Page 62 of Jael

“There isn’t. Nothing’s ever happened between us.”

“I hope that won’t change.”

“I know how to be professional.”

“Then I won’t have to ask again.”

“Before you go,” Danny said. “I forgot to ask what was in the will.”

“I don’t know yet. We’re working on it. It would probably be faster for you to find out.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Danny tossed the phone in the passenger’s seat and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. They weren’t expecting any surprises, but he still wondered. Jael was relying on Heber Industries for funding, but he’d expected some relief for her once she got her inheritance.

At least he knew his next stop. It wouldn’t be too hard to find out from Jael what had happened with the lawyer.

Chapter 17

When Danny pulledup outside the Vita Nova office, he hesitated before going inside. He didn’t want her to confirm what he feared: that she intended to marry Christopher. But he also had her father’s murder looming. He couldn’t fathom the consequences of telling her and couldn’t be sure that his main motivation wasn’t simply to break up the impending marriage.

He sat in silence, turning his heart to God. “I need your wisdom in this. Make sure I say what needs to be said, and shut my mouth if it needs to be.”

Before going into the office, he went to Jael’s car, already parked in front of his. The hood was cool to touch. She’d been there a while, and she may have spotted him already. There was no turning back now.

He jogged across the street and entered the office feeling unprepared for what lay ahead. A thin woman with brown hair looked up at him.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

He looked around the small room. The door to the kitchen at the back was partially closed. “Uh, I’m looking for Jael. Is she here?”

“No, I’m sorry. You’ll have to come back later.”

“She’s not back there?”

The woman turned to look and shook her head. “No, I told you, she’s not here.”

“I thought maybe she saw me coming and retreated, but it’s important I speak to her.”

“She’s not hiding from you. I can leave her a message if you like. Or you can call her.”

“Her car’s parked outside.”

“It is, yes.”

“But she’s not here?”

“She said she needed to take a walk.” Her words were uncertain.

“A walk where?” He noticed the nameplate on her desk. “Hannah, is it?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m a friend of the family. I used to work for Gregory.”

“You’re Danny?”

“Yeah.” He was surprised Jael had told Hannah about him. “I know this has been a difficult time for her. She’s been especially upset today, and I thought I’d better check and see how she’s holding up. She went to the reading of the will and?—”

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