Free Hidden Hearts by Ann Roberts

Dad!”
    “That’s such B.S.!” he shouted back and they were off.
    Two minutes later, after she and Alicia had practically crawled onto the conference table to separate them, both had returned to their respective chairs.
    Kraft looked up, nonplussed. “If that happens again, I will leave and make a decision without input from either of you. Continue, Miss Carlson,” he directed.
    “Miss Morgan paid the bills,” she said firmly, “and she visited regularly, which is documented in the visitors’ logs, and yes, she used some of the funds to ease her suffering.”
    “Some of the funds?” Dusty exclaimed. “You call twenty thousand dollars on clothes, makeup and shoes some of the funds?”
    She grabbed Hailey’s arm before she could react and her client slumped back in the plush leather chair. She had said nearly the same thing to her when she’d reviewed her finances but that was her right as the attorney.
    “Mr. Morgan has appeared at the eleventh hour to claim half of an estate that doesn’t belong to him. We agree that as the son, he is entitled to an inheritance; however, it should only be a fourth, not half.”
    “So seven hundred fifty thousand instead of one and a half million,” Kraft summarized, writing in his notes. “Okay, your turn Miss Dennis.”
    Alicia folded her hands on the table. “We believe he should have half. Yes, Mr. Morgan made some decisions he regrets regarding his relationship with his father, but…” She paused and stared sympathetically at Hailey. “So did Miss Morgan. She misused his money, which in our opinion, is just as neglectful as absence. Thus, both of them have committed transgressions that are unfortunate and irreversible, so let’s stop fighting and call it even.”
    He scribbled in his notes and opened a file. She glanced at Alicia and her unreadable expression. She’d never watched her work and only knew she was regarded as a solid attorney. She’d stated her case plainly while CC didn’t feel she’d argued the facts well. It was always hard to justify a split between siblings that wasn’t equal unless one child truly deserved to be lionized and the other demonized.
    Such was not the case with Hailey and Dusty Morgan. Both were spoiled children, but if she lost it was significant to H and B since they were guaranteed twenty percent of Hailey’s cut.
    “Is that all, Ms. Dennis?” he asked.
    She frowned. “Actually, no. I believe there is one more matter that the court needs to consider.” She pulled a file from her briefcase and three eight-by-ten photos dramatically spilled onto the conference table. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “How clumsy of me.”
    Hailey gasped and CC knew they were in trouble. Before Alicia could scoop up the photos, CC caught a glimpse of three shadowy figures standing outside a building with a lighted sign that read Popperz.
    “We need to talk,” Hailey whispered. “Now.”
    CC smiled at the Sweatinator. “Could we have a few minutes with our client before Ms. Dennis continues?”
    Kraft looked at Alicia, as if gaining her approval. “By all means,” she said confidently with a blithe smile.
    CC knew that expression. She’d seen it every time Alicia proved her wrong during their relationship.
    Blanca joined them in her office. “What’s going on, Hailey?”
    She looked troubled and her gaze couldn’t find a focus. “I’ve struggled with a little drug problem. I’ve got it under control now, but I’m pretty sure those pictures show me making a deal.”
    “Shit,” Blanca hissed. She turned to CC. “You didn’t know about this?”
    “No, I—”
    “I’m taking over,” Blanca said heading out the door.
    They returned to their seats and Alicia still wore her pleasant smile. 
    The Sweatinator looked at her. “Continue.”
    She handed him the photos. “These photos show Hailey Morgan outside Popperz, a bar known by local PD as a drug haven. You can see Miss Morgan in the presence of two men who are known