Brody (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood #3) - Kathy Ivan Page 0,2
do. Get some rest, you’ve earned it.”
Chance also stood and headed for the door. “I’m going to head out too, since you’ve got your hands full, bro. Might as well head in to the office and get some work done. I’ll update you later on a couple of cases.”
“Before you go, have you heard anything more about the Berkley case? Antonio’s swamped between moving back from Dallas, and getting situated at his new digs with the Austin FBI office. I didn’t want to bring it up with Serena; she’s been through enough already.”
Brody paused halfway to the door, because he wanted to hear the answer too, since that particular case had hit a little too close to home. Although it did have a bright side. His brother, Antonio, found the love of his life during the whole fiasco. A few weeks prior, Big Jim Berkley, homegrown terrorist and the mastermind behind several bombings across the southern United States, had been granted an appeal of his conviction. The one person who could keep him behind bars was the man’s niece, who’d been living in Shiloh Springs under an assumed identity. Fortunately, things turned out the way they should, and Antonio and Serena got their happily ever after. Brody suspected there’d be wedding bells in the near future for his brother. The thought made him smile.
“The Department of Justice quietly steamrollered him into taking an Alford plea on all the new charges. There won’t be another trial. Big Jim Berkley’s new attorneys agreed to withdraw their case for appeal. Big Jim’s never gonna see the outside of a penitentiary for the rest of his natural life.” Chance shrugged. “Couldn’t have happened to a better person. With everything he put Serena through, they should bury him beneath the jail. That’s my personal opinion. As the district attorney for the county of Shiloh Springs, I cannot quote anything on the record, since there are still charges pending against Jonathan and Corinne Drury for the auto accident and attempted kidnapping of Serena.”
“Are you prosecuting their case?”
“I can’t, Brody. I’ve recused myself, since my brothers were involved and will be called as witnesses for the prosecution. Don’t want anything smacking of nepotism or impropriety to taint the case. Off the record, they’ll probably plead it out, since both Drury and his wife have charges pending in an ongoing investigation with the Justice Department. Shiloh Springs is small potatoes in their ongoing case.”
“I’m glad Antonio’s moving back. I think Shiloh Springs is good for his soul. In the short time he’s been back, he seems, I don’t know, happier.”
Rafe chuckled. “Well, part of that might be because he’s in love. I know I’m certainly happier now I’ve got Tessa in my life.”
“And with that, I’m out of here, in case all this new love stuff is contagious. I am not ready to settle down.” With a grin, Chance walked out of Rafe’s office, whistling as he headed toward the front. Brody heard him greet Sally Anne, who must’ve come in while they’d been talking.
“I’m out too.”
As he turned to go, Rafe placed a hand on his arm. “Bro, are you alright? I don’t want to pry, but you haven’t been yourself for a while. Anything I can do to help?”
Brody drew in a deep breath. He thought they hadn’t noticed, but trust his big brother to strike right at the heart of the matter. How was he supposed to tell Rafe he’d fallen for his fiancée’s sister? The one who’d be Rafe’s sister-in-law before too long?”
“Everything’s fine. I’m just tired. Burning the candle at both ends; guess it’s caught up to me. I’ve finished up the latest classes for TCFP, so I’ll get some rest. Promise.” It wasn’t a total lie. He had been taking some recertification with the Texas Commission on Fire Prevention as part of his fire investigator certification.
“Alright. If there’s anything you need, I’m here. Got it?”
“Yep. Now, go back to work. I’ll have Sally Anne bring you some coffee, you grouch.” He smiled at his brother’s “jerk” comment, and strode toward the front. After a couple minutes of chatting with Sally Anne, he headed for home.
Beth stared at the large courier envelope she’d tossed onto the middle of her bed. Her neighbors in North Carolina, the Findlay’s, had collected her mail for the last few weeks and forwarded everything to her. The growing knot in her stomach seemed to twist and turn, churning inside like a rattlesnake. She knew what the envelope contained.