Hannah smiled. “I’m curious as to what the group out front hopes to accomplish.”
“Pay no attention. As long as they just march, wave signs and talk, there’s no problem, except they’re in the way of people entering on legitimate business. There’s always some group stirred up about something. I feel sorry for the police officers who are assigned to just be out there and make sure there is no trouble. Where are you from, Miss Rutherford?”
“I live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and have a Private Investigation office. My master’s degree is in Criminal Justice and I was training for an attorney because my father had his heart set on it. I didn’t care for the work and was lucky to get a job on the local police force, but after a serious injury on the job, I decided to open my own office. I have a wonderful staff of two. However, we’ve so much business I’ll have to hire more qualified operatives.”
“How interesting. I bet you could write a book about some of your cases. Oh, here’s Jim now. Hello, Jim. May I introduce you to Miss Hannah Rutherford from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She has business that requires your presence. Miss Rutherford, this is Mr. Bridges. I’m sure you’ll find him competent and helpful.”
Hannah and Jim shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Jim got a cup of coffee and sat down by Hannah.
“Now, how may I help you? What brings you this way?”
Hannah gave him the letter from the firm of Perkins, Greer and Hawkins to read. “Mr. Perkins, the senior of the firm, ask me to give this to whomever I worked with here.” She waited to give him a few minutes to read the letter stating that she represented their firm and they would appreciate his cooperation.
“Yes, Miss Rutherford. How do you need my help?”
“I’m authorized to give you the bare essentials. The law firm, for whom I’m working, is representing a woman in a divorce case. She was badly abused and kept from having any money to save or spend for herself. Her husband is a high-ranking military officer with a prominent family name. She is sure she has heard him speak of owning property here in Florida and knows he plans to retire here some day. She is hoping that she can find the information of the property he owns because he purchased it after they were married and while she was still working and contributing to the family income. He insisted that she stop working and stay home just to wait on him. Is it possible to get any information about such property? If so, she might be legally able to demand a substantial amount for her own upkeep. She is only in her late forties and has been married twenty-five years. She is afraid she can’t find a job and have an income and needs the reassurance of having something to count on.”
Ginny was upset hearing this. “If she’s telling the truth she certainly deserves some compensation. Jim, can you search the records for the information?”
“I sure can. There’s nothing I’d like better. Most police are excellent about protecting and serving, but once in a while there’s a bad apple. This sounds like a real rotten one. Let’s go up to the records office and get to work.”
Hannah was relieved. “I’m so happy that we can at least make an effort. I was afraid there was nothing we could do. Thank you, Ginny. I’m glad I met you.”
“It’s all my pleasure. Good luck.” Ginny bustled out to her office and left Jim and Hannah to go about their business.
Three hours later Hannah rubbed her aching back and stood to stretch.
“Gracious. His family sure owns a lot of property. I hope we can separate his from the family.”
Jim chuckled. “Take heart. Knowing his name helps tremendously. He does own property jointly with his brother and some woman. I need to find who she is. Barry,” he called to a man passing through the room, “come here, please.”
Jim was not a tall man; maybe an inch taller than Hannah. He was wiry and muscled with lots of energy. His brown hair was cut in such a way that Hannah suspected he had been in the military. She guessed him to be early to middle thirties. His hazel eyes showed laughter and intelligence. She didn’t dare smile or laugh aloud because Barry topped both of them by a foot.
Barry was a handsome African American, no more than thirty, well over six feet, with lively brown eyes and the sweetest smile. He waited patiently for Jim to tell him what he wanted.
Jim introduced Barry and Hannah telling her that Barry was the best detective they had. “Barry, we need help in determining who a woman is and what relationship she has to this man. Can you do that for me?”
“I sure can. In fact, I can tell you right now who she is. She works in the law office where my mother works. She married a police officer about seven years ago who just disappeared. We did find him in the military and then back on the east coast.”
“Did she ever get a divorce?” Hannah asked anxiously.
“I don’t think so. She kept hoping that something had happened to his memory in the military and he would show up any day. Why? What’s going on?”
Hannah drew herself up to her full height which still kept her much shorter than Barry. ‘What’s going on is that when he married this woman, he was already married to another woman where I live and work. Are you positive about this information?”
“I sure am. Would you like to talk to her?”
“Yes, but may I first call the attorney for whom I’m getting this information and ask him what he wants me to do?”
She thanked Barry and asked him if he would be around. He assured her that he would be here for a few hours. Jim took her to his office and told her to sit at the desk in his chair and be comfortable. “I’m going to step out and give you some privacy. If you need anything, or want me to return, pick up the phone and dial 2 3.” He left closing the door behind him.
Hannah dialed the private phone of Attorney Perkins. “Hello?”
“Mr Perkins?”
“Yes, who is this?”
“I’m sorry. This is Hannah Rutherford. I’ve just found some startling news that I need to discuss with you before I act upon it.”
“All right. Shoot.”
She proceeded to tell him all she had discovered. “Do you want me to talk to this woman and get her input?”
“Heavens above. Good and bad news. It’s good to know my client will be better off than she thought, but in the meantime, an innocent woman is going to be drug into this and hurt.”
“I thought of that. Do you want me to talk to her, and if so, how much should I tell her?”
“I trust you, Hannah. You’ve had excellent home training as well as job training. Tell her everything, but first ask her if she wants an attorney present. We don’t want to be sued or to have unnecessary problems.”
“I understand. My heart aches for both women. He’s a real slime ball and doesn’t deserve to be a military officer, nor does he deserve a good wife. Okay. I’ll do my best with a lot of prayer. Be praying on your end, also.”
“I will, darling girl. Just make sure you’re not placing yourself in a dangerous situation. I suggest that you take the attorney and the detective with you for your protection. Oh, I don’t mean physical protection, but if this ends up in court you don’t want to be floundering alone.”
Hannah dialed 2 3 and waited. Jim was soon back in his office. Hannah got up to give him his chair and walked around the desk to be seated in a visitor’s chair.
“Well?” Jim was curious.
“Attorney Perkins asked me to go ahead and talk to the woman, but he also suggested that I take you and Barry with me. I hope you’ll be willing and able to go. Do you think Barry will go with us?”
“I shall be glad to go with you. At this point I need to know the remainder of the story and the outcome. Let me ask Barry.” He called a number and asked the secretary to call Barry to the phone.
Barry had to juggle some appointments, but felt he could go because he was acquainted with the woman personally. Barry said he would ask his mother to be with the woman when they talked to her because they are friends.
Barry called his mother and explained the situation to her. She of course wanted to be with her friend.
“I’m shocked to hear this, son. I met the man once and thought he was off in the military this whole time. Anna Marie did , too. She’ll be devastated, but she needs to know. She’ll not only be hurt, but she’ll be embarrassed to be the second wife. but how could she know? Where do you want to met and when? She’s like a daughter to me.”
Barry turned to Hannah. “Where and when do you want to meet?”
Hannah looked at Jim. “Don’t you gentlemen think it would be better tomorrow morning rather than sending her to bed with such heartbreaking news?”
Jim and Barry looked at each other and nodded. “You’re a wise and compassionate woman, Hannah. She goes by the name of Mrs. Anna Marie Gable. Her maiden name was Falls. She’ll want to take it back as quickly as possible.” Barry looked uncomfortable.
Barry turned to the phone. “Mom, can you be at Anna Marie’s house tomorrow morning at” he turned to look at Hannah and Jim.
“Ten,” Jim suggested, and Hannah nodded.
“Mom, we’ll meet you there at ten. Tell her we’re coming and prepare her as much as you can without telling her the whole story or scaring her to death.”
Barry talked to his mother a few more minutes, thanked her and said, “I love you, Mom”, and then hung up.
Jim offered to take Hannah to dinner, but she politely refused. “I need to prepare for the meeting and I will feel like a dirty dog to tell her such awful news.”
The three of them shook hands as Hannah thanked them for their help. Each went their own way after Jim offered to pick Hannah up at the motel the next morning.
Hannah was so sorry for the young woman, whom she’d never met, that her feet felt like lead dragging her as she walked slowly back to La Quinta.
After a light supper she sat out on a small patio and breathed the clean, crisp air. She closed her eyes and prayed silently for guidance tomorrow.
Opening her eyes she gasped at the wonder of the sky. It looked as if an artist had slung a palate and threw a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors across the western sky. I’ve never seen such beauty. She enjoyed it until it got too dark, and cooled off. She went in, took a shower, put on night clothes, and called Herb’s cell phone.
“Hey, buddy, you should have seen the gorgeous sunset that I just saw. You sound down. What’s going on there?”
“Brian is ready to either commit suicide or murder. He’s so upset. I can’t make him understand that he has all the evidence on his side. Thomas Chandler and his dirty attorney are saying that Brian killed his own wife and planned the whole thing. Thankfully we have Allen’s testimony, the hatchet with Chandler’s fingerprints and the tapes from the phone calls.”
“Doesn’t he understand this is par for the course? Of course Chandler’s attorney is working for him and urging him to plead innocent.” Hannah exclaimed
“Allen and I both have tried to explain to him. By the way, he finally let me call his minister. I told him the whole story and so did Allen. He prayed with Brian and told him to listen to us. When the Sturgills called, Brian broke down and cried telling them all that had gone on. Now they’re upset and want to come down to testify for him. I had to convince them that it was even more important now for them to keep the children safe. No telling what Chandler would hire someone to do to them.”
“I shiver thinking about it, Herb. I’ll be through here in a couple of days and can come on back to help, but I still have cases to work on. Herb, we need more workers. Keep your ears and eyes open. We need qualified people with personalities that will work with us.”
“Finish what you have to do, Hannah and get home safely. We miss you, but the work does take us on crazy journeys sometimes.”
They talked a few more minutes and hung up. Hannah tossed and turned thinking of Brian’s problems, the meeting tomorrow morning and all her cases. Okay, this is the life you wanted so grin and bear it.