Page 57 of Provocation (Temptation 3)

Julia

“I’m guessing this isn’t a social visit,” I remarked as I lowered myself onto the couch in my home office, meeting Agent Curran’s eyes as he sat in the reading chair opposite me.

Initially, he’d wanted to speak to me in private. While I appreciated the gesture, it wasn’t necessary. I didn’t keep secrets from my brother. Not anymore. He was as much a part of this as I was.

So was Lachlan.

If a new development affected me, it also affected these two men.

“No, it isn’t,” Agent Curran replied in his no-nonsense tone, his expression hard. I doubted I’d ever seen him smile.

Did he even know how to smile?

Clearing his throat, he straightened his tie. “As you know, I pulled your ex-husband’s visitation log.”

I nodded. “Yes. And learned in the weeks leading up to her death, Claire Hale had paid him numerous visits under a media approval.”

Agent Curran briefly glanced in Lachlan’s direction before returning his gaze to me. “Precisely. Ethan has looked through all of Claire’s files for some sort of indication as to what they could have discussed over the course of the roughly twelve hours they spent together.”

“But he couldn’t find anything.”

“Correct. As of now, he’s been unsuccessful in finding any of her notes. And given the time constraint we’re under, especially now that it’s almost October, I thought it might be in our best interests to pursue a second avenue.”

“Second avenue?” Wes asked, leaning forward from beside me on the couch, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Yes.”

“And what would that be?”

“As an FBI agent, I often check in on offenders I helped put behind bars, especially to ease any victim’s concerns.”

“And what offender did you check in on?” My voice rose in pitch toward the end.

A hand grasped mine, but I didn’t acknowledge it. I couldn’t. Not until I heard Agent Curran confirm what I knew in my heart he was about to say.

“Domenic Jaskulski.”

I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep breath to settle my nerves. When I reopened them, I gave him a penetrating stare, hoping he wouldn’t see my trepidation over the direction I feared this was going.

“Since Ethan couldn’t find much information regarding Claire’s purpose for her visits, I decided to try my luck and go straight to the source. See if I could get anything out of him.”

I barked out a laugh. This was a man who maintained his innocence throughout his trial, even going so far as to fire his attorney and represent himself.

“I doubt he told you anything.”

“You’re right. But he didn’t refuse to help, either.”

I straightened, brows furrowing, surprised. “He didn’t?”

“No.” Agent Curran licked his lips. “He offered to share what he’d discussed with Ms. Hale, but asked for something in return.”

“Something in return?” I repeated, a chill washing down my spine.

He nodded slowly.

“And what is this something?” Wes asked, jaw twitching.

“He wants to see you,” Agent Curran directed at me.