“Are you serious?”
“She gave birth to him before she married Barry’s father so they’re half brothers, hence the different last names.”
“And he was raised by the crazy woman?”
“For the first thirteen years of his life. Then he went to live with his father.”
“That’s great, but it still may not be enough for an arrest or even a search warrant.”
“JP’s on top of it. He talked to the investigator on the case and they’ve already questioned Mother Betts. She told them enough to nab him. She didn’t realize she was giving anything away, of course. She was a wild card for them, but I expect no one ever thought we’d make the connection between Shirkoff and Betts. Besides, what are they going to do? Kill their own mother?”
JP caught her eye. “Tell him to meet us at the courthouse. They’re picking him up as soon as he’s off the bench. We can watch it go down.”
“Yes!” Bob said before Sabre repeated it. “I’ll be right there.”
Sabre, Bob, and JP sat in the chairs nearest the metal detector at San Diego Superior Court Juvenile Division. The lobby was still full from the morning calendar. At 11:05 a.m., Mike, the bailiff in Department Four, approached them.
He leaned over and spoke softly. “Department One just started their last case. It shouldn’t take too long. You may want to go outside. Judge Shirkoff is meeting with a traffic commissioner across the street for lunch. The plan is to take him as soon as he goes out the door.”
“Thanks, Mike. We would’ve been very disappointed if we’d missed this.”
“By the way, they’re searching his house as we speak.”
The three of them walked outside and stood against the building. Several other people were milling around near the door. Most of them were out there to smoke while they waited for their cases to be called. Three detectives were strategically placed near the entrance. JP pointed them out. Bob lit a cigarette. They watched in anticipation every time the door opened. They waited.
Seven minutes passed. The door opened. The judge walked out letting the door fling back, paying no attention to the young woman with the baby behind him. Mike was close behind. He stepped forward, grabbed the door, and said, “Your Honor.” The judge turned around.
“That jerk, he didn’t even hold the door for that woman with the baby,” Bob said.
One of the detectives stepped up and slapped the handcuffs on him. “You’re under arrest for kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder.” Mike smiled. Several camera phones snapped, including Sabre’s. Before they had a chance to escort him away, eight more sheriffs emptied out of the building. A few of them walked behind the detectives to the car. Others dispersed the crowd that had gathered. Bob, Sabre, and JP waited until the detectives drove off with him in the backseat. Bob waved as they passed.
56
A week had passed since the judge was arrested. His arrest had made national news, and every day some new piece of the “Devil House” puzzle was uncovered. Sabre listened as the news reporter gave her account of the events.
“Another teenage mother has come forward this morning in the ‘Devil House’ case. Our sources tell us she was forced to participate in tree-worship meetings for the last three months of her pregnancy and to continually chant, ‘I believe in the power of the oak.’ The satanic hysteria that has hit this city has shaken each and every one of us. Judge Shirkoff, a man whose job it was to protect our children, has been allegedly terrorizing families for nearly two years.”
Sabre muted the sound and answered her doorbell. “Thanks for going with me this morning.”
“No problem, Sobs,” Bob said, as he walked into her living room and saw the news story running on television. “I see you were watching the latest on the ‘Devil House’ case, as the media is calling it. And juvenile court is rid of Judge Jerk-Off.”
“Yeah, they have most of their facts straight. This is the first time the chant was released to the public. JP said the cops have been chasing a lot of bogus reports.” Sabre walked toward the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee? I’m afraid it’s decaf.”
“That’s okay.” Sabre poured Bob a cup of coffee and then picked up her half-empty cup. They stood in the kitchen at the counter.
“I hear DSS has been scrambling to right the wrongs they’ve created. All but one of the juvenile court cases that had been filed proved to be either Gillian’s handiwork or that of a couple of social workers who were diligent but overzealous. Several of the cases were dismissed. The rest were re-filed with new allegations. The one case that is still pending wasn’t one of Gillian’s cases, but it had evidence of devil-worship throughout the household. Did you hear about that case?”
“Yeah. The mother had two young children, ages two and four, and a long history of mental illness. It was that case that gave Gillian the idea to plant and twist evidence to create a diversion.”
“Have they tracked all the missing children?”
“Not all of them. Since the judge was arrested the rest of the suspects have been talking like mad, each trying to get the best plea bargain. The DA thinks they have the information on all the marketed babies, but the buyers have a lot of money, so some of them have been hard to catch.” Sabre took a drink of coffee. “And on top of it all, some of those children have been with these families for two years. Now, they’ll be ripped out of those homes.”
“Have the children been treated okay in those homes?”
“It appears that most of them have, but the only screening ever done on the adoptive families by the Route 66 gang was to their bank accounts. Who knows what the children have had to endure.”
“So, was Shirkoff the leader?” Bob asked.
“They’re all pointing the finger at him, but it seems his brother Barry Betts came up with the idea. Apparently, Barry and Ric had remained friends. Ric persuaded Rob and Gillian to help. It was a natural move for Rob. He had been protecting his brother all his life and when he needed him, all Ric had to do was ask.”
“Only this time it got him killed,” Bob said. “But why would Shirkoff do it?”
“Apparently, it was all about the money. They were taking in some really big bucks. In two years, they raked in over five million dollars.”
“And it would’ve continued except for Apollo’s film project.”
“Yup.” Sabre nodded her head. “And, they hadn’t counted on Scott showing up and blackmailing the doctor about the Route 66 situation. Dr. Ric was keeping him satisfied with a few drugs here and there and that would’ve been it, but when Scott got Bailey pregnant it opened up an irresistible opportunity for another baby sale. More greed.”
“So, Scott wasn’t really involved in the black marketing?”
“No, he only knew what Dr. Ric told him. He directed him to get Bailey to the meetings and paid him off in drugs. Scott in turn bought Bailey’s mom off.”
“Yeah, my client’s the mother of the year.”
“Well, at least they have Bailey’s baby back unharmed. Are you ready to go see her?”
Bob poured the rest of his coffee in the sink and set it down. “Let’s go.”
Sabre and Bob arrived at the foster home where Bailey’s baby was temporarily detained until some decisions could be made. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Venable, Bailey’s foster mother, drove up with Bailey. Bob and Mrs. Venable waited at the car while Sabre and Bailey walked together up to the house.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Sabre asked.
“Yes. I’m sure. I’ve given it a lot of thought and I can’t raise this child. I’m not even fifteen years old yet. That’s how old my mother was when I was born, and look what she did to me. I can’t do that to my child.”
“I’m not trying to convince you to keep your baby. Giving her up is a very brave and unselfish decision. But it is your decision. Just know that you’re not your mother.”
“I know. And I know the Venables are willing to take us both, but it wouldn’t be fair to
anyone, especially my baby girl.”
Sabre put her arm around Bailey’s shoulder and gave her a quick hug. The foster mother greeted them and then retrieved the baby and showed her to Bailey. She had big round blue eyes, a head full of platinum colored hair, and a tiny dimple in her left cheek. Bailey’s eyes opened wide. Sabre could see the pride in her face when she looked at the tiny little pink face.
“She’s so beautiful,” Bailey said.
“Would you like to hold her?”
Bailey nodded. The foster mother placed the baby in her arms. Bailey stood there mesmerized, first smiling, then the tears slowly rolled down her face. Bailey gently rocked the little one back and forth.
After several minutes Bailey whispered to the baby, “Wherever you are, whatever you do, I’ll never forget you.”
She handed her back to the foster mother and walked out.
Sabre said her goodbyes, walked to her car, and drove to see her mother.
So, what did you think of the book?
Please email me. I’d love to hear from you…
Teresa
[email protected]
www.teresaburrell.com
Books by Teresa Burrell
The Advocate
The Advocate’s Betrayal
The Advocate’s Conviction
The Advocate’s Dilemma
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Title Page
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Note to Author
The Advocate - 03 - The Advocate's Conviction Page 28
