Kelly left the doctor’s office, buoyed with the win, however minor. It was good to have one.

The minimal wording from the CEO’s email elbowed its way into her thinking. And the ember of the lie she’d just given Anthony Scott, savior of children with a damaging obsession with a tiny screen, burned slow in her heart.

Eleven

Daniel forced his fingers onto the keys of his laptop. “Chapter 1.” His fingers stopped, directionless. The cursor blinked on, and those two words stood alone on the screen.

He stared at the ceiling, exhaling hard. He knew coming up with an idea for the next book would be difficult, but this difficult?

“You wanted to see me, Daniel?” Jade stood in his doorway, looking nervous, fumbling fingers searching for something to hold.

“I did. Come in.” Daniel reached for a box of tissues as she sat down on his sofa, her gaze anywhere but in his direction.

Daniel leaned in and whispered, “Is everything okay?”

Jade’s emotions burst from her as she snatched for the tissues. “It’s my dad. Secondary cancer.” She dabbed at the tears in her eyes. “How did you know?”

Daniel handed over the box. How could he answer that question? “I just wanted to check in with you to make sure you’re okay.” Daniel examined his statement for a lie and found none.

Jade sucked in racking sobs. “But I just found out about it yesterday. I’ve tried to be professional at work and not bring my stuff into the office . . .”

“But I would hope you could talk about things going on in your life.”

Jade looked up at him through the tears. “But your timing is incredible. It’s almost as if you knew . . . But how could you know?”

Daniel couldn’t divulge the answer to that question. “If you want to take some personal time to handle your dad’s health . . .”

Jade pressed a finger to shakily smiling lips. “Thank you for understanding. You have a gift of insight into people.”

The usual compliment soured. Daniel knew there was something else; there was someone else. Whoever took that photograph of Jade was the one with the real insight. And he was about to find out who it was.

*  *  *

Ten unreadable faces sat around the boardroom at Crossroads Counseling.

Daniel scanned them. Again. Two hints at personal space and nothing. His team presented a blank page.

“Just to close our meeting, Anna has come up with a brilliant idea for a major milestone here at Crossroads. Our thousandth client has come through our doors.”

Monique let out a soft squeal.

“She’s suggested a dinner to celebrate, so I would like you all, everyone who has contributed to the success of Crossroads, to come to our place up on Clifftop Drive. Kelly and I will be pleased to welcome you to our home.”

Monique squealed again into rising chatter around the table. This time the room was easy to read.