Keeping Kenzie - Pepper North Page 0,28
hit the pavement. A few miles later, he returned to his room to shower.
On this second visit, Osiris couldn’t touch Kenzie. Curbing his desire to crash through the flimsy plexiglass barrier, he tried to portray a calm demeanor to reassure her. “Hi, Baby girl. Did you sleep last night?”
“No. It’s horrible in here. Can you get me out?” she pleaded with tears in her eyes.
“I’m working on it. Thanks to the judge leaving the possibility open for your ex to reinstate the theft charges, you are in here until we can get him to review and dismiss the case. SANCTUM has a lawyer who is friendly to our lifestyle. She’s a powerful attorney and Little. I’ve retained Carrie Covington for you. We need to call her in a few minutes.”
“I need a lawyer?” she asked, visibly frightened.
“Take a deep breath, Baby girl. That’s it. Now, exhale. Good job. Do that again,” he ordered.
When she was calmer, he continued. “I had a buddy of mine search your apartment for the divorce papers. He found them and sent me pictures. Eric also delivered the documents to your lawyer this morning.”
“He found them?” she asked. Her gaze slid away from his evasively.
“Eric uncovered everything, including the copies of the papers you returned and the original document with the three signatures on it. I’m guessing you gave him the copy?”
“I just wanted him to go away. I didn’t know what to do,” she confessed.
“You absolutely did the best thing by making copies and holding on to those papers. I’m guessing that something in those papers required him to look back. He must have noticed that one page was a copy.”
Kenzie nodded. “I couldn’t match the paper exactly. It was on super-thick linen paper. The copy place didn’t have that. And one signature was in blue. He didn’t notice.”
“Obviously, not until recently.”
“There was that accident,” she whispered. “The building collapsed. Dean provided them with some building materials. He didn’t know anything about construction. I know he got that stuff at a cheap rate and resold it for a ton. I should have said something.”
“Those men had to know that something was wrong with the quality if they were buying at that cheap price.” He waited a few seconds to allow her to process that. When she nodded, he added, “That was a couple of days before the fire,” Osiris pointed out.
“You don’t think…?” Kenzie covered her mouth in shock. “Dean wouldn’t try to kill me by setting the fire.”
“He put you in jail for theft.”
“What do I do?” she whispered.
“First, we call the attorney.” He turned to motion to the guard. “Officer? Kenzie’s attorney would like to talk to her by phone.”
“I’m afraid you won’t be able to be there, sir. Attorneys and inmates must talk in specialized areas. There are no visitors allowed there.”
“Osiris, I don’t want to talk to her alone!” Kenzie exclaimed, even as she realized there were no alternatives. She hated being an adult, especially now that she’d been with her Daddy. Following rules and allowing him to decide made her feel secure for the first time. Looking across the barrier, she felt his concern and knew that he’d do everything for her if he could.
“Be tough, Baby girl. Let’s get you out of here and into your Daddy’s arms.”
“I want that, Daddy.”
“I know, Baby girl. I do, too. You go talk to Carrie and tell her everything. Even if something doesn’t sound important to you and it’s linked to these papers, tell her,” Osiris directed in a calm voice. “I know you can be strong and get through the interview with the lawyer.”
“I can do it,” Kenzie said, sitting up straighter. His confidence in her made her more focused and determined. “I want out of here.”
Chapter 14
Kenzie pulled herself together. She wasn’t going to be a victim to Dean’s bullying. Waving goodbye to her Daddy was so hard. When the deputy escorted her to a small private room, she understood why there were no visitors. Only one person would fit.
“Take a seat. Your lawyer has been notified that she can reach you now. When the phone rings in front of you, answer it. When you’re finished, knock on the door. Someone will come to escort you back to your area.”
“Thank you,” Kenzie said with a nod. The officers had been very pleasant with her. She knew the sheriff had interceded on her behalf.
Jail was awful. She wasn’t even in the big incarceration centers. Sheriff Underwood had maintained responsibility for her