AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But why?” asked Jessica.
“Revenge. Thompson threatened her child. There are few more powerful motivators than that one. My guess is she wanted to protect Sophie from him and make sure he could never blackmail or touch her daughter again. There also has to have been a part of her that wanted her own revenge for what he did to her.”
“The idea that he would involve his own daughter…”
“But remember, he refused to acknowledge Sophie. To him, she was just another pound of flesh from which he could profit.”
Jessica shook her head. “It had to have enraged her to realize that the system she had helped to set up all those years ago was going to be used to exploit her daughter. A part of her had to hate herself for ever having had anything to do with it or him.”
Thorn nodded. “We need a search warrant, and we need one now.”
Jessica glanced at her watch. “Judge Culpepper should still be down at the Catch.”
“Do you think he’ll give us one and keep it quiet?”
“I do. Even if he won’t sign the order, he won’t tip them off.”
They locked up Thompson’s office and made their way down to the dockside café. Although reluctant, Judge Culpepper agreed to look at the supporting documentation Thorn presented him and said he’d sign or decline before noon.
“I want to talk to Ginnie Thompson again,” said Jessica.
“Why?”
“I want to know what she knows about her husband having fathered Miriam’s child.”
They drove to Ginnie Thompson’s house, knocked on the door, and were shown in by a new housekeeper. When they were shown into the formal living room, Ginnie was resplendent in a chic, all-black jumpsuit.
“I decided you were right; Sudie will never leave you, so I hired my own. She started this morning. What can I help you with?”
“Were you aware that your husband is Sophie Gates’ natural father?” asked Jessica.
“No. You’re lying. Miriam and I are friends.”
“Yes, but before he married you, we believe he had an affair with Miriam, the result of which is Miriam’s daughter.”
“That’s a bit shocking, but I don’t see how it affects me.”
“Simple,” said Jessica, “if Gregory had named her and specifically excluded her in his will, she would have no claim on any part of his estate. If, however, he didn’t name her, she arguably has a claim for a good-sized chunk of that money.”
“Even dead, that bastard is trying to cheat me. I need to go speak with my lawyer. Stay as long as you like. You don’t have to worry about locking up, the new housekeeper will be here.”
They followed her out, watching her back her car down the driveway before turning onto the road.
“That was interesting,” he said.
“Wasn’t it just.”
“Is that true, what you said about the estate laws?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure. It used to be, but the law could have changed.”
“Ginnie seemed very concerned.”
“It’s a lot of money, but I keep thinking about the fact that no one has found his phone and she is in much better shape as his widow.”
He put his arm around her as they walked to the Range Rover. “I keep thinking the same thing. Let’s go see if we can’t hurry Judge Culpepper along in his thinking.”
CHAPTER 18
