The Years Between Signing and Seeing novel Chapter 495

"What did they say?" Oliver asked gently, stepping up behind her.

Suzie dragged her feet as they headed toward the exit, exhaustion weighing down every step. "They said Stella already has a lawyer. We aren't allowed to wait here, so we might as well head back."

Oliver nodded. "Alright. Go wait in the car. Let me have a quick word with the attorney we hired."

"Okay," she murmured, pushing through the heavy double doors.

She had barely stepped into the parking lot when a voice called out her name.

Turning toward the sound, she saw Chester Lambert jogging over from a few rows down.

"Ms. Sterling! Didn't expect to run into you here."

Suzie wasn't in the mood for small talk. She gave a curt nod in greeting.

"I had to fly out of the country for a bit after I saw you at the mall, so I haven't had a chance to reach out. But you look exhausted today," Chester observed, his brow furrowing as he glanced toward the precinct behind her. "What are you doing here? Did something happen?"

A hard lump formed in Suzie's throat. She had zero information on how Stella was doing, and the terrifying not-knowing was eating her alive. Even with Chester pressing her, she didn't have the energy to socialize.

"It's nothing," she deflected quietly. "I won't hold you up. I need to get going."

Chester listened intently, his expression darkening into serious thought. "Do you have any documents regarding the client involved?"

Suzie nodded, pulling a thin file from her purse and handing it over. It was the sparse information she had managed to beg off one of Stella's sympathetic coworkers.

Chester took the file, his tone suddenly very reassuring. "A friend you've known your whole life? I trust your judgment on her character. We need to start by digging into the client's side of the contract. It might take a bit of time, and she'll have to tough it out in there for now, but don't panic. If she's being framed, we just need to untangle the paper trail, and the truth will come to light."

Suzie's face remained tense, but she let out a shaky sigh. "Thank you, Mr. Lambert. Whatever this costs... just send me the bill."

"Will do. But you're also adding another dinner to your tab. I'm keeping track," he teased, trying to inject some much-needed levity into the heavy moment.