Kent thought he had to plan funerals for everyone. He was surprised when five military men showed up and took over everything. They oversaw all three funerals. The one man seemed familiar, but Kent couldn't recall where he had seen him.
Lester kept his eye on Kent. He left Sadie in Trenton with Nicki and was protected by her bodyguards. Nicki took a few days off work to stay with Sadie at Rangeman. It was vital to keep her wealthy daughter safe while Lester handled the funerals in Miami.
Lawrence Cunningham caught Lester's eye and nodded. The funds for the funerals would come out of the estate. It got arranged before Lawrence flew to Trenton to handle the DNA proof. He received a copy of the documents from Lester, who had already conducted the tests. However, Lawrence still wanted an independent check. It didn't take long to get what he needed. Sadie Santos was the long-lost granddaughter of Samantha Huntington. Lawrence, Lester and Hector set up the account to hide Sadie's money.
It was a bittersweet result for Lawrence upon learning what happened to the child. He was frustrated with his clients for their despicable actions. Lawrence's partners arrived at Samantha Buxom-Huntington's funeral. Tim and Jonah watched how Kent interacted with the guests offering their condolences. Kent seemed to be displaying a slight smirk of satisfaction with underlying rage that settled in the lines on his face.
"Does he look happy to you?" Tim asked. He jutted his chin toward Kent.
"His eyes look murderous," Jonah replied. Jonah knew Kent better than the others.
"Kent knows he got stricken from the wills. I'm surprised he appeared," Tim said.
"He has to keep up the appearances. Watch him assess the military men," Lawrence observed. "He keeps staring at the tall blond. I wonder if he recognized his late daughter-in-law's friend."
"Ah. You found the child," Jonah said.
Nodding, Lawrence replied, "Confirmed with DNA proof. The child is well protected from the likes of the Huntingtons."
"What happened to the engineering firm?" Tim asked, referring to Harvey Buxom's business.
"Do you see the man talking to the blond?" Lawrence asked, waiting for the men to acknowledge the soldier. "He's running everything until the rightful owner can take the reins."
Sensing the men talking about him, Bones approached them. "The name is Bones," he said, shaking their hands. "I'm running the Buxom engineering firm. Do you know Huntington?"
"Unfortunately," Jonah replied. "Watch your back with him. I wouldn't be surprised if he attempts to take money from the business."
"You gave me a brilliant idea," Bones said, catching the eye of his friend, Mac.
"What's up?" Mac asked.
"Tenor gave me an idea. You work with electronic fraud and embezzlement, right?"
"I've been keeping an eye on Huntington," Mac confessed. "He's been careful lately. I'd love the opportunity to stick the crimes to him."
Patrick stood among the guests at the funeral. He dyed his hair black and wore brown contacts. His full beard, also dyed black, hid the contours of his face. Even his father didn't recognize him. Patrick listened as his father talked to an employee at the accounting firm. It seemed his father got cut from the will. Judging from the conversation, the three estates went to a single person. Patrick hoped to get a name, but Kent didn't know.
It suddenly dawned on Patrick that his daughter, Sandra, had inherited everything. Patrick was counting on siphoning the money from his father's accounts.
Kent thought he was wise to move the money to an offshore account. He didn't know Patrick watched everything from afar. Kent didn't know that Patrick stole every cent when his back was turned. It was a rookie mistake not to keep a close eye on your offshore accounts. Patrick heard the lawyers discussing a sting operation with the FBI. "This is going to be fun," Patrick mumbled.
Patrick left the funeral to watch his father's home office. He didn't have to wait long. Kent fell for the bait. He no sooner stole one hundred grand from the engineering firm before the FBI broke down his door to arrest him. Patrick refused to touch that money with a ten-foot pole. The funds disappeared from his father's account within fifteen minutes. Patrick laughed and shut down the video links to his father's home. "The greedy bastard got caught," Patrick said.
"What the fuck?" Kent screamed as the FBI agents stormed his house. It technically wasn't his property. The house belonged to Sadie. Harvey Buxom purchased it for his daughter when she married Kent. He didn't want Samantha to worry about mortgage payments.
"You are under arrest for embezzlement," Mac said, pulling Kent from his office chair.
"I was collecting my fees," Kent argued, grabbing the gun he kept at his back. Kent was mad he took the bait. He had the nuzzle pressed against Mac's temple.
"Should I take the shot?" Mac heard the sniper, Ram, ask. Ram was in the tree outside the home office. He travelled to Miami with Lester, Sybo and Chas. Bones rounded off the team at Mac's request.
"Lower your weapon," Hunter Jansen demanded. He was Mac's partner in the FBI.
"I will when I'm dead," Kent said, sounding braver than he felt.
"Ram," Mac ordered. Glass broke a second before the bullet entered the back of Kent's head, exiting from his forehead, splattering blood and brain matter onto the laptop. He fell forward, landing on his desk. His weapon dropped to the floor. Mac grabbed it and checked the chamber and magazine. "Kent had one bullet."
"Have you secured his accounts?" Lester asked.
"No need. The accounts are all empty," Mac replied. "Hunter, grab the laptop. We can get Stuart to check the digital trail for transfers. Hopefully, we get the person responsible for stealing the money."
"I can give you a name," Lester offered. Mac raised a brow as he contacted the FBI forensics team. "Patrick Huntington."
"Why do you think he's responsible?" Mac asked.
"He got his father to steal the money from Lydia Cottingham," Lester replied. "Before you ask how I know, the only person with access to Lydia's accounts was Kent Huntington. Lydia kept her trust fund money separate from the joint account with her husband, Patrick Huntington. Patrick sold his daughter to a couple in an illegal adoption scheme. I have proof back home in Trenton." Lester removed a business card from his wallet. "Give me a call when you need to see the files."
"Looks like our case grew," Hunter said.
"No shit," Mac replied.
~~~~~
Nine weeks later
Stephanie was visiting Jeanne Ellen when everything happened. Jeanne Ellen stood to use the washroom, and a gush of fluid soaked her feet. She doubled over, causing Stephanie to hit the panic button on her watch. "I can't be in labour," Jeanne cried, despite knowing she was in labour.
"Why not? Suki said you'd have the babies any day," Stephanie replied. "You carried my babies for thirty-four weeks. Suki promised their lungs would be developed enough to sustain the birth."
Jeanne Ellen wanted to change her pants, but Stephanie wouldn't let her. Suki made them promise to get to the hospital the second Jeanne went into labour. The probability of having a c-section to deliver the triplets was high. Jeanne Ellen hoped to give birth vaginally so she could get pregnant with her second child in three months. It was her goal.
Stephanie couldn't wait to meet her children. Her Mom and Dad returned the previous night. They would meet Stephanie and Carlos at the hospital to see their grandchildren. Valerie promptly arrived to watch Mica until Melody finished her shift.
Hector, Ram and Jordan were accompanying Jeanne Ellen to the hospital with Stephanie and Carlos. Marty and Binkie will pick up Sadie, Angie and Mary Alice from school. Roger and Sybo got assigned as Sadie's bodyguards. Wherever Sadie went, the men followed.
Jeanne Ellen groaned when a contraction hit. Stephanie quietly talked to Jeanne Ellen, coaxing her to breathe. "My hospital bag," Jeanne Ellen said after catching her breath.
"It's in the car," Stephanie replied. "We're taking the roomy Porsche Cayenne."
"Not your brand new car, Steph. I'll ruin the seats," Jeanne complained.
"Sweetie, I don't care about my car. We can toss a blanket or towels on the seat if you're that worried," Stephanie countered. Stephanie cursed the slow elevator. Standing wasn't comfortable for Jeanne, who wanted to sit on the elevator floor. "Just one more floor," Stephanie said. "Excellent job, Jeanne. I'm proud of you."
The corner of Jeanne Ellen's lip curved into a smile when another contraction hit. Stephanie quickly hit the button on her watch to track the time between contractions. She didn't want to panic. But they had to get Jeanne Ellen to the hospital fast.
"Hello," Tito answered when Stephanie called.
"Hey, it's Steph. Are you close to Rangeman?"
"I'm around the corner. Why?" Tito asked.
"Get your Kojak light ready. We're going to need an escort. Jeanne Ellen's contractions are two minutes apart, lasting almost a minute. I don't want her giving birth on the side of the road," Stephanie explained. Hearing Stephanie's comment, Carlos contacted St. Frances Hospital, while Bobby called Suki. They would have the nurses prepared when they arrived.
Carlos jumped into Stephanie's Cayenne and started it. Stephanie and Jordan helped Jeanne Ellen into the backseat. Bobby sat in the front, and Ram got into the third row. "Go," Stephanie yelled. "Jeanne, take a deep breath through your nose. Hold it for a second and slowly release it. Now take six quick breaths. That's it," Stephanie calmly said. She was anything but calm. Her babies were in a rush to be born.
Jordan got Jeanne Ellen to lie down with her head in his lap. He gently ran his fingers through her hair to calm her anxiety. Jeanne stared into Jordan's eyes as she followed Stephanie's instructions to breathe through the contractions. "Shit," Stephanie sighed. "I don't want to do this, but I have no choice. Carlos, keep driving. Bobby, tell them a baby is on the way. I have to help Jeanne."
With great efficient care, Stephanie tugged Jeanne Ellen's pants down. Stephanie got Jordan to hold Jeanne's legs apart as she helped Baby A. Her son was too impatient to wait until they arrived at the hospital. It was not in the plans to deliver her first child, but it was necessary. Ram grabbed a towel from the bag, then passed it to Stephanie. "Wrap him in this," Ram said. Stephanie placed the towel across Jordan's arms and told him to hang onto the ends. Jordan followed the instructions while Stephanie gently put her son on the towel. She wrapped him tightly as instructed with Mica, then laid him on Jeanne's chest.
"Jeanne, I need you to hold my son. Okay?" Stephanie asked. A tear dripped down Stephanie's cheek. She used her shoulder to wipe it off. Ram leaned over the back of the seat to wipe Stephanie's eyes with a tissue. He gave Stephanie some wet wipes to clean her hands.
Carlos stopped at the emergency entrance. Bobby was on the phone with Suki, explaining that Baby A was born in the car. Suki rushed through the doors to help get Jeanne Ellen on a bed. They used the blanket Stephanie thoughtfully placed beneath Jeanne to move her safely to the bed. Carlos caught Stephanie before she fell to the ground from the adrenaline crash.
"I never want to do that again. But I'm proud to have delivered our first son. Are we calling him Ricardo?" Stephanie asked. Carlos nodded. They had decided to forgo the tradition of naming their firstborn son after Carlos and split the name between the two boys.
"Baby B is ready," Suki hollered. They rushed into a trauma room, unable to get to the delivery room on the second floor. Suki knew the room got stocked with the equipment required to perform a crash c-section. She prayed it wouldn't be necessary. The triplets were in the birthing position at the examination the previous day. Suki hoped they remained in position as each baby was born.
Janice saw the state of Stephanie's clothes before Stephanie disappeared into the trauma room. It took less than a second for Janice to approach Tito and Hector, who were in the waiting room. "Do you think Stephanie would want to shower and change? She can use the shower in the staff room," Janice offered.
Hector sent Stephanie a text message. Stephanie read it and asked, "Do I have enough time to clean up and change?"
"Yes," Suki replied. "We are waiting on the next contraction, which should be in a minute. You have between six and ten minutes to watch the birth."
"Thanks," Stephanie said. She rushed from the room and waved to Janice. The women went into the staff room for Stephanie to quickly shower. It was the quickest shower of Stephanie's life, but she didn't want to miss the birth of her other children. Janice gave Stephanie scrubs to wear. "I have clothes in my bag."
"Wear these for now. Then you can change after the babies are born. That way, if your clothes get dirty, you have clean ones waiting for you," Janice replied.
"I appreciate your help. I've got to get back to my babies. I'll see you later, okay?" Stephanie promised.
"I'm looking forward to meeting them," Janice said.
Stephanie slipped back into the room as Jeanne Ellen gave birth to Baby B. Suki got Carlos to cut the umbilical cord, then passed the baby to the nurse. She quickly wrapped the baby in a blanket, then placed it on Jeanne Ellen's chest. "Not me," Jeanne said. "Stephanie's the biological mother. I'm the surrogate." The nurse shrugged, then placed the boy in Stephanie's arms.
"Hello, Max," Stephanie whispered. "I met your brother Ricky. Now we're waiting on your sister." Jordan was holding Jeanne Ellen's hand. Stephanie passed Max to the nurse, who placed him beside Ricky in the warming bed.
Nearly fifteen minutes later, Alejandra entered the world with a scream. Her brothers were quiet, but not her. Carlos cried when he saw the perfect little girl. It reminded him of Julie. Understanding her husband, Stephanie approached Carlos. "I hope you don't mind that I called Rachel. She agreed to let Julie visit once we get settled with the triplets," Stephanie quietly said.
Suki placed the baby in the blanket held by the nurse, who swaddled her, then gave her to the proud papa, Carlos. "Babe," Carlos whispered. Stephanie knew Carlos appreciated that she reached out to Rachel. Carlos may not have been an active part of Julie's life, but she deserved to know her half-siblings.
The nurses took the triplets from the room to weigh and measure them. Stephanie and Carlos followed at Jeanne Ellen's insistence. Jeanne Ellen and Jordan watched the happy new family exit the room.