Divorcing My Husband Over His Stepsister's Secret novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Anna’s POV:

“The suspect himself claimed so. He’s living in pretty rough conditions,” James explained, leaning

back in his chair.

“Long–term unemployed, homeless for at least a couple years. He’s got some pretty clear anti–social tendencies, especially against wealthy folks.” He tapped his pen against a folder on his desk. “His mental state is extremely unstable.”

“I’d like to get his detailed information,” I said, keeping my voice calm and professional despite the anxiety churning in my stomach. “Background, criminal record, psychiatric evaluation–anything you

have.”

James’s smile tightened at the corners. “Mrs. Wright, I’m afraid I can’t provide that information right now.” He straightened some papers on his desk, avoiding my eyes. “Maybe you should ask Mr. Wright? He should have complete records.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from snapping at him. Of course Blake would have everything

already.

“Before I go, Chief,” I said, standing up, “which detention center will the suspect be transferred to?”

“South District Detention Center Number One,” he replied, also rising to his feet.

“Would you mind introducing me to the warden there sometime?” I asked, reaching for my purse. “I’d appreciate the connection.”

James nodded, seeming relieved that I was leaving. “Of course, Mrs. Wright.” He pulled out a business

card and handed it to me.

As he walked me to my car, I could tell he was eager to see me go. It dawned on me that as long as I wasn’t meeting the suspect on his watch, James probably couldn’t care less which detention center I

visited.

“Where to next, Mrs. Wright?” my driver asked as I settled into the backseat.

I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I pulled out my phone and called Blake. The phone rang

several times before he finally answered.

“What is it?” His voice was ice/cold.

I took a deep breath. “I need to meet with the man who attacked Claire. Can you arrange it?”

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The silence stretched so long I thought he might have hung up. Finally, he spoke, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “In a hurry to tamper with his testimony? Don’t worry, if he mentions you, I’ll make sure the police invite you in for coffee right away.”

Red–hot anger flashed through me. “Blake, are you fucking insane?” I snapped, then ended the call before I could say something worse.

To EcoMarine Group, please,” I told the driver, trying to keep my voice steady.

As the car pulled away from the curb, I stared out the window at the passing buildings, my mind

racing.

I needed to clear my name, and to do that, I needed information about the attacker. If I could prove I

had absolutely no connection to him, maybe I could shove Blake’s accusations back in his face.

The EcoMarine Group office was bustling with activity when I arrived.

I wanted to get in touch with Emily; her lawyer friend Layla helped me with my divorce papers last time, and I wanted to hire her for my current case. But Emily wasn’t in the office.

I heard from some other colleagues that she was out on a business trip doing field research. So I

tried calling her, but the signal must have been bad since she was at a remote beach, and I couldn’t

get through. I ended up sending her a text, hoping she would get back to me soon.

After sending the massage, I sighed, wondering what to do next. As I turned around, I nearly bumped into Henry.

“Anna,” he said, his expression brightening. “What a pleasant surprise. Is everything alright? You

seem troubled.”

“Just a bit overwhelmed,” I admitted.

“Come into my office,” he offered, gesturing down the hallway.

I followed him into his spacious corner office with its impressive view of the harbor. Henry closed the door behind us and motioned for me to take a seat.

“I wanted to thank you,” he said, settling behind his desk. “The Wright family event connection brought in several potential clients. You’ve been quite an asset already.”

Before I could respond, he reached into a drawer and pulled out several binders, sliding them across the desk toward me.

“Emily mentioned you’d be joining us soon,” he continued. “These contain our core research methodologies and current projects. I’ll be personally mentoring you.”

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I stared at the binders, surprised by his openness with such valuable company information. My

fingers traced the EcoMarine logo embossed on the cover, but I gently pushed them back across the

desk.

“I’m sorry, Henry. I can’t officially start working yet.”

His eyebrows rose slightly. “May I ask why?”

I shook my head. “I need to resolve some personal matters first. I’ll sort it out as quickly as possible.”

Henry studied my face for a moment, then nodded. “The position will remain open for you. Seth

speaks highly of your capabilities.”

So it was Seth’s influence after all, I thought.

“How about dinner?” Henry suggested, checking his watch. “If I remember correctly, you still owe me

a meal.”