Page 97 of To Die For

Saxby said, “Betsy, the judge wants to get an understanding of you and your uncle’s relationship, whether your living with him is the right thing foryou, which is the only thing that matters.”

“But what if I just say that it is? That that’s what I want?”

Saxby turned around in the seat and looked at her. “Then that will carry great weight with the judge. But since you’re a minor, it will not be definitive.”

“What does that mean?” Odom asked sharply.

“It means the judge can consider other things.”

“Like my uncle being a criminal?” she said heatedly.

“Anallegedcriminal,” corrected Saxby. “But yes, she can consider that. Family court judges have great latitude in what they can take into account when placing minors with adults.”

A clearly frustrated Odom blurted out, “But what if she says Ican’tlive with my uncle? What happens to me then? I can’t just stay in a crummy hotel with you until I’m eighteen, can I?”

“No, you can’t,” conceded Saxby.

“So, what then?”

“The judge can appoint another guardian.”

“Who? I don’t have any other relatives that I know of.”

Saxby said, “Whoever they appoint might only be temporary.”

“And then what?” demanded Odom, drilling her with an angry stare. “I go to somebody else? And then another stranger and then another?”

Saxby said, “I don’t know. I just don’t know, Betsy.”

Mirroring what she had once told Devine, Odom snapped, “You don’t know much.”

They drove on in silence.

CHAPTER

45

THE SMALL SPARTAN COURTROOM HELDonly a few people. Glass and his attorney were seated at one counsel table. A sullen-faced man in a light brown suit was seated at the other. Directly behind him in the front pew was a woman in her forties dressed in a dark pantsuit. The pair were conversing in low voices.

Saxby went over to join them and the three started talking in whispers. She pulled out the legal papers Glass’s attorney had served her with and the other woman glanced over them.

Devine, Walker, and Odom were seated in the front row.

Devine watched as Glass gazed around the room. He looked refreshed and relaxed. And Devine couldn’t understand why, unless the man already knew what was going to happen today.

And he might.

Saxby rejoined them, looking, Devine thought, a bit shell-shocked. When he asked her what was wrong, she waved him off. “Later,” she said irritably.

The bailiff told them all to stand, and Judge Judith Mehan appeared from behind the bench and took her seat. She was in her fifties with graying hair cut short, and her black robe hung loosely over her. A court reporter sat off to the side, her fingers hovering over her stenographic machine.

Mehan said, “Let’s get to it. I have a heavy docket today.” She shuffled some papers in front of her. “Are Mr. Daniel Glass and Miss Betsy Odom in the courtroom?”

Glass’s counsel and the sullen-faced man, who identified himselfas the government lawyer representing Odom’s interests, reported that their clients were present.

Mehan said, “I’ve looked over the financial records of Mr. Glass. He clearly has the resources to provide for his niece. However, I understand that there is a pending criminal case against him? I obviously would like to hear more details about that.”

The woman in the dark pantsuit rose and said, “Your Honor, my name is Nancy Fine and I’m a United States Attorney. I represent both the Department of Justice and the FBI in this matter and have material knowledge of the RICO case that has been filed against Mr. Glass.”

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