Love's Paradise (17 page)

He grabbed his keys from his pocket and handed them to Cleveland. “We're shipping it out tonight.”

Cleveland nodded and turned to the other security guards. “You, let's go. We have work to do.”

Jordan put the book back in the envelope. He couldn't wait to give it to Sheri.

“I
t
is
the
Crescent.
They knew and you're not going to believe what happened,” Genie said, rushing into Sheri's office like a tornado on caffeine and a six-pack of energy drinks. Her eyes were wide and she was breathless.

Sheri looked up. “Oh, my God, Genie! What's wrong?”

“It's Jamie, they took him in.”

“What? Who took him in?” she asked, trying to calm her down.

“He had Jamie arrested last night! His father is furious. I know he's gonna kill him. He's on the board of supervisors and all. But still they can kill people, too, right?”

“Genie, stop! Slow down and tell me what's going on?”

“Late last night Jamie and I went to Crescent Point and found a chest and an anchor on the construction site.”

“You did what?” Sheri nearly shrieked.

“We thought we could just get everything out instead of dealing with all the red tape. We were there before and we tried, but this time we were ready. We thought it would be easy. Then I could be famous and get a job in D.C.”

“Genie, Lord, what have you done?” she said.

“Nothing, nothing. We didn't do anything. We dug and found an anchor and a chest. But then the machine fell on top of Jamie and he got caught in the hole. Now he's in jail. I can't believe he got arrested. But they knew about it all along. Why else would they have those cameras and stuff? They knew.”

“What? Who knew?”

“Jordan Hamilton knew about the
Crescent
all along. He had the site closed off because he knew what was up there. It's what was breaking the backhoe all those times before—the anchor.”

“No, that's impossible. He couldn't know.”

Genie nodded her head rapidly. “That's what Jamie said and he was right. I saw it. It's there.”

“The anchor and a chest? Where are they now?”

“I watched for a little while until after the sher
iff took Jamie away. They pulled it out and loaded it up in Hamilton's truck. I don't know where they took it. It's probably in the trash by now.”

“Genie, listen to me. You need to talk to your mother and father about what happened last night. Then you need to have them take you to the sheriff. You need to get in front of this before it blows up in your face.”

“I know,” she said. “Jamie kept saying it was my fault. I can't believe he told on me like that. I just came in because I wanted you to know what really happened. It really is the
Crescent.
”

She nodded. “I know. Okay, I asked nicely. Now it's time to go in another direction. He mentioned a court order before. I think that's exactly what I need to get to stop him.”

“How are you going to get a court order in time to stop them from digging up that whole area? It takes days, maybe weeks to get one, right?”

“No, not always, I have enough lawyers in my family to know that. There's something called an emergency injunction. It's probably only going to be temporary, but it should give me enough time to get some of the artifacts and have them analyzed. Then I can make my assessment and go from there.”

“Who do you know who can get a court order fast?”

“I'm going to ask my great-uncle. He's a Virginia circuit court judge.”

“What if your uncle doesn't give you a court order?”

“Then I'll think of something else,” Sheri assured her. “In the meantime you need to talk to your parents.”

“All right, I'm going. I'll talk to you later.”

Sheri nodded, grabbed her things then hurried out with Genie in front of her. Sheri drove to the county courthouse. She was furious. She parked and quickly went inside. It was nearly ten o'clock. That meant all court proceedings had already started for the day. She knew her uncle's docket was probably full, so she hoped to catch him between cases. She walked down the large, open corridors leading to the main courtrooms. She stopped at the last door, opened it and quietly stepped inside.

The courtroom was small with a low ceiling and bright fluorescent lighting even though there were two huge windows on one of the walls. It was sparsely decorated with government-issue furniture and dingy off-white walls. Sheri took a seat in the back row and waited patiently for her uncle to issue a ruling in the case before him. She knew the courtroom protocol. Her uncle would call a recess after the case.

The activity in the Virginia circuit courtroom wasn't as dramatic as it seemed when she some
times watched on television. There were no surprise witnesses and no courtroom drama. Her uncle was seated on the bench with his clerk and a bailiff on either side. Two lawyers were seated at tables facing him, representing the opposing sides. They were all intently listening to the judge's ruling. After her uncle banged his gavel everyone stood and waited for him to leave before filing out. She remained seated, knowing her uncle and his clerk would be busy for a few more minutes.

When the courtroom was nearly cleared, Sheri walked out and headed to her uncle's office. She turned down the hall to the main judges' suites and continued to the last row of offices. When she got to the door of her uncle's chambers she stopped a moment before entering. She knew that what she was about to do was the right thing. She also knew what it would most likely do to Jordan Hamilton. He'd be furious. But he left her no alternative. She looked up at the shiny brass plaque on the wall beside the thick wooden door—Office of the Honorable Judge Halbrook T. Summers. This was it.

She opened the door and saw her aunt, Lynnette Summers, sitting at her desk busy typing on her computer keyboard. “Hi, Aunt Lynnette, are you busy?”

Lynnette stopped work and looked up. “Hey Sheri, no, come on in. Hal is in chambers right now. It's good to see you. What are you up to?”

“I just saw Uncle Hal in court,” Sheri said. “It's always amazing to see him sitting up there like that. He's so impressive.”

“He's my treasure. What he says goes around here in the office and courtroom as it should be. He's the law. But at home we all know it's a different story.” She winked.

Sheri chuckled, knowing it was true. Her aunt Lynnette was definitely the one in charge when they were at home. Halbrook loved and adored her. Lynnette and her uncle had known each other since law school. She was forced to drop out in her third year of law school for financial reasons. They lost touch. But they met again years later when she was a paralegal at a law firm. They were married soon after reuniting. Halbrook was appointed to the bench and Lynnette became his administrative assistant. “So, how've you been? Looks like you're really busy around here.”

“I'm fine, and yes, good Lord, what a crazy day we're having already. Your uncle's docket must be eight pages long today. I swear there must be something in the air, because it seems like everybody is suing or trying to sue everybody else. So tell me, how've you been? We haven't seen you around for months.”

“I'm hanging in there. The tourist season is pretty much over, so I can relax a bit more.”

“How's the museum?” Lynnette asked.

“It's good. Actually the museum is what I wanted to talk to Uncle Hal about. Do you think he could spare a little time?”

Lynnette nodded, “Oh, sure, just give him a few minutes. He's on the phone right now and his clerks are in chambers. They should be out soon.”

Just as she said that the phone rang. Lynnette excused herself and answered. Sheri stepped away and started looking around the outer office. She remembered this place so well. This had been her favorite hangout after school. The bookshelves were always her favorite. They were lined with law books, awards, plaques and antique jars filled with candy, her aunt's one professed weakness. But the certificates and diplomas didn't belong to Halbrook, they belonged to Lynnette. A few minutes later Lynnette hung up and turned her attention back to their conversation. “So what were we saying?”

“Aunt Lynnette, did you ever want to go back and get your law degree? You could have had a brilliant career instead of getting married.”

She paused and smiled. “I love the law, I always have. And yes, I think I would have been a brilliant attorney, too. But being a wife and mother changed my life in ways you'd never believe. I could have done both to some degree, but it was my choice to be a brilliant wife and mom.”

“Do you think you lost yourself in your choice?”

“What do you mean? If I lost and gave up being me to be Mrs. Somebody and Mom Somebody?” she asked. Sheri nodded.

“No, not at all. Marriage, the right marriage, to the right person doesn't erase who you are, it enhances it. I've never felt invisible to Halbrook or the kids. It was never a sacrifice to me. I'm still me.”

“And now that everybody's grown up, any regrets?”

“No. I love my life now more than ever, just as it is. Being a wife and mother didn't deprive me, it enriched me,” she said as she looked at her niece oddly. “Why do you ask? Are you thinking about taking that step, marriage?”

“I was just wondering.”

“You know it was Mamma Lou and your grandmother Camille who got me and your uncle back together again.”

“Really? I didn't know that.”

“Oh, yes, when those two ladies put their heads together there's magic and, most importantly, there's love.” Lynnette noticed the light went off on her phone console. A few minutes later the door opened and her uncle's two clerks walked out. “Sheri, it looks like he just got off the telephone. Why don't you go ahead in,” Lynnette said.

Sheri headed down the short hall to her uncle's private chambers. She knocked twice softly
and then opened the door. She peeked in before going all the way inside. His office was exactly like you'd expect a judge's office to look like. His black robe was on a hanger beside his desk. There was an American Flag, a Virginia flag, a back wall of bookshelves, a conference table and four chairs and a seating area. Her uncle was standing at the wall-length bookshelf with several books in his hand.

He looked so much like her father, particularly when he was serious like now. After her dad died it was her uncle Hal who became the father figure in her and her brothers' lives. He was always a lifesaver and a miracle worker. She just hoped her uncle had one more miracle left for her. Sheri knocked again. He turned, looked up and smiled. “Uncle Hal, it's me, hi,” she said.

He smiled, too. “Hey, don't just stand in the doorway like that. Come in, come in. Get over here and give your favorite uncle a hug.” Sheri went in and closed the door behind her. As she walked over, he met her halfway. They hugged warmly. “So, how've you been?” he asked.

“I've been good, and you?”

“Righting the ills of the world,” he said jokingly. “Now I haven't seen you in a few months, everything okay?”

“I know I haven't been around in a while. I've been crazy busy at the museum, but now that it's
almost off-season, I can get out a lot more and visit. So, I was in the area and thought I'd stop by.”

He chuckled again. “Okay, even the worst offender wouldn't give me a lousy line like that.” They laughed. “Okay, now tell me what
really
brings you here this morning?”

Sheri took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I hate how you see right through me.”

“You're my niece, I'm supposed to. Now come have a seat and tell what's going on,” he said, placing the books on the credenza behind his desk. He turned and motioned for her to have a seat.

“I have a problem and I'm hoping maybe you can help.”

“What can I do for you?” he asked, sitting down behind his big wooden desk.

“I need a court order.”

He looked at her oddly. “An injunction, that's pretty serious. Why do you think you need a court order?” he asked.

“There's a construction company called Hamilton Development…”

“Yes, I know of them. They're building a resort complex out at Crescent Point. I understand it's going to be nice. I'm looking forward to seeing it complete. What about them?”

“My assistant at the museum was sent photos of items that led me to believe there might be some
thing of value on the property. I need time to check it out, maybe even excavate.”

“What exactly do you mean something of value on the property? What's out there?”

“I don't know for sure, but I believe it might be the wreckage of a ship.”

He looked at her without expression.

“I think it might be the
Crescent.
”

“The
Crescent,
wow, that
would
be something of value,” he said, then paused, knowing her long-felt interest in the
Crescent.
“Okay, where are these items that were found?”

“I don't know exactly. I believe the company does and is withholding information.”

“It's their property.”

“I know that, but can't something be done? If they trash them or destroy them everything will be lost.”

“So you're telling me this person has these items in his possession. Items that don't belong to him and that he doesn't intend to hand them over to you. Do you have proof these items might indeed be thrown away or destroyed or that they are what you think?”

“No, but they have no idea what they are.”

“Apparently, neither do you,” he said.

“I need to see them and do research. I can't do that if the site is destroyed and it's covered over to
make a cement parking lot. I just need them to shut down for a few days, maybe a week at the most.”

He shook his head. “All passions aside, Sheri, I understand and sympathize with your dilemma. But it's not for you to impose that type of demand. You have no viable proof.”

“That's because it's a catch-22. I can't get the proof if it no longer exists. If he covers that hole or destroys it in any way we would have possibly lost one of the most valuable finds this century.”