Speed Trap

She said, “As Judy Bowen is deceased, your attorney-client privilege no longer applies. Is that right?”

Mr. Victor looked somewhat relieved. “Yes, that’s true, Sheriff.”

“What can you tell me about her?”

“Not much, actually. She came to me two weeks ago, wanting information about placing her son for adoption.”

“I’ve always understood that private adoptions are very expensive.”

Mr. Victor sat back and laced his fingers together over his pinstriped suit. “There was no cost to Miss Bowen. All fees and expenses would be paid by the adopting parents.”

The man had the look of a college quarterback gone to seed. A thick gold ring glittered on his right hand. The overpowering scent of his spicy cologne permeated the air. Everything about him and about his office told Garrett he enjoyed the money he made.

“And who are the adoptive parents?” Mandy asked.

“Judy had not yet selected a family. Kansas law requires that both parents of the child relinquish their parental rights. It was my understanding that she intended to inform the father in person of her decision and obtain his permission.”

“Did she give you his name?” Garrett asked quickly.

The attorney opened the file on his desk. “Yes, I assumed you knew. You are listed as the child’s father.”

Garrett sank back in his chair, his mind spinning. It was true. He had a son.

Why hadn’t Judy told him?

What did he do now?

His past hadn’t exactly prepared him for parenthood. He had no idea how to raise a kid.

Should he let this lawyer go ahead with the adoption? Judy must have believed it was the best choice, but was it?

Old dreams, dreams he’d thought long dead, crept out of the box where they’d been hiding. To have a family of his own. What would it be like?

Mandy leaned forward. “Mr. Bowen could have blocked the adoption if he wanted, couldn’t he?”

Nodding, the attorney replied, “Certainly.”

Mandy shot Garrett a sharp look. “Mr. Victor, did Judy ever tell you that she had spoken to Mr. Bowen?”

“She never got the chance to talk to me,” Garrett stated sharply. He didn’t like the sheriff’s new tone.

Her doubt was plain. “So you claim.”

“You think I’d rather see them both dead?”

“I’ve known it to happen,” she retorted.

Why wouldn’t she believe him? “I never saw Judy. I didn’t know about my son until this morning.”

The attorney cleared his throat, pulling Garrett’s attention away from Mandy’s intense eyes. “Mrs. Bowen named you as the child’s father on his birth certificate which makes you his legal guardian unless your paternity is contested. I hope you will consider fulfilling Judy’s wishes.”

He pushed a sheet of paper across the desk toward Garrett. “I can assure you that our clients are well-screened. He will have a wonderful life with two loving parents.”

Garrett took the paper the man was offering. “What’s this?”

“Parental rights relinquishment form.”

Garrett stared down at the legal document. Now he knew why Judy had been coming to see him. She wanted his consent to let strangers raise their child.

Children needed tenderness and caring, things he’d never known. His childhood had been a series of beatings and worse. He wasn’t fit to be a father.

Mr. Victor pushed the paper closer. “It was Judy’s dying wish.”

Garrett looked from the man’s florid face to the paper in front of him. Judy’s dying wish.

To honor it, all Garrett had to do was sign his name.

FOUR

Mandy stared at Garrett’s stiff back as he shoved open the agency doors and exited the building. She called after him. “Signing those adoption papers is the best thing you could do for him.”

She knew he’d heard her. He simply didn’t bother to reply.

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