Page 90 of Jael

“I do what I have to in order to get the job done. If you weren’t so busy placating Jael, you’d understand that a happyending doesn’t exist for her. It never has. And I refuse to give up the opportunity to put a terrible man behind bars because of your crush.”

“I told you, there’s nothing going on.”

“Then you shouldn’t have a problem following through.”

“What if there’s another way? Other charges we can bring against Artus?”

“Like the murder of Gregory Heber? We don’t have enough to move on that. I already told you, without a better option, we’re sticking to our original plan.”

“Have you even looked into it?”

“We have.” She smiled. “And so have you.”

“You’re following me?”

“Keeping tabs. That’s all.”

“I’ve set up everything. I’ve organized to buy the same drug Artus used to kill Gregory. All I need is four weeks.”

“That not enough to guarantee we can put Artus behind bars. Leave the clerk to us. Focus on Jael. If she’s on our side, that makes everything easier. She can guarantee the venue for the party?—”

“She’s not marrying Christopher.”

“She doesn’t need to marry him. She just needs to be engaged to him. And who knows, if she plays the part well enough, she may even get Christopher to open up herself while onsite. If she hates him, she can work with us and be rid of him for good.”

“She can’t stand to be in the same room as him. How is she supposed to convince him she’s in love with him? Especially after everything that’s happened.”

“You mean the domestic issue I had to resolve? That was an interesting phone call.”

“He may not want to marryherafter that.”

“I know men like Christopher. If Jael goes to him full of remorse for her actions, he’ll take her back. There’s nothing he would want more.”

“That’s disgusting.”

Deborah shrugged. “We all do what we have to. I’m sure it’s not the first time Jael has had to follow through on something revolting.”

“I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have to. But I bet she’ll agree to it. I’d say she wants to bring Christopher down more than we do. She’s got what it takes to do what’s necessary. I hope you do too.”

Danny pinched his bottom lip in thought. “If we do this,” he said. “You have to make sure it counts. And he can’t get wind that she was involved. Even from prison, he can have her killed.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. And we’re already getting everything in place to make a move. We’ve got specific information relating to the Siseras’s new activities with Heber Industries. I’d say it’s connected to the reason they killed Gregory. And if we can get the clerk on the drug, we’ll have enough to pressure him as extra leverage.”

“Okay, but if I get other information?—”

“No,” Deborah said. “I’ve had enough of this back and forth. We’ll use everything we have on the night of the party. From now on, we’re sticking to the plan. And that’s final.”

Danny was surprised when Jael answered the door at Gregory’s house instead of the housekeeper. She was wearing a baggy T-shirt and tights. Her hair was piled on top of her head and gave her a look of innocence that made it hard to speak.

“Hey,” she said. “Did you come to give me an update? Because you could have called.”

“This isn’t something I can do over the phone.”

“More bad news?”

“Can I come in?”

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