Chapter 14

Besides, he had something else he'd been meaning to do. He picked up his desk phone and dialed.

A familiar female voice answered. "Paige Alexander, Federal Public Defender's Office."

"Hey, Paige. It's Hez Webster."

"Hez? I haven't heard from you in years! Are you still with the DA's office? Or did you finally decide to join the Light Side?"

He laughed again. "That's actually what I'm calling about—everyone deserving a defense, that is. Not you committing malpractice to get me behind bars. I'm taking a leave of absence from my firm and teaching at Tupelo Grove. I'd like to do some pro bono work while I'm here and maybe involve a couple of my students. Does the PD ever refer out cases?"

He was used to—and usually appreciated—Paige's bluntness. "Yep. I haven't had a drink for almost two years and I'm in AA."

"They couldn't find anything?" Hez echoed. "No drugs?"

"None. They even brought out a dog after they towed his boat to shore. Nada. The only thing in the boat was a fishing pole."

That didn't add up. "So why is this a drug case, let alone a felony case?"

"Seems thin."

Hez didn't hesitate. "Yes."

***

A message from Nora pinged back almost immediately. Got you covered, girlfriend. Already at a back table with their first batch of spiced cider in hand.

Savannah collapsed onto the chair and reached for the comfort of the hot drink. "My life is a mess."

"Is it about Abernathy's murder? Augusta is a good and fair detective, so try not to worry."

Savannah relaxed a little. "That's part of it, but not all. Hez showed up out of the blue and asked for another chance."

Nora's brown eyes went wide behind her glasses. "I—I don't know what to say. How do you feel about it?"

"There are other attorneys."

Savannah appreciated her friend's cautious tone. "I know, but Hez is the best."

"Oh please, this is me you're talking to. You've heard me blather on about Nathan's death ad nauseam over the past three years. I talk about how much I loved him and how much I miss him. I've told you about the affair he had when he was deployed to Japan and how God reminded me of my own sin when he came crawling back. We've discussed how hard it was to rebuild our marriage and how excited he was when Preston was born. But you're as silent as a fence post about your relationship with Hez. You've kept back every detail except that he drank too much and took Vicodin after Ella's death."

"It's hard to talk about it."

"Do you still blame him for Ella's death?"

"But you found her. You paid attention. Wasn't he supposed to be watching her?"

"Isn't that kind of normal for an attorney?"

"Did you talk to him about Ella? It might have been helpful to go to the cemetery together."

"Did you call him? Text him?"

"Well, no."

"Maybe he was hurt he didn't hear from you."

"I never thought about calling him."

"Do you want to try again with Hez?"

"The heart wants what the heart wants. Has Hez changed?"

"So talk. You are so good at your job and can take charge of any situation except this one."

"I get it, but you can't heal yourself without talking to him. It's time, Savannah. Past time."

Savannah bit her lip and held Nora's gaze. "I realized the other day that I blame God more than Hez. He could have prevented Ella's death, but he didn't. I don't know how to get past that."

"I've had to deal with that, too, Savannah. I think every parent who has lost a child feels that."

"How did you get past it?"

Nora got a text and read it. "I have to go in to work. I'm sorry. Will you be okay?"

Nora slung her bag over her shoulder. "I'll call you later."

Savannah's phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. Maybe he had new information. "Hey, Beckett."

"You doing okay, Savannah? I wanted to see how your visit to Ella's grave went. I hope you weren't alone."

How sweet that he'd remembered it was the anniversary of Ella's death. "I survived."

"I can be there in thirty minutes."

The lilt to his voice touched her, and she smiled. "I'll meet you on the porch."