to ask of you guys.”
“You’re not asking.” Sam glanced at Nick, who nodded in support. “We’re offering. Our lives are crazy and unpredictable, but we’re surrounded by an incredible support system, and the children would have a large and loving family around them every day—and they could remain in their school, which would bring some normalcy back to their lives.”
“If we were to have legal custody of the children,” Nick added, “they would receive Secret Service protection as well. We could set it up so you make all the big decisions, but we handle the day-to-day for you until you’re able to do it yourself.”
“Why would you want do this for three people you didn’t even know a few days ago?”
“I don’t know if you’ve noticed,” Sam said, smiling, “but everyone associated with this household has fallen in love with them.”
Elijah offered a weak smile. “They’re easy to love.”
“Indeed,” Sam said. “One thing that needs to happen sooner rather than later is counseling for both of them. If you’d like, I can get you some names of people who specialize in grief and trauma for children.”
“That’d be very helpful.”
“You don’t need to decide anything right now,” Nick said. “We have Sam’s partner’s wedding on Saturday, and on Sunday, we’re due to leave for a week in Europe. You and the children are welcome to stay here while we’re gone, and Shelby would be happy to help you with the kids. Take the time you need to make the best possible decision for all of you. We’ll respect whatever you decide, and you’ll have our support no matter what you do.”
