“Mommy!” The girl sobbed as the courtroom throbbed with energy.
The judge banged her gavel until there was quiet again. “I want both counselors, Mr. and Mrs. Plater, and their daughter in my chambers.”
Abraham grabbed my arm as I stood. “How? I don’t understand.” He stared at Dara as she and Shel floated down the center aisle. As soon as she saw him, she broke free from her mother.
“Abe. Abe.” The girl flung her arms around him as he dropped to the ground.
Cameras flashed. The hum rose as people watched the scene. How ironic that the man who’d been accused of kidnapping and murdering her was the second person she ran to. Not her father, who stood, staring in disbelief, not that she was alive, but that she had been discovered.
Abraham picked up Dara, who hugged him tightly, her face buried in his neck. His cheeks were damp as he held her.
“My chambers.” The judge motioned toward the door.
I touched Abraham’s arm.
“Please don’t make me let her go.”
Not so long ago, I wouldn’t have understood the desperation in his voice or what that look in his eyes meant. I wouldn’t have known one hug was never enough or a child’s love is unconditional, genuine, and impossible to suppress. Now, I completely got it. And hopefully forever, I’d have that every day.
“It won’t be for long.”
“I deserve to hear this too.” He lifted his chin in defiance.
“You will. Give her to her mother for now.”
Reluctantly, he set the child on her feet. He and Shel exchanged an awkward look as she grabbed Dara’s hand. They didn’t speak. His jaw tightened. Her hollow features twisted in pain.
Wordlessly, she moved toward the judge’s chambers. I followed close behind, joined by the prosecutor and Alex.
Once we’d all settled, the judge fixed a smile on her face. “Dara, can you tell me where you’ve been?”
“With Aunt Kristen and Daddy.”
Shel gripped the arm of her chair and flashed a lethal glare at her husband. “You’ve had her the whole time?”
“No. I didn’t—”
“He brought me ice cream yesterday,” the little girl interrupted.
He slumped in his seat and refused to meet anyone’s gaze.
“Were you at your aunt’s house?”
Dara shook her head, blond hair swishing. “I was in the playhouse. It was dark. I didn’t have my pin.”
Shel stroked the top of her head as she choked back a sob. “I’ve got it right here, baby.”
“You do? I thought I dropped it in the woods.” Her blue eyes widened with innocent joy.
“We found it.” She fastened the daisy pin on the little girl’s dress.
The girl beamed, then leaned against her mother. “Can we go home now?”
“Dara, how did you get here?” The judge took off her glasses and set them on the desk.
“A nice man got me out of the playhouse. At first I wouldn’t go with him, but he knew the answers to all my questions and promised he’d take me to Mommy.”
“Dara, you know not to go with strangers,” Shel scolded.
“Did you know the man?” The judge’s tone was softer than any she’d used in her courtroom.
“No, but he was nice. And he did what he said.”
“Would you recognize him if you saw him?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. Duke flew under the radar. He’d do all he could to stay that way.
“Can you tell me why your aunt and father put you in that room?”
“They said it was an adventure. I like adventures.”
The judge cracked a fond smile. “Me too.” She leaned back in her seat. “Mr. Plater, stay put. Counselor Whitley, your client is free to go.” One brow arched in a get out of my chambers gesture.
I stood. “Thank you, your honor.”
As soon as I’d parted company with Abraham, I retrieved my phone to call Duke. Before I could dial, Wicked’s name flashed on the screen.
“How’d you do it?” she demanded as soon as I answered.
“How’d you know I just walked out of the courthouse?”
“Did he tell you where to find her?”
“Can we take a breath here?”
“Why do you sound so calm?”
“Didn’t you hear? I won a case without having to do a thing. My client was innocent. A little congratulations would be nice.” I grinned just because she couldn’t see me.
“I’m calling because I heard. And you don’t need a pat on the back since you didn’t do anything.”
I stifled a laugh. My girl kept it real. “So no celebratory blow job?”
A man walking past cut his eyes at me. I lifted my chin in a you wish gesture.
“Is sex all you think about?”
“What are you wearing?”
“Are you going to tell me how you found her or not?” she asked in an exasperated huff.
“I was about to find out when you called.”
“Are you on your way home?”
“Do you miss me?”
“Are you or not?”
“Do you miss me?”
“Yes,” she finally relented.
“Be naked.”
“Thanks for the crackers.” Her voice softened.
“You feel okay?”
“How do I sound?”
“Wicked.” I paused at the edge of the subway entrance. “Dinner requests?”
“Pizza. You know how I like it.”
My phone buzzed. “Hang on.” My chest expanded when I read the text. “You’re in luck. Your dad wants to meet at Dino’s for a celebration dinner.”
“I’m getting in the shower now. We’ll meet you there.”
I whistled as I descended the stairs into the underbelly of the city. Forgiveness felt good. My faith in people was still intact. And maybe I hadn’t wasted my whole career. At least I knew I wouldn’t going forward.
Chapter Sixty-Six
Marlow
Six weeks later
“What do you think?”
I shoved my hands in my back pockets and rocked on my heels as Holt and Baker surveyed the finished office space.
“You did all this?” My brother ran his fingers along the polished desk.
“I just arranged it.”
Patrick squeezed the back of
