Page 25 of Jael

The office phone rang, and she answered, thankful for the distraction. “Vita Nova, this is Jael.”

“Hello, Miss Heber.”

She recognized Christopher’s smooth voice.

“Good afternoon, Christopher. I wasn’t expecting you to call the landline. Don’t you have my cell number?”

“I’m sitting in my new office going over reports and came across your foundation. Thought I’d give you a call and see how your day’s going. Do you spend many hours in the office?”

“When I have reports to write. It helps me focus. And my day is going fine, thanks for asking. Business as usual. I hope you’re settling in well over there.”

“Everyone has made me very welcome, as I’m sure you can imagine.”

“I hope my dad’s not giving you too much grief. I expect he’ll be popping in from time to time to keep his finger on the pulse.”

Christopher’s laugh was easy. “It is his baby. It will be hard for him to let go.”

“I hope it doesn’t drive you crazy.”

“I won’t have any trouble. I completely understand where he’s coming from. These things are always difficult for the one moving on. If it were me, I’d go on vacation for a month or two to abate the temptation to interfere. But your dad is his own man, and if he needs to move out slowly, I can put up with the disruption for the time being.”

Jael's leg cramped after sitting so long. She stood and paced the room.

“I appreciate your patience with him. I’m sure you can find ways to make him feel included.” When she reached the front door, she looked out at the busy street.

“Do you have much going on right now?” he said. “Many cases?”

“Uh.” Her attention was drawn across the street. “Yeah. Well, no. Not a lot of cases. Right now, we can only handle one or two at a time.”

“I’d be very interested to hear all about it. If you’re free for lunch this afternoon, I’ve got some time in my schedule.”

“Today?” Her attention was focused on a car parked half a block up the street.

“Yes. I figured, if I could make room in my day, you shouldn’t have too much trouble. You said you have a team to run the place?”

“Not a team exactly.” She’d seen the car earlier in the day. “Listen, something’s come up. Maybe we can do it another time?”

“It’s that urgent with only one or two cases?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry. I’m afraid I have to get going.”

“I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“Nothing I can’t handle. We’ll talk later, okay?”

“Yeah, sure. Hope the rest of your day goes well.”

“You too.”

She hung up and shifted position to get a better look at the driver, although she’d already made her assumptions. One thing her dad had taught her was how to spot a tail. Maybe it wasn’t Becca’s husband in the car, but she’d heard Martin was working hard to find his wife. If it wasn’t him, maybe it was a private detective. Either way, Jael would get rid of him.

After putting the phone back in its cradle, she marched out the door, then jogged across the street. If she was noticed, the driver hadn’t reacted. She hurried to the passenger’s side and yanked open the door, ducking her head to confront Becca’s pursuer. But it wasn’t Becca who was being pursued. It was her.

“Danny?”

He smiled. “Hey. Fancy meeting you here.”

“What are you doing? Are you following me?”

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