Page 41 of No Way Forward

“You found out something?” Now he sounded interested.

Azalie ground her teeth and clenched her hand into a fist at her side. “Yes, sir. I love Novette, and I don’t want to betray her trust, but I’m worried about her.”

She threw in a sniff or two and let a tremor enter her tone. He fell for it, of course. Men were so easy to manipulate.

“Don’t feel bad about it,” Richard encouraged her. “We both want what’s best for Novette. In the long run, she’ll thank you for always looking out for her.”

“If you think so…”

“I know so. Talk to me, Azalie. I won’t overlook the fact that you were the one who helped me care for my baby girl. You and Zaid are crucial in dealing with her stubborn nature. She doesn’t understand, but she doesn’t have to.”

“Okay, if you think it’s best.” She sniffed a few more times but then got right to sharing what she needed to tell him. Pushing too much would only make him mad. Richard wasn’t the most patient of men. She’d had to walk a tight rope to stay close to him during the years his daughter was missing. “It’s Zaid.”

“Zaid?” Richard sounded confused. How in the world did the man miss the love vibes coming off those two?

“Yes, it kills me to tell you this, but like I said I’m worried about Novette. Zaid has convinced her to trick you into letting him take her away to keep her safe. But really, they’re involved. He claims to love her, but I’m not so sure. I mean she’s your daughter, and maybe he thinks he’ll get a lot of money if you give her an inheritance and—”

Richard swore.

Azalie had intended to lead him toward thinking Zaid plotted to get Novette but didn’t care about her. From the way Richard was going on, she didn’t need to say more. He disconnected the call before she could ask him to keep quiet about her being the one who told him.

“It doesn’t really matter anyway unless I get her to like me again.”

She laughed, thinking about the coming explosion between father and daughter. It was early, but a desire to laze around in the hot tub while snacking came over her. In the bedroom Richard allowed her to use, she changed out of the clothes she had worn that morning into a bathing suit.

Another idea came to her, and she picked up her phone to search out a number. Scrolling through the contacts, she found the one labeled PI and unblocked it.

He answered right away with the same irritable tone as Richard.

“You don’t have to sound like that when I have information for you!”

“I don’t have time for you. I’m being investigated.”

“What do you mean investigated?” A knot formed in her belly.

“Never mind. I can’t talk to you. It’s not safe.”

“Wait, please.” She thought fast. Did she even know anything that could help him? Not really, but she wanted to stir up more trouble for Novette. If she could do that through Richard, fantastic.

He sighed. “Alright, we can meet.”

“When?”

“Now. I don’t have a lot of time.”

She kissed the leisurely soak in the hot tub goodbye. After making arrangements to meet the investigator in an hour, she redressed. She confirmed that her mom took charge of Beau, and she left the mansion in a hurry. An hour later, she pulled into a parking lot that needed to be repaved.

Azalie didn’t like the seedy-looking diner. Faded paint everywhere, torn cushions, and stained menus on the tables. She eased into a booth with caution, feeling uncomfortable. The older man across the table frowned at her.

“I don’t know why you wanted to meet here,” she griped. “It’s gross, and there’s no way they passed the health inspection in this place.”

“Surprisingly they have. This restaurant serves amazing food. I’ll treat you.”

“No thanks.”

“You’re very snobby for a working class woman.”

“I don’t need the likes of you to judge me.”

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