“After digging around and finding the information on the trust fund, I ran a credit report on your former in-laws and got a hold of their banking account information.” Sliding the envelope over to the couple, he said, “It looks like the Johnstons are in some serious financial trouble. Their home has been mortgaged to the hilt, they have several outstanding loans, and they have barely a thousand dollars in their bank account.”
“You’re kidding,” Karen said incredulously, opening the envelope and shuffling through the documents. But it was no joke. Everything the detective said was right there in black and white. Disgusted, she shoved the papers to Dom.
Dom hissed an expletive under his breath, his dark eyes glancing over the information. He knew his instincts were on point the first time Karen told him Gregory’s parents came sniffing around.
“How in the world did they get into this mess?” Karen wondered aloud. Gregory’s parents had always put on the pretense that they were so financially stable.
“I’m glad you asked,” Bass said, his green eyes gleaming. “It seems Mr. Johnston invested a few hundred thousand dollars as start up money for his daughter’s business.”
Karen eyes nearly rolled in the back of her head. “Let me guess. She opened a flower shop,” Karen said, shaking her head in disbelief. Her former sister-in-law was as dumb as a doornail. And her parents weren’t too far behind her. Who in the world would open a tropical flower shop in Philadelphia? Who did she think she was going to sell them too? And to make matters worse, the chick was a plant killer! If she couldn’t keep a plant alive that could live for years with proper care, how in the world was she going to care for delicate flowers? Karen felt sorry for the poor flowers that met their demise at the hands of that simple woman. She didn’t have a green thumb. She had a killing thumb!
Dom’s eyebrow knitted together in a frown. “What the hell?”
Both the detective and Karen laughed. Hunching her shoulders, she said, “One day she was watching some wedding show on cable and got this crazy idea in her head she wanted to open a flower shop. She begged her parents for years for the money. I suppose they finally gave in.”
Bass leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. “The sad thing is, the business didn’t even survive a year. I can tell you now the Johnstons want to get their hands on that trust fund money.”
Letting out a deep breath, Karen agreed. “We figured as much. They can have the money, but they can’t have my babies.”
Taking her hand in his, Dom assured her. “Baby, they’re not getting our kids. They can’t take care of themselves, let alone two children. Any judge in his or her right mind will see what they’re really after.”
“Dom you’re absolutely right. Karen, although you’re a single mom, you’re financially stable, making you the better provider.”
Momentarily stunned, Karen stared at Bass. Laughing she exclaimed, “You investigated me? I feel so violated.”
Bass chuckled. “They don’t call me the best for nothing. When I do an investigation I dig into all sides.” Nodding his head at Dom, he winked. “Your man here is super financially solid. Once the adoption goes through, the Johnstons will be laughed right out of court. As Dom said, I can’t see a judge granting them custody.”
Turning to Dom, she teased, “Honey, don’t you feel violated?”
“Nah, your man is on the up and up. Ain’t nothing shady about me.”
Playfully rolling her eyes, she turned to Bass. “So where do we go from here?”
“I’ll send a report to your attorney and he can take it from there. My guess is he’ll present what’s in the report to the Johnstons’ attorney and suggest they go about their business and leave you alone.”
Karen smiled and said, “Sounds like a plan to me.” Her level of confidence was boosted a hundred fold. Gregory’s parents weren’t going to know what hit them when they learned the covers had been pulled off their dirty little ploy.
After meeting with Bass, Karen and Dom went their separate ways. Dom had plans to spend the rest of the afternoon with Ashley and Kyle. Karen headed down South Philly to meet up with Janet to go over final details for the wedding, which was just two short weeks away. Her future mother-in-law was such a big help. Janet had somehow worked a miracle by finding a wedding planner at the very last minute, which Karen appreciated since she had her hands full with work, the kids and rearranging her current living space to accommodate Dom’s things when he moved in.