Page 88 of Jael

“What is it?”

“I can’t talk about it yet.”

“No. That’s not how this is going to work. You have to stop keeping secrets.” She noticed a change come over him. He looked suddenly pained. “What is it?” she said, bracing for more bad news. “Just tell me.”

“For the past couple of days, I’ve been following a lead. It’s a crime I’m confident I can pin on Artus. I’m certain he’s guilty. I’m working at putting together the evidence the FBI needs to arrest him for it.”

“Just one crime?” She lifted an eyebrow, but her face deadpanned at the look he gave her. “What? What has he done?”

“Murder.”

“Anyone I know?” she said. But she knew. And with the revelation, her legs gave way.

Danny caught her and held her steady. “I’m sorry.”

“My dad? You’re sure? How can you be sure?”

“I found the man who gave them the drug to make it look like a natural death.”

“How?”

“I followed Christopher. Saw him pay the man. I heard them talking. Christopher said Artus gave him a bonus because it worked out so well.”

“But I don’t understand. Why kill my dad? He’d given them everything they wanted.”

“Almost everything. I can’t say for certain, but I’m guessing he was interfering with the plans they had for Heber Industries.”

“He was old. They could have waited.”

“Artus isn’t a patient man. You know that.”

“It’s not even— I didn’t like my dad. He was horrible to me and difficult, but—I should be thanking them, shouldn’t I?”

“He was still your dad.”

“I didn’t like him, but I never wanted him dead.”

“I know.”

It took her a few minutes to compose herself. “You believe you could pin this murder on them?”

“I do.”

“Will it be enough? How long can they put him away for one murder?”

“If they can get him for this, that would give them the opportunity to look into his other activities. It’s a better plan than hoping he’ll say something at an engagement party.”

“Okay.” She pressed a hand against her forehead. “I need to go home.”

“Can you drive yourself?”

“Yeah. I need to be alone right now.”

“I understand. And I’m sorry for deceiving you. We’ll get the Siseras, and then you have the rest of your life to look forward to.”

But she wouldn’t put her hope in that. Not yet. Not when she still stood on a razor’s edge.

Chapter 24

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