Temptation - Brenda Jackson [59]
“The flowers are beautiful, Zeke, and the candy was delicious. If I gain any weight it will be your fault.”
He smiled briefly and then he said in a serious tone, “We wrapped things up today, Sheila. Diane Worth confessed and implicated Miguel Rivera in the process. He then told her how things went down and how in the end the authorities had booked both Worth and Rivera. Since Worth worked with the authorities, she would get a lighter sentence, and Rivera was booked for the murder of Michael Price.
“That is so sad, but at least we know what happened and why Brad had a genetic link to Sunnie,” she said softly.
“Yes, and Brad is stepping up to the plate to become Sunnie’s legal guardian. He’s going to do right by her. Already his attorneys have filed custody papers and there is no doubt in my mind he will get it. That’s another thing Worth agreed to do to get a lighter sentence. She will give up full rights to Sunnie. She didn’t deserve her anyway. She deliberately got pregnant to use her baby to get money.”
Zeke paused and then added, “She claims she didn’t know of Rivera’s plans to kill Michael until it was too late.”
“I guess that means I need to begin packing up Sunnie’s stuff. He’ll come and get her any day,” Sheila said somberly.
“According to Brad, Social Services told him the exchange needs to take place at the end of the week. I’ll be back by then. I won’t let you be alone.”
He thought he heard her sniffing before she said, “Thanks, Zeke. It would mean a lot to me if you were here.”
They talked for a little while longer before saying good-night and hanging up the phone. Zeke could tell Sheila was sad at the thought of having to give up Sunnie and wished he was there right now to hold her in his arms, make love to her and assure her everything would be all right. They would have babies of their own one day. All the babies she could ever want, and that was a promise he intended to make to her when he saw her again.
A couple of days later, after putting Sunnie down after her breakfast feeding, Sheila’s phone rang. “Hello?”
“Sheila, this is Lois. Are you okay?”
Sheila almost dropped the phone. The last time her sister called her was to cancel her visit to see her and her family. “Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”
“You were mentioned on the national news again. The Denver police and some hotshot private investigator solved this murder case about a drug lord. According to the news, he’d been using women to seduce rich men, get pregnant by them and then use the resulting babies as leverage for extortion. I understand such a thing happened in Royal and you are the one taking care of the abandoned baby while the case was being solved.”
Sheila released a disappointed sigh. Ever since the story had broken, several members of the media had contacted her for a story and she’d refused to give them one. Why did her sister only want to connect with her when she appeared in the news or something? “Yes, that’s true.”
“That’s wonderful. Well, Ted was wondering if perhaps you could get in touch with the private investigator who helped to solve the case.”
“Why?”
“To have him on his television talk show, of course. Ted’s ratings have been down recently and he thinks the man’s appearance will boost them back up.”
Sheila shook her head. Not surprising that Lois wanted something of her. Why couldn’t she call just because?
“So, do you have a way to help Ted get in touch with his guy?” Lois asked, interrupting Sheila’s thoughts.
“Yes, in fact I know him very well. But if you or Ted want to contact him you need to do it without my help,” she said. “I’m your sister and the only time you seem to remember that is when you need a favor. That’s not the kind of relationship I want with you, Lois, and if that’s the only kind you’re willing to give then I’m going to pass. Goodbye.”
She hung up the phone and wasn’t surprised when Lois didn’t call back. And she wasn’t surprised when she received a call an hour later