Page 56 of Defending Love
“How is Mom today?” Dani asked Jack.
“She’s tired and sore. I think all the tests and exercises they ran yesterday were too much.”
Dani tipped her head toward the closed door. “Is she alone?”
“Yes.”
Dani’s navy stare met mine. In the depths of the blue, I saw what she’d said in the vehicle. I saw the fear that I wanted to erase and the uncertainty I vowed to quell. She nodded before opening the door and slipping inside.
I turned to Jack. “How long have you been working the Sinclairs?”
“Ben put me on the job about six months ago. I replaced Leo Conner.”
I’d met Leo a few times. “Why did he leave?”
Jack shrugged. “I didn’t ask.”
Pressing my lips together, I nodded. “In those six months, you never examined the contents of Mr. Sinclair’s safe?”
“No. He said it was private. I respected his wishes.”
“Did you mention the safe to anyone yesterday after we spoke?”
“No. Did you find anything?”
I shrugged, not comfortable with full disclosure. “A few of the old journals. Jewelry. His coin collection.”
Jack furrowed his brow. “Wait a minute. I did. I spoke with Mr. Sinclair yesterday. The subject of the safe came up. Yeah, now I remember. I thought it was odd after just talking to you about it.”
“Mr. Damien Sinclair?”
Jack nodded. “He was checking on Mrs. Sinclair. I told him that his sister was going to check the safe. He mentioned that he didn’t think anything of importance was there. Seems that he and the attorney, Elliott, searched it, looking for Derek’s insurance papers.”
“When?”
“Right after the shooting. Mr. Elliott came down with Damien and Danielle. Elliott was real broken up. Damien said Mr. Elliott was Derek’s oldest and dearest friend.”
“There weren’t any insurance papers inside the safe. Did Elliott and Sinclair find what they were looking for?”
“I’d assume as much. He didn’t say.”
“Dr. Sinclair,” I said, “wants to be with her mother for the meeting with the physical-therapy unit. Will you keep an eye on her? I have a few things to get wrapped up before we need to get back.”
“I thought you were staying until tomorrow.”
“That was the plan. Will you watch Dani?”
“She’ll be safe. No one is getting past me.”
“Good to know,” I said.
Back in the SUV, I called Benjamin.
“Good morning, Eli. Just the man I was about to call. How is your assignment?”
My assignment.
Dr. Danielle Sinclair.
