'Yes, sir. Mr. Elkins is expecting you.' Getting up from her tidy desk, the young woman led Sam and Elizabeth toward a heavy wooden door to the right of the reception room. She knocked, then entered, announcing Mr. Elkins's ten-o'clock appointment.
Gary Elkins rose from a button-tufted hunter green leather chair, rounded his enormous antique oak desk and held out his hand to Sam.
'Won't you come in, Mr. Dundee? I'm eager to find out how you can help me prove Reece Landry innocent of B. K. Stanton's murder. You said that you were contacted by a psychic who claims she had a vision about Reece, that she believes in his innocence.'
Elizabeth watched Gary Elkins as he shook hands with Sam and motioned for the two of them to sit, his gaze scanning Elizabeth quickly before he offered his hand to her.
'And is this lovely young lady the psychic you told me about?' Elkins asked.
Gary Elkins's white-blond hair was thin, his blue eyes pale and his complexion ruddy. Standing beside Sam, he looked like a kid, but then few men were as big as Sam Dundee.
'This is my niece, Elizabeth,' Sam said. 'She's quite involved in this situation.'
'I see.' Gary Elkins released Elizabeth's hand, motioned for them to be seated in the two Queen Anne wingbacks that flanked his desk, then returned to his chair.
Elizabeth felt immediate warmth, honesty and good-heartedness coming from Gary Elkins. She sensed that not only were the man's credentials as a lawyer irreproachable, he was also a decent human being. She knew that she and Sam wouldn't be putting their trust in someone who might betray Reece.
Sam glanced over at Elizabeth. Smiling, she nodded, reassuring Sam that they could confide in Gary Elkins. Sam returned the smile and the nod, then faced Reece's lawyer.
'Not only do Elizabeth and I believe that Reece Landry is innocent, but we think he was framed for his father's murder,' Sam said.
Gary Elkins's eyes widened. 'I see. Well, I agree with you, but I'm afraid that there's no evidence to substantiate that fact.'
'I intend to uncover that evidence, Mr. Elkins.' Sam leaned back in the chair, crossing his legs as he relaxed.
'Is your niece the psychic who had a vision about Reece?' Elkins glanced at Elizabeth.
'I am psychic, Mr. Elkins, but...I...I know Reece, personally,' Elizabeth said. 'And I know he didn't kill his father.'
'I'm afraid I don't understand.' Elkins frowned. 'I thought I'd met all of Reece's friends during the trial.'
'Look, Elkins,' Sam said, 'what I'm about to tell you will remain confidential. Understand?'
'Yes, I understand.'
'When Landry escaped after the wreck nearly a week ago, he broke into Elizabeth's cabin in Sequana Falls-'
'He didn't break in,' Elizabeth said. 'The door wasn't locked.'
Sam gave Elizabeth a hard stare, then turned his attention back to Reece's lawyer. 'Landry was in pretty bad shape. Elizabeth nursed him back to health and the two of them became friends. He told her the facts about Stanton's murder and the trial. Elizabeth believed him, and so do I.'
'Why didn't you go to the sheriff?' Elkins asked. 'Why did you come to me?'
'Because Reece doesn't trust the sheriff's department, and I believe he's right in his distrust. But he wasn't sure about you, and I decided to find out for myself whether or not you were truly on Reece's side.' Elizabeth scooted to the edge of her seat, clasping her knees with her open palms.
'Do you know where Reece is now?' Elkins looked directly at Elizabeth. 'If you do, then I urge you to contact him and tell him to turn himself in. If the local authorities find him, they'll kill him.'
Icy chills pelted Elizabeth's body. 'They'll-'
'Landry isn't going to turn himself in,' Sam said. 'I've talked to him, tried to convince him to give us a chance to dig up some new evidence, to wait for his appeal to go through.'
'Look, I don't know who you people are or why you've chosen to believe Reece, but he needs all the help he can get. So do I.' Elkins slammed one hand down atop his desk.
'Dammit, the Stantons possess a great deal of power in Newell and the local sheriff knows the family wants Reece apprehended dead or alive.'
The outer door swung open and a tall, slender brunette entered. 'Not all the Stantons want Reece dead.'
'Christina!' Elkins jumped up, rounded his desk and rushed over to the woman who'd just entered his office.
'Is this the man who has information about Reece?' Christina Stanton asked. 'Is she the psychic?'
Gary Elkins slipped his arm around Christina's shoulders, closed the office door behind her and led her into the room. Sam stood, offering the woman his seat. She shook her head and turned her attention to Elizabeth.
'Chris, these people say they want to help Reece. They know where he's hiding,' Elkins said.
Elizabeth held out her hand. 'I'm Elizabeth Mallory.'
Christina stared at Elizabeth's hand for a few seconds before accepting it in greeting. The moment Elizabeth touched Reece's half sister, she felt the woman's anguish and frustration.
'You really do want to help your brother, don't you, Ms. Stanton?' Elizabeth asked.
Looking directly at Elizabeth, Christina pulled her hand away. Her eyes glazed with tears. She nodded her head. 'Yes, I do. I know my mother and brother are convinced that Reece killed Daddy, but I don't think Reece is capable of murder.'
'Neither do I,' Elizabeth said.
Christina glanced from Elizabeth to Sam to Gary Elkins.
'Reece broke into Ms. Mallory's cabin when he escaped after the wreck,' Elkins said. 'They became acquainted and she and her uncle, Mr. Dundee, want to help Reece.'
'Do you know where Reece is?' Christina asked.
'I'm afraid I can't tell you where he is.' Elizabeth sensed Christina's fear. 'But I can tell you that he's all right.'
'Chris, honey, please sit down.' Elkins led her to the empty chair Sam had just vacated. 'When I spoke to Mr. Dundee yesterday, he told me that he owns a private security agency in Atlanta and he has a great deal of experience in preventing crimes. He's a former DEA agent.' Elkins glanced up at Sam. 'I've got all that straight, haven't I, Mr. Dundee?'
'You've got it right.' Sam sat on the edge of Gary Elkins's desk. 'Ms. Stanton, what we need is another suspect, someone else who would have had motive and opportunity to kill your father.'
'Oh, Mr. Dundee, my father had a lot of enemies. Personally, I think Reece's stepfather, Harry Gunn, killed Daddy. The man hated Daddy.'
'Ms. Stanton, do you believe in psychic abilities?' Sam asked.
'What?'
'Elizabeth is a psychic,' Sam said. 'She can read the psychic energy from people.'
'Are you saying she can read minds?' Gary Elkins asked.
'Sometimes.' Sam stood, towering over Christina Stanton. 'If Elizabeth could meet your family and others who knew your father, then she might be able to pick up on something that could help us. She might be able to clue us in on a suspect.'
'This is crazy!' Gary Elkins walked between Sam and Christina, boldly glaring up at Sam. 'We want to help Reece, but if you think we're going to be fooled by some charlatan act-'
'You and Christina are in love.' Elizabeth stared directly at the couple. 'Neither of you have had the courage to admit your feelings to the other.'
Gary's mouth fell open; Christina gasped, tears springing to her eyes.
'Gary is afraid you don't find him attractive,' Elizabeth said. 'And, Christina, you're afraid to trust another man after what happened with your fiance.'
'I don't believe this!' Elkins said.
Standing, Elizabeth walked over to Christina. Gently pushing Gary Elkins out of the way, she took Christina's hand. 'The two of you will marry someday, and you'll be happy.'
