Hank pulled his smartphone from his vest pocket and hit the top speed-dial button, placing the call on speakerphone so Brenda could hear every single word.
Lawyer Jim: Hank? Did you find anything on Route 66?
Hank: Jim, I found Lily. She's standing right next to me, safe and sound.
Lawyer Jim: Praise the Lord! Is Brenda with her?
Hank: She's standing right in front of me holding her car keys. She confessed to spending the trust fund money at the casinos and hiding the backup guardianship papers.
Lawyer Jim: Stay right there, Hank. The District Attorney in Bexar County already signed the felony arrest warrant for embezzling a minor's inheritance. I'm patching in the local sheriff right now.
Brenda's eyes filled with wild terror as she lunged toward her car seat, trying to jump into the driver's side.
Brenda: You setup! You set me up!
Big Mike stepped smoothly in front of her car door, his massive six-foot-four frame completely blocking the door handle with a cold, unyielding glare.
Big Mike: You aren't driving anywhere today, ma'am. You're gonna sit tight and enjoy the Texas afternoon.
Brenda: Get out of my way! You can't touch me!
Hank: Nobody is touching you, Brenda. But the law is catching up to you real fast.
In the distance, the faint, wailing sound of police sirens began echoing across the flat, open highway[cite: 1]. Two white Texas Department of Public Safety cruisers pulled off Route 66, their red and blue lights flashing brightly under the full daylight[cite: 1].
A tall state trooper stepped out of the lead vehicle, his hand resting casually on his belt as he walked toward the group outside the gas station porch[cite: 1].
Trooper Vance: Henry Stevens?
Hank: Right here, Officer. I'm the legal guardian listed on these state papers.
Hank handed over the birth certificate and the emergency guardianship decree John had signed before his death.
Trooper Vance: And you must be Brenda Miller.
Brenda: Officer! These men harassed me! They threatened me outside my own vehicle!
Trooper Vance: Quiet down, ma'am. Bexar County Sheriff's Office issued a State Warrant for your arrest fifteen minutes ago for grand larceny, child endangerment, and forgery.
Brenda: It was my money! I took care of that girl!
Trooper Vance: Turn around and place your hands behind your back, Miss Miller. You have the right to remain silent.
The trooper snapped the cold steel handcuffs around Brenda's wrists, leading her toward the back seat of the patrol car while she screamed insults at the sky.
Lily watched from the wooden bench, shrinking back slightly as the police car doors slammed shut.
Hank immediately dropped back down to his knees in front of his niece, blocking her view of the patrol car with his wide, sturdy shoulders[cite: 1].
Hank: Don't look at her, sweet pea. Look right here at me.
Lily: Is Aunt Brenda going to jail because of me?
Hank: No, baby girl. She's going away because she made bad choices and broke the law. You didn't do a single thing wrong. You were so brave today.
Lily: I missed my daddy so much, Uncle Hank...
Hank: I know you did, sweetheart. I missed him every single day too. But he left something behind for me to take care of, and that's you.