Chapter 21

The hot water ran out before Jael turned off the shower. Her head was still fuzzy, but she went through the familiar motions of drying herself off and wrapping her hair in the towel.

In the kitchen, she leaned heavily against the counter, twisting the bathrobe belt around her fingers while she waited for her coffee to finish.

When her phone rang, it showed an unknown number. “Hello, this is Jael.”

“Hi, my names Patricia Sanchez. You don’t know me, but I was given your number by a friend of yours, Melissa Richardson?”

Melissa was a social worker Jael had contact with since opening Vita Nova. “Are you calling about the foundation?”

“Yes. She told me you help women caught in domestic violence.”

“I do. Are you calling for yourself?”

“No, it’s for my sister. She doesn’t know I’m calling. I didn’t want to say anything to her until I knew if there was anything you can do.”

Jael shook her head, wishing she had a better answer. She’d been hoping to secure a second home, but with the way things were… She’d thought it was still a long way off, but now it felt impossible.

“You can give her my contact details, and I can connect her with the right people,” Jael said. “Normally I’d offer accommodation if she needed it, but I don’t have anywhere right now. There are other organizations that could help. If she’s currently in danger, she really needs to call the police.”

“She tried that, but she’s not being physically abused, so there isn’t much the police have been able to do. And I think she was too embarrassed to follow through on it because there was nothing to show.”

“There are people she can speak to. They can help her figure out the best way forward and explain to her how to protect herself. There will be evidence she can gather, like writing down timelines of what’s happening. Things like that. I wish I could do more.”

“That’s okay. I have a lot of names and numbers. I’m trying them all, but I’d appreciate it if you could send through what you have. You might know of someone I don’t.”

“Text me your email, and I’ll send through what I can. And Patricia, your sister is lucky to have you. If she decides to leave her partner, she’ll need your support.”

“She knows she has it.”

“Good. And if you need anything, even if it’s just to talk, you can call me.”

“Thanks.”

After they hung up, Jael waited for the email address to come through, then forwarded it to Hannah before moving to the living room, but she stopped at the door. She wasn’t ready to face the room where her father had died yet. She’d call the planner her dad used and ask them to change the furniture in the room. That would help.

In the sunroom, her body sunk into the couch as she sipped at her coffee. She had a lot to do but would rather sit where she was and stare at the wall. Then she noticed a magazine on the coffee table. Bride.

She moved it to the shelf under the table top so she didn’t have to look at it. Sofia had probably bought it thinking she was helping, but the last thing Jael wanted to be reminded of was that she’d soon marry a man she didn’t respect. Not only that, but she hadn’t really considered the other expectations of married life. Or even before that. Neither one of them held to traditional values of any kind. She could say she’d converted to Christianity, pretend that Danny had converted her and it was now her position that they abstain, but that excuse would only last until the wedding night.

She pushed the dread away. Whatever happened would happen. She’d simply ignore the tide as it washed over her. Like all those times when her dad had made her watch another man be tortured and murdered. Somehow, she’d resisted it soaking too deep. She’d known that what she had watched was wrong. She’d understood, even as a girl wanting to please her dad, that it wasn’t a place she should ever be. But somehow she’d been protected from the worst of it. It had damaged her, and she continued to feel the weight of responsibility for it, but the horror of what she’d witnessed had somehow passed over her. Was it because her heart was so hardened? Or was it something more?

She leaned her head back, still fuzzy from the pills and her conversation with Christopher, and the world slipped away.

It was the ringing that woke her. She couldn’t remember falling asleep, but now she lurched up, jinking her neck in the process.

She squeezed her shoulder as she lifted the phone and saw it was Becca calling.

“Hey, Bec. I’m so sorry I haven’t been by after I promised you?—”

“Jael?” Bec’s voice was quiet and shaking. “I’m so sorry for everything. I told you I was a burden to you. With your dad and everything, I knew it must have been too much. But why didn’t you just tell me?”

“No, Bec, stop. You have never been a burden. I know Hannah told you about my dad, and I’ve been meaning to talk to you. Yes, a lot has happened, but that’s life. I can handle it. You’re not the one making things difficult.”

“Then I don’t understand. It would have been easier if I went back to him myself. He’s so angry now.”

“Are you talking about Martin? Bec, we’ve talked about this. We already knew he’d be angry. That’s not a good reason for you to go back to him. Did you call him?”

“I would have if I’d known.”

“Known what?”

“That he knew where I was.”

Jael jumped to her feet. “What are you saying? Martin’s there?”

“He’s so angry, Jael. The kids are scared, but I’ll get them packed. I’d tell him myself, but I’m scared.”

“No, Bec, I didn’t tell him—” Her breath caught, then came out strained. “He’s outside now?”

“Yeah.”

“Is he alone?”

“No. There’s a guy with him.”

“In his thirties? Blonde hair? Nice suit?”

“Yeah.”

“Becca, you need to listen very carefully to me. I did not tell Martin where you live. He shouldn’t be there right now. Don’t pack your bags. Keep the door locked, and call the police.”

“I can’t call the police.”

“Then I will.”

“No! Please. I don’t want that. Not today. I don’t know what he’d do if they showed up.”

“And maybe that’s a good thing,” Jael almost yelled, then took a breath. “Sorry. I know you don’t want him to get hurt. I’ll hold off calling the police for now, but if he tries to break in, you’ll have to.”

“How many times do I have to say it!” Jael could hear Martin shouting in the background. “I love you, babe. I screwed up. What else do you want me to say?”

“Whatever you do,” Jael said. “You promise me you won’t open that door. I’ll be there soon. Just hang in there.”

“I’ll try.”

“No. You have to promise. Tell me right now you won’t open the door to him. All I need is some time to take care of it. I know the man he’s with. I can talk him down, but you have to give me time.”

“Okay. I promise.”

Jael ran to her room to get dressed, praying as she went. Her petitions started as murmurs to herself, but soon, her heart lifted higher. She didn’t know if God existed, but she felt something. Real or not, she felt like someone was listening.

“It can’t end like this. You can’t let it end like this,” she said a she dragged a shirt over her head. “I don’t care about me, but please protect Becca, whatever you need to do. Keep her safe.”

Christopher and Martin were talking on the lawn when Jael pulled to the curb in front of the house. She took it as a good sign that everything appeared calm.

After a deep breath, she got out and walked cautiously toward the two men. Christopher was a reasonable man, for the most part. He’d done his fair share of violence, and he’d most likely killed multiple people in his life, but this was different. She couldn’t imagine he would resort to violence in a situation like this. It would undermine his position in the company, and that was his reason for being here, as a representative for Heber Industries, doing what he felt was the best for his shareholders.

“Jael,” Christopher said as she approached. “I can’t say I’m surprised to see you here, but I had hoped you’d let me handle it. You’re not emotionally prepared to deal with this situation.”

“Becca called me,” Jael said.

“There was no need.”

“She’s terrified.”

Martin took a step toward her. “Because of you.” His cheek pulsed as he ground his teeth.

Jael, not unaccustomed to intimidation, refused to back down. “I’m not the one who hits her.”

When Martin took another step, Christopher grabbed him and pulled him back. “Let’s all settle down. We can sort this out like grownups. Right Jael?”

“This was being dealt with through the proper channels until you brought Martin here. I’m not the one making everything more complicated.”

“Your problem,” Christopher said, “is that you’re completely one-sided on this. I’m here to talk Becca down to earth where she belongs. You being here won’t help. You’re too caught up in this need to make a difference, so you’re creating problems where they don’t exist.”

“Did Hannah send you the file?” Jael said.

“She did.”

“Did you look at it?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“And I didn’t see anything in there that couldn’t be explained away,” Christopher said. “It’s all conjecture, and you’re going to drag that poor woman through the court system only to come out the other side more broken than when she went in. If she keeps following you on your ridiculous crusade, she could end up losing her kids.”

Jael held her tongue. He was baiting her. “You shouldn’t have told Martin where she is. I’m putting it in the report.”

“I have every right to know where my wife and kids are,” Martin shouted.

“Christopher,” Jael said. “I’d appreciate it if you would take Martin away from here right now before I call the police. If he wants to settle this, he can do it in court.”

Martin scoffed, and Christopher said, “I’m afraid that won’t work. I made a promise to Martin that Heber Industries wouldn’t be involved in tearing families apart. If Becca doesn’t come to him now, willingly, she’ll end up on the street because Vita Nova will no longer have the use of this house.”

Jeal held her breath while her mind fought for an answer. She would lose everything. “Why are you doing this?”

“Me? You’re the one keeping this man’s family from him. And we aren’t leaving without them.”

She looked at the house, hoping Becca couldn’t hear what was being said. The threat of her kids being taken from her could be enough for her to crumble.

“Please.” Jael hated herself for pleading, but she was unsteady, not knowing whether or not Christopher was bluffing. She hadn’t considered before that he had a few connections with the police. With him here, things could go badly for Becca if the wrong cops turned up.

“Why don’t you go home,” Christopher said.

She pulled out her phone. There was one possibility, but involving Danny might not be a good move either. He may not want anything to do with this. If she had any other choice… She put the phone to her ear.

“You calling the police?” Christopher said, not looking worried.

“No.”

Danny’s phone went through to his voice mail. She hung up and sent a text instead. If she could stall long enough for him to arrive, there may still be a chance.

“I’d like to go inside and speak to Becca,” Jael said. “But I don’t want anyone following me in.”

“If you go in, I’m going in,” Martin said.

Jael sighed and looked at Christopher like she wanted him to discipline a puppy.

“He has more right to go in there than you do,” Christopher said.

Her phone rang, and she turned away to answer it.

“I’m sorry,” Becca said. “I can’t do this anymore.”

“Yes, you can.” Jael took several steps away to keep the conversation private. “It’s Martin who’s causing the trouble, not you.”

“Is that my Becca?” Martin said, stomping toward her. “I want to talk to her.”

Jael moved toward her car. “No.” She angled around so he couldn’t reach her phone. “She doesn’t want to talk to you. She wants you to leave.”

“Give him the phone,” Christopher said.

Jael pressed her finger to end the call and locked her phone before Martin snatched it from her hand.

“Unlock it,” he roared in her face.

She stood up to him, preparing herself for the pain. The only way to save Becca was if Martin hit her. Then she could be the one to press charges—if he didn’t kill her first.

“Give me my phone back.” She held out her hand, and he batted it away.

“That’s my property,” she said.

“You can have it back once you unlock it.”

She crossed her arms without saying a word.

“Jael,” Christopher said, “this side of you is very disappointing. I’m going to see to it that your funding is removed if you don’t start cooperating.”

She pressed her lips together. God, if you’re there… but she didn’t know what to ask for and figured he wasn’t listening anyway.

Martin paced the lawn, stalking one way, then the next. He had the phone in his hand, probably waiting for her to call back.

“Don’t call,” Jael said under her breath.

This went on for almost twenty minutes before Martin marched back over to her.

“Unlock the phone now!” he yelled again.

“No.” She kept her voice calm, and that infuriated him. He threw the phone, and it hit her head, bouncing off her temple. She jerked in reflex but ignored the sharp pain that had shaken her vision. “If it’s broken, you’ll pay for it,” she said. When she bent to retrieve it off the ground, he jumped for her.