Dangerous Secrets (Tall, Dark & Deadly #2)(34)

“I know,” she said. “But please read it. There are things in it that will change how you feel about her death, I promise you.”

“Okay, yes.”

“Thank you, Ms. Harrison. Thank you.” She hung up.

Julie looked up to find Gina standing in the doorway. “I didn’t want to interrupt. I have your coffee.”

“Yes please. Thank you.”

Gina set a cup of coffee in front of Julie. “Why are you a paralegal instead of an attorney?” Julie asked her.

Surprise registered in Gina’s expression. “It wasn’t by choice. It just sort of happened.”

Julie’s eyes narrowed. “Meaning?”

“Life, finances, a sick parent. All those things combined kept me from achieving all of my goals.”

Julie’s eyes dropped to her desk. She had worked herself through school, so she understood struggling. She just had never tried to understand Gina’s. Maybe she could help her finish school.

Impulsively, Julie looked at Gina and asked, “Would you like to go to lunch today?”

“Ah,” Gina paused as if she couldn’t figure out how to respond and then suddenly smiled. “Sure.”

“Excellent,” Julie said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

The phone in the lobby buzzed. ”I better get that,” Gina said, and rushed away.

The next few hours went by quickly, and not without a number of distracted thoughts of Luke, and a text message to check on her. She’d liked that message, too, far more than she would have ever expected.

It was close to lunchtime when Gina buzzed Julie’s office again. “Judge Moore is here to see you.”

Julie drew back in surprise. “I wasn’t expecting him, but…yes. Okay. Send him in.”

Dropping her pen onto the desk, Julie leaned back in her chair, resting her elbows on the arms. She had no desire to stand and greet the judge, regardless of the fact he deserved the respect if she was to keep him a courtroom ally.

Her office door opened and Gina poked her head in. Waving the judge forward, she offered him coffee and he refused. Good, Julie thought, he won’t be staying long.

The judge appeared in her doorway. “Julie,” he said with a nod, looking his normal proper self, in a blue suit that was custom-fitted to his trim fifty-something physique, his gray hair neatly trimmed.

“Judge,” she greeted.

Clearly taking the greeting as an invitation, in several long strides, the judge stood in front of Julie’s desk. Usually she would have moved to the conference table in the corner of her room. No doubt, he noticed that today she did no such thing.

He gave her an assessing stare, letting her know that yes he noticed, before sitting in a visitor’s chair.

“I’m sorry about Elizabeth,” she said when he didn’t immediately speak.

His expression was respectfully grim, his eyes surprisingly direct as they met hers. “As am I.”

“I was shocked,” she said, awkwardness expanding in the room.

“Yes,” he agreed. “I was as well. I had no idea she had taken this all so hard.” He sighed. “Obviously, I won’t need your services. That is, unless her family causes trouble over our assets.”

Julie went cold. She had a bad feeling this visit had a hidden purpose. “Do you expect them to?”

He ran his hand over the back of his neck as if all the tension in the room had settled there. “I doubt it, but the quicker I get this behind me the better. It’s hard enough –divorce, that is – without this turn of events.”

How hard was it, she wondered? “I assume there are no documents or will that I need to know about other than what I’m aware of?”

“She had life insurance,” he said. “I have no idea if it was left to me or her sister at this juncture of our relationship.”

“Sister?” Julie asked in a voice that was a bit too high.

“Her twin. Never did like me. She was always trying to get Elizabeth to leave me.”

“Considering that’s what you wanted, I would think you would like her.”

He shrugged. “I preferred to do the leaving on my terms.”

As do most rich men who want to shuffle their assets, but Julie didn’t say that.

He made a disgusted sound. “Believe me, Diana – that’s Elizabeth’s sister – is trouble. She only wanted her to leave me to take my money. If she can get an attorney to take the case, she’ll fight for some of it now. The life insurance won’t be enough for her. She’s a greedy little bitch.” He waved a dismissive hand. “There’s another reason I came by. You’ve handled a number of children’s charity functions and I know they’re dear to your heart. Elizabeth was in charge of a Children’s Cancer Association function tomorrow night and my artwork will be on display. I must admit I wish it wasn’t this week, but it was impossible to cancel with such advanced planning. I’d appreciate it if you would consider playing hostess in her absence.”

She hesitated. Because of the judge’s involvement, she was almost certain she could hear Luke warning her away from the man. But she couldn’t. Not when it came to this. “Of course,” Julie said. “It is, as always, kind of you to show your art for such good causes. Can you send me the details so I know what I need to do?”