To Love Twice (4 page)

“I have no idea.  But I guess I better get on the phone
and find a lawyer.”  Tim reached in his pocket and pulled out his cell
phone.  He walked out into the hall to make his call.

“Georgie, I know you will but I still need to ask.  Can
you watch Mary until this is sorted out?  I don’t want them to call CPS.”

“I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.”

“Okay ma’am, your sister is here.  We need you to come
with us to interview,” the police officer said.

“Okay, okay.  Um, I don’t know what to do,” Kate
said.  “Let me give her a kiss.  I’m sorry, Mary.  Auntie
Georgie is going to watch you.  I’ll be back as soon as I can.  I
love you baby.”  Kate reached out and grabbed her sister, giving her a
hard hug.  “Thank you so much.”

“Don’t panic.  Tim is calling a lawyer.  We’ll get
this sorted out quickly.”

“Okay.  Thank you.  See you soon.”

Georgie watched helplessly as the police officers ushered
Kate out of the room and down the hall.  She joined Tim in the hall and
watched his face trying to read from his expression what kind of luck he was
having.  He raked his fingers through his hair.  Not a good
sign.  “Right.  Thank you anyway.  Argh,” Tim snarled as he
ended the call.  “How is it possible that we know every damn person in
this city, and none are lawyers?”

“Let me try something,” Georgie said.  She walked over
to the desk and reached into Mary’s diaper bag retrieving Kate’s cell
phone.  She didn’t know the last name of Kate’s boss, but she knew the
first name well enough.  She read through all the names and finally found
Erin under the M’s.  “McNamara, Erin.  Kate’s boss.  Kate told
me that they’ve really hit it off and become good friends.  It’s worth a
shot.”

Georgie hit dial and crossed her fingers. 

“Hi Kate, how’s it going?”

“Hello, is this Erin?”

“Um, yes.  Who am I speaking with?”

“This is Georgie Knight.  I’m Kate’s sister.  I’m
sorry to bother you, but we’ve got a situation.  Kate’s been arrested and
unfortunately we’re having some trouble tracking down a lawyer.  I know
this seems a bit unorthodox, but I’d rather not Google a deadbeat lawyer.”

“I’m on it.  Is she at the police station now?”

“Yes, they just took her into the interview room.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Georgie sighed in relief.  “Thank you.”  She ended
the call and turned to Tim.  “She said she’d be here in fifteen
minutes.  Here’s hoping my idea works,” Georgie said as she crossed her
fingers.  She leaned down and nuzzled Mary’s head.

Kate couldn’t remember ever being so scared in her
life.  They took her fingerprints, and her picture.  She felt like a
common criminal.  Her hands were shaking and her head felt like it was
floating like a balloon over her shoulders.

The officers put her in a tiny cramped room.  There was
a metal table in the center of the room, with four chairs surrounding it. 
One of the officers gestured for Kate to take a seat.  Shakily, she pulled
out a chair and sank into it.  She glanced up and studied the cops who
were about to question her.

The first looked like he should have been playing with the
NFL.  He was tall, bulky and gave the impression he could knock someone
over with his pinky finger.  His light blue eyes looked strangely out of
place in his wide face.  His nose was off center, indicating it had been
broken more than once.  His mouth was wide, his thin lips pulled tight in
a grimace.  His face was square and she could see his jaw tensing every
couple of seconds.

The second one was shorter, and very muscular.  She
figured he was the type who only did four things:  Eat, Sleep, Workout,
and Work.  His face was lean, his cheekbones prominent.  His nose was
straight and he had dark chocolate brown eyes. In his eyes, Kate could see the
uneasiness he felt.

“Ma’am, I’m Officer Wendle and this is my partner Officer
Keegan.  We’re going to ask you some questions.  Do you have any
objection to this?”  NFL asked her.

“I guess not.  Will it help to clear up this
misunderstanding?”

“We hope so,” Officer Keegan said.

“Alright, then question away,” Kate said bravely.

“Ma’am, did you enter the premises of 145 Willow Lane at
approximately eight o’clock this morning?”

“Yes.  My sister and I went there this morning,” Kate
answered quickly.

“Did you attempt to disarm the system?”

“No.  I didn’t know one had been installed.”

“Were you aware you were being monitored?”

“No.”

“Did you remove anything from the house?”  NFL asked
her.

“No!  There wasn’t anything to remove,” Kate said
angrily.  “Wouldn’t you or whomever have seen that on the video?”

NFL ignored her question.  “Did you go there with the
intent of removing items from the house?”

“Yes.  Brad and I separated two months ago.  I
moved into my apartment yesterday and wanted to collect the baby’s items, the
rest of my clothes and some of the furniture that belonged to me.”

“Where have you been living since your separation?”

“At my sister’s house.”  Kate looked off into the
corner of the room.  She would not cry.  She would not lose it in
front of these people.  She took a deep breath and let it out
slowly.  She turned her face back the officers.

NFL cleared his throat and looked away.  Body Builder
sat there looking uncomfortable.  “Do you have more questions for
me?”  Kate asked.

Just then there was a knock at the door.  NFL got up to
open it.  Kate almost fainted when Erin walked in.  Her hands became
clammy and she could feel beads of sweat sliding down her back.  What was
her
boss
doing here?  Kate rolled her eyes.  She could kiss
her job goodbye. 

Kate didn’t even notice the woman who walked in behind
her.  She was too mortified at seeing her boss.  Erin crossed to Kate
and sat down quickly next to her.  “Are you okay?” Erin whispered to her.

“Y-Yes,” Kate squeaked out.

Erin nodded.  “Good.”

“Gentlemen, my name is Clair Forbes.  I need a moment
to confer with my client,” the woman said.  Kate finally looked up and
noticed the other person in the room.  To say she was tall was an
understatement.  Kate’s eyes kept traveling up and up until they finally
reached her face, and then she blinked.  The woman was gorgeous. 
Swimsuit edition gorgeous.  Her green eyes danced in her face.  Kate
could see a tiny sprinkling of freckles across her nose and under her
eyes.  Her red hair was long and curly.  It looked so incredibly
thick that Kate didn’t think this woman would be able to get a hairband around
it.

“Of course,” the officers said.  They both got up and
raced out of the room.

Clair turned to Kate.  “What did you tell them?”

“The truth.”

“Okay, I need to know exactly what they asked you and what
you said in return.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s my job.  Spill it.”

Kate looked at Erin, questions in her eyes.  Erin
nodded toward Clair.  “Go ahead, Kate.”

“They asked me if I went to Brad’s house and they asked me
if I removed anything from the house.  They asked how I got in and why I
didn’t turn the alarm off.”

“And what did you tell them?”

Kate rehashed what she’d told the officers, right up to the
point when Erin and Clair had interrupted.  “That’s all that was said,”
Kate finished.

“Okay, I can work with this.”  Clair pulled out her
Blackberry and sent some messages.  “Okay, what I need now…”

“I’m sorry,” Kate interrupted.  “I appreciate you
coming here.” Kate turned toward Erin. “And I appreciate what you’ve done for
me, Erin.  But I’m scared.  What’s next?  This is all just a
misunderstanding, at least that’s what I keep telling myself.”

Clair paused and looked like she was collecting her
thoughts.  “Okay, here’s what I’m hoping will happen.  I’m hoping
they’ll be able to get a hold of Brad soon.  I think once they talk to
him, this will be cleared up and you’ll be able to go home.  You don’t
have a record and since you aren’t officially separated from Brad, it’s still
the marital home.  I need to get a statement from your sister, and that
needs to go into the police file.  Once that’s done, I’ll go work some
magic.”

“Brad seems so angry, I don’t know if he’ll let it go when
they do reach him.”

“I’m sure he will.  After all, the place is empty,”
Clair said.  “I’ll be back soon.” 

Kate watched Clair walk out of the room and then whirled in
her chair toward her boss.  “Erin!  I’m so embarrassed.  I
wouldn’t be at all surprised if you fired me.  I’m so sorry that you’re
involved.  Did my sister call you?”

Erin grinned.  “Kate, Kate – calm down! 
I’ve worked with you for a month and you’ve done nothing to make me think that
you aren’t still a good fit for our company.”  She reached out and placed
her fingers on Kate’s arm.  “Screw that, a good fit for me!  There is
nothing to be embarrassed about.”

“But I’ve been arrested.  That can’t be good for
business.”

Erin laughed.  “You’ve been detained and I think that’s
different.  But whatever.  Hell, I’ve been arrested.  I was
twenty and thought I knew everything.  I chained myself to a tree on
Harvard’s lawn.  It was old and diseased, but I didn’t think they should
cut it down.  There were six of us, all chained to this diseased, dying
tree.  What a spectacle.  Spent the night in jail, and got community
service.  It amuses me now, that moment in time.  Really, Kate, this
is nothing.  We’re behind you, one hundred percent.  Don’t worry,
everything will be okay.”

“Erin, I don’t have enough money to pay her.”  Kate
looked down at her lap, embarrassed to admit this.  “She looks extremely
expensive.  And now that Brad has gotten rid of everything, I just don’t
see how this is going to work out, financially.  Mary doesn’t even have a
crib,”  Kate’s eyes welled up and she willed them away.

Erin reached over and held Kate’s hand.  “Kate,
honestly, don’t worry about anything.  Let’s get you out of here and get
this mess cleared up and then we’ll worry about the money.”

“Thank you,” Kate whispered.

“By the way,” Erin smirked.  “She’s the best divorce
lawyer in town.”

Kate looked up and smiled.  “Really?”

“Yes.” Erin’s smirk changed to a full-blown smile.  Her
eyes twinkling she did her best to reassure her friend.  “I’ve got you
covered, Kate.”

“Thank you.  Really, thank you so much.”  Kate
leaned over and gave Erin a hug.

There was a light knock at the door, and NFL popped his head
in.  “You ladies want anything to drink?  The coffee is as bad as you
see on TV, but the sodas are cold.”

Erin spoke before Kate had a chance.  “That would be
great, two diets if you have them.”

“Not a problem.”  NFL closed the door. 

“They’ve really been quite decent to me.  They both
look like they’d rather be anywhere but doing this today.”

“Yeah, it’s nice when you find some really decent
cops.  Too bad they all aren’t like that, right?”  Erin laughed.

Laughing, Kate nodded.  NFL popped back in the
room.  “Here you go ladies.  You need anything else?  Bathroom
break?”

“No, I’m okay.  Thank you.”  Kate replied.

NFL nodded his head, and walked out.

“See what I mean?  Decent,” Kate said.  “I hope
this isn’t keeping you from anything important.  Wouldn’t that add icing
to this delicious cake.”

“No, I was just sitting at home catching up on household
paperwork.  I need an EA for my house stuff too,” Erin laughed.

“Well, if I get out of here, you could always hire me. 
That’s how I’ll work off Clair’s fees.  Indentured servitude,” Kate
cracked a smile. 

Erin laughed.  “I’m glad to see you still have your
sense of humor.  If you get out of here and everything gets worked out,
I’ll think about it.  You’d have to bring Mary with you though.  My
kids would get a kick out of having a real life baby to play with.”

“It’s a deal,” Kate smiled.

Clair stormed into the room.  “Okay, they finally got a
hold of Brad.  He corroborated your story.  He said he didn’t think
you’d actually show up at the house, that’s why he didn’t tell you about the
alarm system.  Your sister and everyone is waiting out in the hall for
you.  Ready to go?”

“Is that it?” Kate asked.

Smiling, Clair answered “Yes.”

“Thank you, Clair.”  Kate looked up, those wretched
tears stinging her eyes again.  “You’ll help me with my divorce?”

“Of course.  Erin told me that was the main reason I
was here.  This was just a speed bump.”

Kate stood up, and reached for Clair.  The tears
wouldn’t stay at bay, but Kate didn’t care.  She was the absolute luckiest
woman in the world.  Giving Clair a hug, Kate let out a sigh of relief.

“Kate Walker to see Clair Forbes,” Kate told the
receptionist.  Her palms were sweaty and she felt like she was going to
lose the contents of her stomach at any moment. 

“Please have a seat.  Ms. Forbes will be right out.” 
The receptionist gestured toward the chairs lining the wall opposite the
reception desk.

Kate sat down in one of the chairs, concentrating on her
breathing. 
I will not puke, I will not pass out.  I will not
puke, I will not pass out.
  The litany ran through Kate’s head over
and over.

Glancing at her watch, she was surprised to see twenty
minutes had gone by.  She walked over to the receptionist and asked her
how much longer the wait would be.  “I’m on my lunch break and I don’t
have much more time,” Kate explained.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Walker.  I’ll call back there again,”
the receptionist offered.

Kate nodded and went back to her chair.  A few minutes
later, a woman rushed into the lobby.

“Kate Walker?”