The Prince of Spies (Hope and Glory #3) - Elizabeth Camden Page 0,108
sick. He reeled a little and grabbed a light pole for balance. “Does Mama know?”
“Not yet. She’ll probably figure it out once Grandfather replaces you in the company, which is surely coming.”
The breath left Andrew in a rush. “He can’t do that. I’ve given everything to this company. I’m next in line.”
“Jedidiah can step back in.”
That triggered another round of protestations from Andrew. He hadn’t even bothered to apologize to her. All he worried about was scrambling to secure his own position in the company. She let him ramble as she set off for the ticket window, opening her reticule to retrieve her money clip.
Andrew followed. “Maybe Dad will side with me,” he said. “Grandpa is getting old and senile. He can’t even use an adding machine.”
It was an effort to keep her voice steady, but she managed it. “Grandpa doesn’t need to take over the company. Papa is probably going to lose his next election, thanks to you, which means he’ll be able to take back the reins. Congratulations. You’re about to find out what it’s like to venture out into the world on your own. As am I. I came to Baltimore exactly as promised. Now I am going to buy a ticket to Nevada. Good-bye, Andrew.”
An hour later she was on her way to find Aunt Stella and learn what it felt like to no longer be a Magruder.
Thirty-One
Luke’s spirits were glum as he met with Mr. Alphonse for the latest update on his legal situation. It was just the two of them this morning, and the meeting was easier without Gray there. Luke didn’t have to pretend that his spirits were holding up with Mr. Alphonse.
“A court date has been set for November,” Mr. Alphonse said. “This is good because it will let us prepare—”
“Good?” Luke cried out in disbelief. “I can’t last in here until November.” He held up his hands, cracked and blistered from the bleach in the laundry, but he couldn’t be reassigned elsewhere in case Marianne came back. It was obvious Clyde was keeping her on a short leash, but he still hoped.
“November is only four months away,” Mr. Alphonse said. “And we need as much time as possible to prepare for a constitutional challenge. I am gathering briefs from interested parties who want to weigh in on freedom of the press, and those will be our most powerful weapon. Your motive in publishing the story was honorable, but it was against the law unless we can mount a constitutional challenge.”
Mr. Alphonse continued outlining his position, but it was all horrible. They were going to have to fall on the mercy of the court with nothing but a single sentence from the Bill of Rights to shield him. If they failed, he was looking at five to seven years of imprisonment. Could Marianne wait that long? Could he? He’d never been tested like this and didn’t know if he’d survive it. This had been harder than he expected.
A rattle at the door surprised him. The bolt slid free, and Superintendent Castor stepped inside.
“On your feet, Mr. Delacroix. Officer Galloway is going to unlock those shackles you’re wearing.”
Luke stood and held out his hands, not even bothering to ask why. It would feel good to have the irons off his wrists and be capable of walking more than a few inches at a time.
His lawyer was more curious. “What’s all this, then?”
“Change of plans,” the superintendent said. “The word just came down. It’s all over. Congress is backing down, and you are free to go.”
Luke blinked. If this had happened in Cuba, he’d suspect it was a cruel jest, but Superintendent Castor had always been a decent man who wouldn’t taunt like that.
Luke still couldn’t quite hope. “Are you sure?”
Castor gave his lawyer a slip of paper, and Mr. Alphonse read quickly.
“You’re a free man,” his lawyer finally pronounced in amazement, but Luke still stared, unable to process this abrupt turnabout.
He could leave? Walk out the door and be a free man again? He swiveled to gape at Superintendent Castor, praying this wasn’t a dream.
“All I ask is that you leave out the back door,” Mr. Castor said. “Reporters are gathering on the front step, and it’s a bit of a mess out there. Your brother is waiting for you out back.”
Luke blinked faster. Tears threatened because Gray was here and this wasn’t a joke and in a few minutes this hideous nightmare might all be over. “Whatever you want,” he choked out.