They both disconnected.
Jo headed back to Wes.
When Jo got to the room she stopped short in the doorway. Wes was sound asleep and Jill was sitting in the chair closest to Wes. Jo couldn't help but notice how her hand was resting on his arm. Jace was still sitting in the chair at the foot of the bed looking at his phone. When Jace saw her he stood up.
"Hey, I was wondering where you went to."
"I went for a walk and then I got a phone call from my old boss at the paper, Henry. He wants to meet with me. He may be offering me my job back. He says he has a proposition for me."
"Oh Jo that's great."
Jill had taken her hand from Wes' arm and sat quietly listening to them talk.
"I have to meet him now over at Bishop's. Are you going to be here for a bit longer?" Jo said looking from Wes, who was sleeping peacefully, back to Jace.
Jace knew Jo was hesitating because Jill was there. Jo may trust Wes, but the woman was smart enough to know that Jill had a thing for him.
Jace shook his head and pointed at Wes chuckling. "He's sleeping pretty soundly Jo. I don't think any of us need to stay."
"I'll stay with him." Jill said a little too eagerly.
Jo looked to Jace for help.
"Jill that's nice of you. I guess I can stay longer too." Both Jace and Jo could tell Jill would have preferred to be alone with Wes.
Jo went to her purse and dug out her pen and notepad that she always carried with her. She wrote a brief note to Wes, in case he woke up, telling him she was meeting Henry at Bishop's. She signed it Love, Your Jo. Jo knew he'd like reading that part. Jo placed the note on Wes' tray table propped up by his blue breathing apparatus. She knew he'd see it right away. She then thanked Jace and Jill and hurried off to the tavern.
Jace and Jill talked about bar business. Jill was chatting enthusiastically about a new singer she had lined up. Jace wanted to ask why she wasn't using Jo anymore, but he didn't want to get into a discussion that involved Jo, so he remained quiet. His phone buzzed and when he saw the screen he knew he had to take the call.
"Jill I have to take this. I'll be right back."
Jill nodded as Jace put the phone to his ear and hurried out of the room.
When he returned a few minutes later Jill was looking at a magazine that she must have had in her humongous pocketbook. Wes was still sleeping.
"Everything okay?" Jill asked.
"Actually I need to leave." Jace had received a call from the law firm he had been hired by. They were hoping Jace could obtain proof; digital, paper, or photographic, that a wife was cheating on her husband. The wife had been laying low and Jace had not had any success so far. The lawyer had just called Jace to tell him that the wife had left the house hours ago and still wasn't home. The husband thought she was meeting her lover.
"You can go Jace. I'll stay."
Jace didn't have choice. He may not get another chance to either prove or refute the husband's accusations. Jace looked to Wes again who was snoring softly.
"Thanks. I appreciate this. If Wes wakes before Jo returns tell him I had a break in a case and give him Jo's note, otherwise he'll worry."
"Don't worry Jace." Jill said with a light laugh. "I got this."
Jace thanked her again and left the room.
Chapter 22
Jo
Jo waited for Henry at the bar. She had ordered a soft drink and she absentmindedly ate the pretzel, peanut concoction placed purposefully next to her. Henry spotted her when he walked in.
"Hi." He said giving her a hug.
"Hi."