Part 21 (1/2)
Logan leaned over and said near her ear, ”It's okay, T.C., hot, sweaty monkey s.e.x between you and my big brother is exactly what you both need.”
She jerked away and glared at him.
He shrugged as he opened his briefcase. ”Now, you need to keep reminding him what he's missing when he's not with you.”
Before she had the chance slug him, Jake and his lawyer entered the courtroom. Logan's smile faded away, and he became the intimidating attorney she'd hired.
Judge Martha Delaney entered not long after Jake. When she wasn't wearing the black robe of justice, Martha was the mild-mannered wife of the pastor of the Colton Baptist Churchwife of the same minister who had married Jake and Tracy and baptized Bobby. Jake's lawyer had tried to claim Judge Delaney had a conflict of interest since Tracyand Logan when he chose to go to churchbelonged to her husband's congregation. However, Logan didn't fail to point out that Jake's family belonged to the same church. Judge Delaney had also presided over Jake and Tracy's first custody battle following their divorce, in which she'd proven to be impartial, so the claims were considered unfounded.
After the judge brought the court to order, she asked Jake's lawyer to open the proceedings. The slick-looking middle-aged man stepped forward and flashed Tracy and Logan a predatory smile of perfect white teeth. His face was too orangey to be tanned by anything other than a spray bottle. The word shark fit Preston Tilley perfectly. ”Your Honor, my client, Jacob Parker, is concerned about the welfare of his son and asks the court to grant full custody of him, along with child support.”
”I'm going to cut to the chase and say I've read over the affidavit. For the record, why does your client consider Ms. Quinn an unfit mother?”
Tilley squared his shoulders. As he told the judge the standard line of bull that had been on the lips of gossipers for years, Tracy looked over at Jake. He was dressed in a white Western s.h.i.+rt and dress pants. He'd cut his dark hair and was clean-shaven.
Tilley glanced over at her and glowered at her in the way a self-righteous matron might a street tramp. ”She has subjected my client's son to possible dangers when she allowed her brother to live with her in a small two-bedroom apartment. My client's not degrading the sacrifice Captain Dylan Quinn made for his country, but following his return, he had a doc.u.mented case of post-traumatic stress disorder. He became an alcoholic and often resorted to violence. Now, Ms. Quinn is romantically involved with Zachery Cartwright, who also has PTSD and has publicly admitted that he suffered from a drinking problem.”
”Objection,” Logan shook his head and stood. ”Neither Captain Quinn or Sheriff Cartwright are here to verify or deny these claims.”
”Granted.” Judge Delaney leaned forward on a bench that dwarfed her pet.i.te frame. ”Mr. Tilley, you have said nothing that would make me believe for a moment Ms. Quinn is an unfit mother. Has she neglected Bobby?”
”Ma'am, on Monday of this week, she allowed her son home alone with a babysitter after school while she met with Zachery Cartwright for a s.e.xual liaison. My client feels this is the type of behavior that is the most destructive to his son. Especially, since he already has problems with authority.”
Tracy narrowed her eyes on Jake, not sure which made her angrierthat he knew about her and Zack, or that he would have the audacity to blame her for Bobby's problems with authority.
”Your Honor.” Logan made his way around the table. ”Whether or not my client met with Sheriff Cartwright isn't the concern of this court. Mr. Tilley has brought up Ms. Quinn's dating history. I'd like to bring up Mr. Parker's. He has actively dated several women, whom he's brought to his home while Bobby was there for overnight stays.” Logan paused and consulted his notes. Tracy glanced at Jake, who glared at her. ”On July 16, Mr. Parker brought a Miss Jasmine Pritchett, a recently convicted Waco prost.i.tute, to his home while his son was under his care. Ms. Quinn has never brought any of the men she's dated home, nor has Bobby ever met any of them, except Sheriff Cartwright.”
”Is this true, Mr. Parker?” The judge turned her hard dark eyes on Jake.
Jake scowled at Logan.
”Answer the question, Mr. Parker.”
”Yes, but I didn't know she was a hooker.”
Tracy raised a brow.
Logan smirked. ”Interesting. When I spoke to Miss Pritchett, she related she told you her price before you brought her home from the bar. You told her she had to come to Colton with you because you had to pick your son up from your grandmother's, who is ninety-one years old.”
”Objection.” Tilley stepped closer to the bench. ”Hearsay.”
Judge Delaney sat back in her chair and sighed. ”Granted. Mr. Cartwright, please refrain” She stopped as the doors of the courtroom opened.
Tracy turned and gasped when Zack and Wyatt entered the courtroom. Both men were tall and handsome in their determined walks and set jaws. They removed their hats simultaneously, and Tracy suddenly felt like she was transported back a hundred years. Despite how handsome the Texas Ranger was, the sheriff outs.h.i.+ned him.
”Sheriff Cartwright.” Judge Delaney didn't hide her displeasure at having her court disrupted. ”Please explain this disruption.”
”Your Honor,” Zack said as he and Wyatt stopped beside Tracy's table. ”May we approach the bench?”
”This had better be good.”
”I object to this,” Tilley whined with his hands gesturing. ”This is highly irregular, considering Ms. Quinn is having an illicit affair with the sheriff.”
Zack shot Tilley through with a glare. The lawyer looked like a weasel. Zack walked to the judge's bench. Martha leaned forward with impatience thinning her lips into a tight line, which did nothing to hide her mult.i.tude of wrinkles.
”Alright, Zack, what the heck is going on?”
Zack cleared his throat and spoke in a low tone. ”I just wanted to make sure you know Jake Parker is our prime suspect in the rustling that's been going on. We're here to take him in for questioning.”
Martha sat back with her eyes wide. Not much surprised her anymore, but obviously, this did. ”Well, now, that certainly throws a wrench into the fan. Alright, Zack, Wyatt, do what you need to.” As they stepped away, she said, ”Mr. Cartwright, Mr. Tilley, approach the bench, please.”
Zack ignored his brother's questioning look and Tracy's wide eyes as he headed toward Jake. While Martha informed the lawyers of what was going on, Zack and Wyatt stopped before Jake. His jaw was set and beads of sweat formed on his brow. Jake's hazel eyes were two cold amber stones as he glowered up at Zack. ”What the h.e.l.l is going on?”
Wyatt leaned forward with his hands on the table. ”We'd like to ask you some questions regarding your whereabouts last Friday night into Sat.u.r.day morning. We'd also be interested in you telling us about just how you got that cut on your hand.”
Jake s.h.i.+fted his eyes from Zack to Wyatt and a bead of sweat ran down the side of his temple. If he hadn't known Jake since they were kids, Zack would have chocked it up to the custody case. Jake stood and glanced at the lawyer, who came to stand beside him.
Zack unlocked his back teeth. ”You can come with us on your own, or we can take you in by force. The choice is yours.”
Jake shrugged. ”I have nothing to hide, but I want my lawyer there. Mr. Tilley?”
The way the lawyer's eyes widened was almost comical, but he covered his surprise with puffing out his chest and nodding. ”I agree. My client has nothing to hide.”
Zack suppressed a chuckle, but Wyatt wasn't as reserved as he snickered. ”We'll see about that. Let's go.”
As they turned to go, Tracy caught Zack's attention. She was biting her lower lip, and her eyes were still wide with disbelief. Once Jake, Tilley, and Wyatt were out of the room, he stepped over to stand beside her.
”You think Jake stole your horses?”
Zack shrugged and twisted his hat in his hands. ”It looks like it.”
Logan stepped in behind Tracy and laughed. ”Well, I have to say this is a first in four years of practicing law. Thanks, big brother, for upstaging me.”
”Anytime.” Zack matched his brother's grin.
”So, what happens now?” Tracy glanced between the brothers.
”We ask for this ridiculous custody suit to be thrown out, for one thing.” Logan gathered his notes. ”And you have some fun. Hey, I'm doing a show tomorrow night at the Longhorn. Probably my last before I head off to Nashville. Why don't you two show up, have fun, and do some dancing?”
Tracy locked gazes with Zack. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't stay away from her. ”Okay. I'll be tied up all day with the case, but tomorrow night sounds good.”
She smiled and touched the hand holding his hat. Her fingers were soft and hot and reminded him of how she touched him in other places. ”Would you like me to pick up Mandy this afternoon? I can bring her back to Oak Springs with me when I pick up Bobby. I think it's a safe bet he won't be going to Jake's tonight.”
He hesitated for a long moment, but his mother was playing bridge that night, and he hated dumping Mandy on Lance and Audrey. ”I'll call the school and let Mrs. Longoria know you're picking her up.”