Jules
I’m asking you to go with me.
She bit her lip, gripping her phone as she waited for him to answer.
Danny
I’ll get some wine.
See you tonight?
She exhaled a relieved breath as she confirmed their plans. Then she checked her list one more time, dropped her cell into her bag, and shut her computer down. One of the lines on her phone lit up—Moira patching in a call to her. Ignoring it, she got up to put her coat on.
Moira’s head popped up from her computer when Jules opened her office door. She didn’t have to look to know Moira assessed her from head to toe. Jules felt Moira’s hesitation.
Just like she felt the moment Moira let go and asked, “You’re leaving right now?”
“Yes, for a couple hours.”
Moira frowned, turning to her computer, probably pulling up the calendar. “I just put through Benington to you. He wanted to discuss something regarding your upcoming case—”
“I’ll call him back when I return.”
Moira blinked in surprise. “But—”
“When I return,” she repeated, turning to head out. “Thank you, Moira.”
She was aware of Moira’s googly eyes on her all the way down the hall.
When she arrived at Winners Inc., the receptionist greeted her warmly and then escorted her back to Didier’s bordello office. Both Jamie and Didier were in there, sprawled on the couch, their heads together, discussing something in low voices. When she walked in, they both got to their feet.
Jamie extended his hand. “Jules, you ready to get rolling?”
“More than ready,” she said as she shook his hand. She turned to Didier.
“Bonjour, Julianne.” Instead of offering his hand, he bent forward and kissed her left cheek, her right cheek, and then her left cheek again.
Her surprise must have shown on her face because Jamie chuckled. “Didier takes some getting used to.”
“Someone must teach you people cultured ways.” Didier made a sweeping gesture to the sofa. “Sit, please. Can I bring you coffee?”
“No, thank you,” she said as she untied her coat and shrugged out of it. She put her bag on a chair, taking her phone out, and draped her coat over it before sitting. “I have my list.”
“Of course you do,” Jamie said, dropping down on a seat across from her.
Didier sat next to her, holding out his hand. “May I?”
She opened her note and handed it to him. She watched his eyes as he skimmed over it. She couldn’t tell what he thought—his expression didn’t change at all.
Then he handed it back to her with a noncommittal grunt.
She frowned. “What does that mean?”
He shrugged. “You cannot tell me that any of those things will help you relax. If it were true, then you wouldn’t have to pay us so much money to help you.”
She looked at Jamie.
He smiled. “I defer to Didier here.”