Chapter 29

 

A couple of days went by during which Ethan and Helen reacquainted themselves. She played the loving mother, and him, the adoring son. Harold kept his distance, only speaking with Ethan when his wife wasn’t around to request they meet for lunch. Ethan was curious about what his father wanted to speak with him about and made the lunch plans as promised. Helen’s face registered her disapproval of the father and son time alone. Harold, on the other hand, seemed to relish that she was displeased.

They went to an Italian restaurant near the town center and close to the WPG building. Harold was leaving for the office when they were finished and he thought it was a good idea to dine somewhere close.

“This is nice,” Harold remarked when they had taken their seats.

Ethan knew the restaurant well. It was one of the places they often went for family gatherings when he was in high school. They’d dine out at least once per week when it was the cook’s night off.

They were delving into their shrimp scampi, served with chardonnay when Ethan asked, “Tell me, Father, what’s going on between you and Mother?”

Harold sipped his wife before answering. “She thinks I’m cheating.”

Ethan frowned. “Are you?”

His father chuckled. “The woman she’s accusing me of cheating with is just a girl I’m trying to help. The girl had a bad deal.”

“Why not tell her the truth?”

“I promised a friend that I would keep a lid on things. Anyway, the girl needs to keep things under wraps.”

“How are you going convince her that you aren’t cheating?”

Harold placed his force at the side of the place and dabbed his lips with the napkin. “I’m not worried about me. I’m concerned about Camila. Helen will try and make her life hell.”

Ethan furrowed his brows, “Camila?”

“Yeah, she’s living at Kristen’s house now, isn’t she?”

“You mean, Mom thinks you’re having an affair with Camila?” Kristen’s words came back to him. Camila made her promise not to say anything, but Kristen was certain that Helen did this thing. This made perfect sense. A light bulb went off in Ethan’s head when he realized their case just got stronger. “You know what happened to her?”

Harold narrowed his eyes and looked at Ethan for a few seconds. “What happened to her?”

“She’s in jail and Kristen is convinced that Mother is responsible.”

Blood drained Harold’s face as he stared at Ethan, bug-eyed. The man clearly was shaken by the news. He picked up his water glass with a shaky hand, gulping down the entire glassful.

“Are you going to tell me what happened so I can help her, or will you make her rot in prison?” asked Ethan.

Harold placed the glass on the table and fixed his gaze upon his son. “First tell me what happened.”

“She was arrested two days ago for Hailey’s abduction. She’s in a federal holding cell. Charges are being filed against her as the mastermind behind the whole thing,” Ethan relayed. “You know what they found, Father? They found bank transfers to Matt Newman’s account… who the hell is this Newman guy anyway?”

“Repeat the name?”

“Matthew Newman. You know him?”

Harold scrunched his face a though in deep concentration. “I’m not sure. Tell me more.”

“The guy said that Camila was the one who called him and asked him to abduct Hailey. They found phone records.”

“You think your mother did this?”

“I don’t know, Father. That’s what I want to find out.”

“You think she’s capable of going this far?”

Ethan didn’t know how to answer that. “You tell me, you’re the one who lives with her.”

“She must really think Camila’s child is mine,” Harold said. “I thought at the most she’d confront her or even threaten to take the child but to do something like this… it’s utterly unbelievable.”

“Is Camila’s son your child?” Ethan had to ask, to get it out of the way.

His father’s voice broke through his thoughts, “Far from it. The girl was raped. I’m surprised she didn’t tell her best friend.”

“What?” Ethan thought he heard wrong.

“Yes, you heard correctly. Two years ago, at the annual charity fundraising ball. One of the board members got a little drunk and…” Harold paused, his face growing red. He couldn’t finish the statement.

“She told Kristen, but asked her not to say anything,” Ethan said slowly. “I’m certain of that.”

“We’ve got to help her. I owe her that much,” Harold said.

Harold told Ethan about the night of the event at the hotel and how he was searching for his friend to speak with some foreign investors. When told he’d gone one of the hotel rooms, Harold followed, thinking the man had fallen ill after having quite a few drinks. As he knocked the room door, he heard screams for help. Concerned that someone was in trouble he called for the hotel manager to open the room. What they found was his friend having his way with the girl. Her face was badly bruised and she was screaming for him to get off her.

Harold knew that the man must have done something to prevent the hotel from getting the police involved. As for him, he’d made some bad business dealings some time ago that could bring disrepute to the company. Darnel Turpey was using it to keep his mouth shut. Harold could not risk having the company face legal issues because of that incident. He’d been making it up to Camila ever since, taking care of her the best he could.

Ethan left the restaurant with much clarity than before. He now understood his mother’s motive and his father’s silence on the matter. But to frame someone for a crime was much too severe a punishment for an alleged affair.

While Harold went to his office, Ethan made a stop before returning to the mansion. If he was going to gather intelligence, he’d have to do it like a Navy seal. He was on a mission to find the evidence, not only to get Camila out of jail but to stop his mother once and for all.

 

 

Across town at the FBI office, Kristen waited patiently for Agent Morris to speak with her. She was told he was in a meeting and would be done in five minutes. She’d been waiting for ten.

Seven more minutes and the agent finally came into the waiting area, his tie askew. “Miss Broderick, what can I do for you?”

“Can I see my friend? I know she didn’t do this. Please let me see her,” she pleaded.

“Abduction is a serious crime, Miss Broderick. I don’t think you understand what your friend did.”

Kristen was losing her patience. “I tell you, Camila did not kidnap my daughter. She’s like a sister to me, she would never do something like this. She was set up. I know it.”

The FBI agent straightened his tie. “Okay, I’ll give you five minutes. Wait here.”

A few minutes later, he returned and led her to a room she assumed was an interview room. She’d seen rooms like this in the movies. A camera was near the ceiling on one wall. In the center of the room was a table with a few chairs. Standing near the door was an agent who quickly departed when Agent Morris stepped in.

Camila sat at the table with her head down and her hands clasped together. She picked up her head when they entered and what Kristen saw made her heart ache.

Staring back at her were bloodshot, swollen eyes. A smile appeared on Camila’s face when they saw Kristen. “Kristen,” a hoarse voice said. “I didn’t do it. You believe me, right?”

“I know you didn’t do it.”

A sob escaped Camila, “I’m afraid for my son. What will happen to him?” she asked, then a stricken look crossed her face. “She’s planning something big. I know it. What if she tries to take my son?”

“She can’t do that,” Kristen assured, taking a chair across the table from Camila.

Camila reached across the table and grabbed Kristen’s hand. “Please, you can’t let her take my son. Please, you’ve got to help me.”

Agent Morris walked over and advised them that there would be no touching of any kind. He returned to the door and leaned against the wall, keeping his eyes on them.

“We’re doing all we can to get you released. Don’t worry.”

“How is Loranz?” Camila asked. “I miss him terribly.”

“I’m taking good care of him. He’s a very good boy. Right now Harold’s old friend Carla watches him.”

Camila closed her eyes, twisting her lips. “I hate that bastard Turpey. He’s the reason I’m in this position.”

“Camie, I’m getting you a lawyer and you have to tell them the truth. You have to tell them everything so they’ll know Helen has a motive to do this.”

After about ten minutes, Agent Morris informed them that the visit was over. Reluctantly, he allowed them to hug before Kristen left.

“We’ll get you out, just be patient,” Kristen assured her.

They said goodbye with much tears and heartache. Kristen blamed herself to some extent for Camila being in jail. This was her fight. Helen only brought Camila into it because she thought she was sleeping with Harold. That did not justify a prison sentence for something she didn’t do.

“I just hope Ethan finds something soon,” Kristen mumbled to herself as left the FBI field office.