Sealed with a Kiss

Eight Months Later"I WANT MY FATHER out of his jail cell now," Molly demanded of the public defender assigned to her father's case.Bill Finkel, Esq. rummaged through the papers in front of him, searching for heaven knew what. Each time she asked the man a question, he responded by first sifting through his disorganized folders and briefcase. He finally glanced up at Molly. "It's a murder case."She cocked her head to one side. "And?"He looked down and shuffled some more papers. Molly was getting tired of looking at the top of his bald head. "I may not specialize in criminal law, but even I know that since the general is a decorated soldier and an honorably discharged war hero, there's no reason you can't get him released on his own recognizance or a minimal amount of bail." Her years in real estate law felt like a waste right about now.Bill cleared his throat. "It may not be that easy. Your father is accused of murdering his friend and business partner. He had a key to the office where the body was found, and motive since he discovered Paul Markham had been embezzling money from their real estate business." The public defender read word for word from the paper in front of him.Weren't good lawyers supposed to think fast on their feet? "It's all circumstantial. Ask the judge to balance the weight of the evidence against my father's reputation in the community, his ties to his family and business, not to mention his service to this country!" Molly slammed her hand against the old metal table in frustration. "Speaking of my father, where is he? They were supposed to bring him to this meeting twenty minutes ago.""Ah, I'll go see what's holding him up." Bill scrambled to his feet and practically ran out the door in an effort to get away from Molly and her questions.She didn't care if she scared him silly or if he wet his pants. He was all her father could afford after discovering his partner's embezzlement, which meant unless Molly had a better idea, that bumbling excuse for a lawyer held her father's life in his hands.From the moment Molly had shown up on the general's doorstep, he'd accepted her into his heart and made her a part of his close-knit family. She might not feel as if she was completely a part of the family yet but she couldn't deny how badly she wanted to be. She'd also grown to love the man and she intended to see to it that he lived his life outside prison walls.Another ten minutes passed before Bill walked back into the room. "They said they're shorthanded and can't bring him down right now."And he'd stood for that? Molly had had it. She needed a lawyer who would break down walls to get her father free. She needed Daniel Hunter. Without pausing to let herself think about what that would entail, she slung her bag over one shoulder and made a beeline for the exit."Where are you going?" Bill asked, running after her. "We have strategy to discuss. The guards said he'd be here within the hour."Molly glanced over her shoulder. "I'm going to do what I should have done the minute I got the call that my father was arrested," she said to the dim-witted attorney. "Tell Dad I'll be back to see him tomorrow, but not to worry. I have a plan."Bill blanched, his white, pasty skin turning even paler. "Aren't you going to share it with me? I'm his lawyer."Not for much longer, Molly thought. To Bill, she said, "It's on a need-to-know basis and right now,Phillips, Carly is the author of 'Sealed with a Kiss', published 2007 under ISBN 9780373772391 and ISBN 0373772394.