The Object of His Protection - Brenda Jackson [56]
Charlene let out a disgusted sigh before saying, “Judge Bruce Hanlon.”
Drey instructed Charlene to meet him at home. When she got there he had arrived already with another man. He introduced her to Lavender.
“I need to alert the Braddocks,” Drey said. “They consider Hanlon a family friend.” Anger ripped through him when he remembered meeting with the judge last week. The man had pretended to be so concerned about how the investigation was going. Now Drey knew why.
“I’ve already contacted Washington,” Lavender added. “They’ve notified FBI headquarters here. It appears things are going down sooner than we expected. It all makes sense now. The judge is the ringleader who’s been working with a local crime family and taking kickbacks. Warrants are being prepared for everyone involved as we speak.”
“Good,” Drey said, pulling Charlene into his arms, not caring that Lavender was watching. He needed to hold her to make sure she was fine.
After a few moments she pulled back. “We need to go tell the Braddocks,” she said. “Weren’t you supposed to meet with them today?”
Drey nodded. “I did, earlier. They mentioned they would all be together at the family home this evening. They were joining their mother for dinner.” He glanced at his watch. “Come on. They should be arriving now.”
Drey and Charlene arrived in record time and were led by the housekeeper to the family room where the Braddocks and their significant others were sitting around talking. Everyone looked up, surprised to see them.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Drey said, “but there has been a major development that I think all of you need to be made aware of immediately.”
“What?” Malcolm said, coming to his feet, as the others gave Drey their undivided attention.
Drey glanced around. “Where’s Evelyn?” he asked.
“She’s taking a stroll in the flower garden,” Shondra said. “Drey, what is it? What have you found out?”
Drey sighed, thinking maybe it was for the best that Evelyn wasn’t present for this part. He knew how much she thought of Judge Hanlon as a friend. “We discovered the person responsible for both your father’s and Joe Dennis’s deaths.”
“Who?” they all asked simultaneously.
“Judge Hanlon.”
The room got completely quiet and then it was Shondra who spoke. “There must be some mistake, Drey. The judge is like a godfather to all of us. He and Dad were good friends. He would never hurt Dad.”
“He did, Shondra, and a warrant is already in the works for his arrest.”
Tyson was out of his seat in a flash. “Damn, I hope you’re wrong because what we didn’t say earlier is that Hanlon is here, with Mom in the flower garden. He’s joining us for dinner.”
Everyone turned toward the French doors, ready to run, when a smiling Evelyn appeared with the judge by her side. Her smile widened when she saw Drey. “Drey, how are you? Glad you could visit. You know Judge Hanlon, don’t you?”
The room got silent. Drey narrowed his gaze. “Yes, I know him.”
Drey followed the judge’s eyes. He was staring at Charlene, probably remembering her from the store at the mall earlier and was probably wondering why she was there. Drey decided to make introductions. “And this is a friend of mine, Charlene Anderson.”
Forever the gracious hostess, Evelyn smiled and said, “Welcome to our home, Charlene.”
“Thank you.”
With all the niceties out of the way, Drey turned his attention back to the judge. “This is a coincidence, Judge Hanlon. You’re just the person I want to see. I believe you have something that belongs to the coroner’s office.”
The man’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes when he said, “You must be mistaken.”
Drey’s smile was likewise. “I don’t think so. Charlene works for the coroner’s office and it just so happens that a key she saw on your key ring today is one that turned up missing from the coroner’s office.”
The judge chuckled. “That’s not possible.”
“It is,” Drey said, getting tired of this cat-and-mouse game the judge was playing. “It’s the same key that was taken out of Joe Dennis’s stomach during an autopsy.”
Judge Hanlon looked around to