Page 96 of To Die For

“Qué será, será,” Glass said dismissively. “So moving forward, I really need to know that if I am granted guardianship, the FBI will release Betsy into my custody. Otherwise, what’s the point of the hearing if the judge decides in my favor? I still won’t have Betsy.”

“As I said, we’ll cross that bridgeifwe come to it.”

Glass shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.” Glass clicked his fingers and a dark-suited man came into the room. He was tall and cadaverous with thinning hair and a pointy chin. His eyes were light gray, his mouth shaped into a smirk. He walked over and handed a blue-backed packet of documents to Saxby. He said, “I’m one of Mr. Glass’s attorneys. The FBI is hereby served.” He paused and grinned. “Always wanted to say that.”

Saxby didn’t bother to look at the papers. “Served with what exactly? From the smell of it, maybe… horseshit?”

Odom snorted at that, and Walker raised a hand to her face to hide the smile.

The cadaver said stiffly, “It’s a petition to show cause regarding the FBI holding Betsy Odom pretty much hostage. Regardless of whether Mr. Glass is appointed guardian or not, as her sole remaining blood relative, he has a vested interest in, and standing to insist, that the FBI offer clear and convincing evidence as to why Miss Odom is subject to continued physical detainment.”

“I’ll be sure to alert DOJ,” said Saxby casually, though Devine could tell the woman had been caught off guard by this. They all had.

“Be sure you do,” said the lawyer. “I doubt the Justice Department wants a default judgment entered against them. With egg on face, jobs and federal careers tumble,” he added snidely.

“Well, at least onourside, they don’t end up in the river with chains and cement blocks for screwing up,” Saxby countered. “So,make sureyoudon’t mess up, and give your boss a reason totumbleyour career. Andyou.”

The lawyer’s smirk vanished, he gave his boss a tremulous glance, and then he quietly removed himself from the room.

Devine looked at Glass. “So this was the reason for the meeting? To serve papers and talk tough?”

“That and I wanted to see my niece again. And to assure her and you that I have her best interests at heart. And that I will do everything in my power to keep her happy, healthy, and safe.”

Odom glanced up at this and locked gazes with her uncle.

To Devine, the girl seemed supremely confused, and it was no wonder. He was, too.

“Is there anything else?” asked Saxby. “Or are we done here?”

“Unless Betsy has something to say?” said Glass.

They all looked at her.

Devine wondered if she was going to bring up her parents being cremated at Glass’s instruction, and ask the other questions she had told them she had. But Odom merely shook her head and gazed down at her shoes. They left Glass sitting there.

Back in the car Saxby said, “Well, I have to hand it to the guy, that was slickly done.”

“You’ll need to provide the legal papers to the DOJ,” said Walker.

“Really? And here I was going to use them to light my cigarettes.”

An embarrassed Walker said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

Devine barely listened to this exchange. He was focusing on Odom, who sat next to him in the rear seat. He had never seen her this withdrawn.

He nudged her arm. “You okay?”

She looked over at him. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“You don’t seem it. And you didn’t ask your uncle any of your questions.”

Walker and Saxby stopped talking and glanced in the rearview mirror at them.

“I know. I just… didn’t.” She paused. “Do… do I really have to get up and talk in court?”

“Well, if the judge has some questions for you to answer,” replied Devine.

“If I want to live with my uncle, you mean?”

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