Chapter 289

The rain had eased up a bit, still falling in a steady, quiet drizzle. The wipers moved rhythmically against the windshield, their grating sound oddly loud in the silence. It wasn’t pleasant, but after a while, you got used to it. Rainy days always seemed darker. It was just five in the afternoon, but the sky looked more like dusk, painted in dull shades of blue and gray. James Bennett glanced over and saw Maria Lewis looking tense. “Any idea who might’ve done this to Daniel?” he asked. Maria shook her head. “Daniel’s never made enemies. I can’t think of anyone.” “Could it be someone holding a grudge against you?” James stared straight ahead, keeping his tone casual. She caught the implication immediately and didn’t hesitate. “Not Amelia White. There's no reason she’d hurt Daniel. Plus, we’ve got dirt on her. She wouldn’t dare mess with me or my family—not right now anyway. Besides, I just know it’s not her. Instinct.” Relief flickered in James’s chest. He still held onto some fondness