Page 153 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“Thanks for all your help on this, by the way.”

“I’m here if you need me.” Rourke’s voice dropped into serious mode. “There is one other thing. I did some checking on Marcus years ago.”

Sabre turned fully toward him. “Something not in your report.”

“It didn’t amount to enough at the time, and it was after we stopped working on it together.”

“Tell me.”

Rourke folded his hands loosely. “I got interested in Marcus’ side of the family after Hannah disappeared. Seemed worth looking at everyone who had access. I discovered that Marcus’ mother had a child living with her for a while. She was roughly Hannah’s age.”

Sabre stared at him. “What?”

“She said the girl was her granddaughter, but beyond that she wouldn’t tell me anything. I never saw the kid.”

“So, it could’ve been Hannah, or a child Marcus had with another woman. Or even Rochelle’s daughter.”

“I’m pretty certain she wasn’t Rochelle’s, although I suppose that’s possible. If Rochelle had her at a real young age, Grandma could’ve raised her.”

“So, you think it might’ve been Hannah?”

“It’s possible.” He shook his head. “The grandmother moved soon after I questioned her, and I lost the trail.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

Rourke gave a helpless shrug. “Because I couldn’t prove enough to justify dragging everybody sideways. Then the grandmother disappeared right after I questioned her, and I got overloaded with other work.”

Sabre considered that. It was frustrating that he didn’t follow through, but it sounded like a long shot, and she knew he had other work to do. She just wished he had told JP sooner.

“Where was this?”

“East County.” He paused. “JP may want to take another look now that more pieces are surfacing.”

“I’ll get him right on it.”

The bailiff stepped into the hall again. “The Evans’ matter.”

Sabre stood, gathering her files. “That’s my case.”

Rourke stood too. “You still get that look,” he said. “The one where you’re already solving things before everybody else realizes there’s a problem.”

Sabre smiled. “That usually means I’m about to walk into a disaster.”

As she started toward the courtroom, he added casually, “Tell JP not to dismiss Marcus too fast. Parents surprise you. And, Sabre, if you change your mind about sharing a meal with me, dinner works too. I’m a phone call away.”

As the doors closed behind her, she felt surprised by his dinner invitation. Maybe JP was right, Rourke was more interested in her than the case. But either way, he had been helpful.

Chapter 57

Monday late morning

Lunch hour was approaching, and Sabre was still in Department 1 arguing over visitation schedules and placement objections while parents shifted anxiously behind counsel tables.

When the judge finally took recess, Sabre stepped into the hall outside the courtroom. Ethan Vale was leaning against the wall reviewing notes.

“I want to see Bay today,” Sabre said quietly. She told him what she had recently learned. “I think she’s close to breaking. Are you able to get away?”

Vale gave a short look toward the department. “Not unless Judge Hammouri suddenly develops compassion.”