The Missing Heir(104)

                The word relationship stopped Cole in his tracks. He almost rose to the bait, but he checked himself just in time. “Roth Calvin needs to worry about the facts, not about anything I have to say.”

                “What is your relationship with Amber Welsley?”

                “Ms. Welsley is the guardian of my half brother.”

                “For the moment.”

                Cole began walking again.

                “One more question, Mr. Henderson.”

                “I have to get back to court.”

                “But—”

                Cole lengthened his stride.

                The man hustled to catch up. “Do you agree that Roth Calvin was wrong to put profit before passengers’ lives?”

                Cole was tempted to answer that one, but he held his tongue and kept going. He was saving his arguments for the judge. The reporter finally gave up.

                Luca was on the steps of the courthouse as Cole approached. He quickly spotted Cole and came forward to meet him.

                “You okay?” he asked, glancing around as if gauging their distance from possible eavesdroppers.

                “Not really.”

                Luca nodded his understanding. “Destiny was looking for you.”

                “I needed some air.”

                “Yeah.”

                Their conversation ended, but Cole’s mind was clicking its way through information and options.

                “Have you given any thought to what happens after?” he asked Luca.

                “If you lose?”

                “If I win.”

                Luca cocked his head. “No. And honestly, I don’t think that’s what you need to worry about right now.”

                “Maybe not,” Cole allowed. They were a very long way from winning. But Kevin Kent had gotten him thinking.

                “You’re the underdog,” said Luca.

                Cole blew out a breath, telling himself to focus. “What did Destiny want?”

                “To talk strategy.”

                “Are we changing it?” Cole didn’t think that was a bad idea.

                They had hoped Cole’s blood connection to Zachary would be their trump card, since the courts overwhelmingly sided with family. But Roth’s attack on Cole’s motivations and character had clearly turned the tide against them.

                “She wants to demonstrate that Roth’s sole interest in Zachary is his stake in Coast Eagle.”

                “So far, he’s the one doing that to me.”

                “He’s never spent any time with Zachary.”

                “Neither had I until last week.” Cole knew he was sounding pessimistic. But he was feeling pessimistic.