Page 72 of Cause and Effect

“What?” He held out his arms. “How did it go with the school teacher?”

“Yeah, Mom. How did it go with Mrs. Knox?” Stella asked, walking into the kitchen.

“You know I can’t talk about that, sweetheart,” I said.

“We’re all showered and ready for our ice cream,” Sara spoke as she and Sophie entered the kitchen.

“Ice cream?” I asked.

“Julian said we can have some after our showers,” Sara said.

“He did, did he?” A smile crossed my lips as I reached inside the freezer and pulled out the carton of ice cream.

“We want Julian to scoop it, Mom,” Sophie said.

“Be my guest.” I handed Julian the ice cream scooper. “We’re going into the living room to discuss a case. As soon as you finish your ice cream, put your bowls and spoons in the dishwasher and get in bed.”

“We will,” all three girls said.

Parker, Julian, and I went to the living room.

“What’s this about a teacher?” Parker asked.

“Stella’s teacher was arrested today for having a sexual relationship with a high school student.”

“Was she having a sexual relationship with a student?” Julian asked.

“According to her, they only kissed. However, the parents are convinced it was more than that after the text messages they found on their son’s phone.”

Julian’s phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he glanced at it and then at us. “It’s the ADA.” He put it on speaker. “Julian Hamilton.”

“Julian, it’s Liza. Listen, I received something regarding your client today. You need to take a look at it.”

“What is it?”

“A video of your client with another woman in a park. Mrs. Bennett hired that woman to murder her husband. We were able to locate the other woman. She and your client are being arrested as we speak.”

“Who sent it?” Julian asked.

“We don’t know. It was sent anonymously. Our team tried to trace it, but we can’t.”

“Laurel and I are on our way to the station.” He ended the call.

“It worked,” Parker said. “Now, you know what you need to do. I’ll stay with the girls while you go.”

“Thanks, Parker.” I placed my hand on his arm. “I’ll go say goodnight to them first.”

“What is this?!”Julian shouted at Georgina.

“I—I?—”

“You what, Georgina?” he shouted. “You hired that woman to kill Derek? You lied to me!”

“You don’t understand, Julian.” She began to cry. “Derek couldn’t stay faithful. He had women all over the damn city. He was emotionally abusive and caused me a great deal of distress.”

“Then why didn’t you just divorce him?!” He slammed his hand on the table.

“Julian.” I placed my hand on his arm to calm him down.

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