Irrevocable Trust (Sasha McCandless Legal Thriller Book 6) (30 page)

Sasha wrinkled her brow.
How did the judge know they were married?

Connelly nodded solemnly.
“
I wish I could, Judge.
”

The judge huffed.
“
So now what?
”

“
The Bennett children don
’
t want to remain in hiding, Your Honor. The older kids have discussed it amongst themselves. What they hope happens is that this court terminates Jeffrey Bricker
’
s paternal rights and allows them to continue to live under their new identities but not under the strictures of the witness protection program, obviously. So they have no objection to the hearing going forward in open court.
”

The judge turned and blinked, owl-eyed, at Cole.

“
Is that accurate, son?
”

“
Yes, ma
’
am.
”

There was a long pause. The judge appeared to be weighing her options.

Pulaski cleared his throat.

“
If I may, Your Honor. I have some information that may clarify your path forward.
”

“
What
’
s that, Counselor?
”

“
I received a telephone call from my client a few days ago. He doesn
’
t want to contest the termination of his parental rights.
”

Sasha felt her mouth hanging open and clamped her jaw closed.

“
I beg your pardon, Andrew?
”
The judge turned to Pulaski, confusion painted across her face.

Pulaski shrugged.

“
That
’
s what he said.
”

Cole was the one who had the presence of mind to ask the obvious question.
“
What
’
s the catch?
”

“
He does object to Attorney McCandless serving as trustee of the irrevocable trust.
”

“
What?
”
Will sputtered.
“
If he
’
s giving up his parental rights, how does he even have standing to object to anything related to the trust?
”

Pulaski shrugged again and spread his hands wide.
“
How should I know? Do I look like an estates and trusts lawyer?
”

The question may have been hypothetical, but the answer was no. Marsh Alverson was the quintessential estates and trusts lawyer. And Pulaski and Marsh didn
’
t look to be of the same species, let alone the same profession. But the judge didn
’
t let that distract her.

“
You
’
re a member of the bar, Andrew. And you
’
re advancing a position. So argue it.
”

Panic flashed in Pulaski
’
s eyes.

“
I can
’
t, Your Honor. I
’
m out of my depth here. And, frankly, I
’
m going to need some time to prepare.
”

“
Nice try. I
’
m not granting you any time to do anything. We
’
re marching back out there, and I
’
m disposing of the parental rights issue. Then you all are going right back on Judge Kumpar
’
s docket. You
’
re his problem from here on out; not mine.
”

The judge walked over to Cole and crouched in front of his chair.

“
Now if I terminate your father
’
s parental rights, you and your siblings are well and truly on your own. You
’
re too young to take on the responsibility for your own care, let alone theirs. Is there anyone
—
a relative, a friend, anyone
—
who can take you all in, at least temporarily?
”

Cole blinked furiously but didn
’
t speak.

“
Son?
”
the judge prodded him.

Sasha knew he was worrying that the judge would send them all into the foster care system. She shared his fear.

“
No,
”
he finally mumbled.

“
Judge Perry-Brown,
”
Connelly said,
“
we
’
ve been staying with the kids. We
’
re happy to continue to do so as long as it takes to sort this out.
”

The judge shot Sasha and Connelly an unreadable look.

After a moment
’
s silence, she said,
“
Is that okay with you, Cole?
”

“
Yes, ma
’
am.
”

Gratitude flooded the boy
’
s face. Sasha thought she saw tears welling in his eyes. She held her breath and waited for the judge to speak.

“
That settles it, then,
”
the judge said.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Judge Perry-Brown gave Sasha, Will, and Pulaski just enough time to reassemble at their table before she swept into the courtroom and resumed the session.

Everyone bobbed up, and she instructed them to sit.

Once the court reporter indicated that she was ready to start recording the session, the judge squared her shoulders and locked eyes with Cole.

“
After a session in chambers, the parties have resolved the outstanding motion to terminate parental rights as follows: Mr. Bricker
’
s counsel represents that his client does not contest the termination of his parental rights with regard to the six minor Bennett children. Accordingly, it is so ordered that, effective immediately, Mr. Bricker
’
s parental rights are hereby terminated. The effect, if any, of said termination on the disposition of the estate of Allison Bennett is reserved for determination by the probate court. Finally, this Court finds that the minor Bennett children are currently being adequately cared for by Attorney McCandless and Mr. Connelly and finds that arrangement is not to be disturbed, either by Children and Youth Services or any other entity. I
’
ve contacted Judge Kumpar
’
s chambers and advised him of the time-sensitive nature of this matter. His deputy assures me that Ms. Bennett
’
s probate will be expedited.
”

The judge paused and looked down at the court reporter.

“
Off the record.
”

The woman
’
s fingers paused mid-air.

“
Ms. McCandless, Mr. Volmer, this Court thanks you for your service. Mr. Bennett, I wish you and your siblings the very best. Mr. Connelly and Ms. McCandless, as the mother of two grown sons, the Court wishes you much luck.
”
The judge
’
s smile faded.
“
Mr. Pulaski, submit your paperwork for reimbursement through the clerk
’
s office.
”

Will pumped his fist in silent victory. Sasha knew how he felt. The judge
’
s stilted words had sent a thrill of excitement through her.

A glance to her left revealed that they sent something more akin to a wave of revulsion through Pulaski, but seeing as how he was so revolting to the rest of the world, she figured that was just karma catching up to the Big Gun.

She twisted in her seat and caught Connelly
’
s eye. He was grinning
—
a giant smile that stretched across his face and made his eyes all squinty and crinkly. Beside him, Cole wore an equally goofy smile. As soon as he noticed her looking at him, Cole yawned as if he were bored. She threw him a wink.

The rest of the gallery seemed to be completely unaffected by the decision. They just shifted in their seats and waited for Bev to call the next case. All except the Army jacket man
—
he was already bolting through the door to the hallway.

.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Sasha led the small group down the stairs, their excited chatter combining with the clatter of their footsteps to create an echoing din.

Even in the afterglow of the judge
’
s decision, caution was foremost in their mind.

“
I
’
ll go get the car and bring it around. You wait here,
”
Will offered as soon as they emerged from the stairwell into the worn lobby, with all its faded glamour.

“
I
’
ll come with you,
”
Connelly said in a tone that didn
’
t invite disagreement.

The last thing they needed was for Bricker to overpower Will and use him as leverage.

Connelly gave a half-salute to his new friend at the scanner and hurried off with Will.

“
Let
’
s wait over here,
”
Sasha suggested to Cole, guiding him to a bench on the protected side of the security line.

They settled themselves on the bench and sat in silence.

After a moment, she asked,
“
How
’
s it feel?
”

He snapped his head toward hers.
“
Having no dad, you mean?
”

“
Yeah.
”

He considered the question.

“
Good, mostly.
”

“
I bet, though, there
’
s some sadness, too, that it had to be this way, right?
”

She wasn
’
t really sure how to encourage a teenage boy to share his emotions. She felt self-conscious and awkward.

He gave her a long, unreadable look. Finally, he shrugged.

“
I dunno.
”

The old-fashioned elevator directly across the way dinged and the doors parted. The small crowd waiting to ascend to the courtrooms on the floors above and have justice dispensed, denied, or more likely delayed, stepped back to let the passengers exit..

The first person off the elevator was the guy in the army jacket. He pushed aside a slow-moving older man and hurried toward the front of the building.

A warning pricked at the base of Sasha
’
s skull. Her gut told her to follow the man.

But she had to stay with Cole. This was no time to take unnecessary risks.

A buzz of adrenaline shot through her system, and the skin on her arms pimpled into goosebumps.

She glanced at Cole.

“
Listen. Don
’
t move until Leo and Will show up. I
’
ll be right back, but if they get here before me, just tell them I had to take care of something.
”

“
Where are you going?
”

“
Nowhere. Just promise me you
’
ll stay right here.
”

“
Sure.
”

She craned her neck. The guy was almost to the doors. She couldn
’
t sit here and impress upon Cole how serious she was. She
’
d miss her chance.

“
I
’
ll be right back,
”
she said over her shoulder as she started weaving through the crowd of jurors and court personnel returning from lunch.

She skirted a woman pushing a double stroller then broke into a jog. The man in the Army jacket pushed through the revolving door that would spit him out on Grant Street.

She gripped her trial bag against her body and followed him out of the building and down the stairs to the sidewalk. Just before he reached the corner, he made a sudden right and turned into a narrow alley.