The Consequential Heart

The Consequential Heart, by Paula Freda aka Marianne Dora Rose. A Novella (Clean Romance, Suspense Murder Mystery)

There was a time JoAnn felt Jim was attracted to her, before he met Lexie, but Lexie broke his heart and married someone else. Was there the least bit of chance, JoAnn pondered wistfully, that she might replace his lost love and capture and mend his broken heart? The way to his heart was clear. But he would first have to open its door and let her in. 

Excerpt: ...Jim and Harold's law firm often represented the embezzled corporation in legal suits. JoAnn and both lawyers and their secretaries were called to the precinct to represent the firm after E.J. Stanton, the company's president, discovered and reported to the authorities a $100,000 dollar unexplained deficit, and accused Alliston, the bookkeeper, of embezzlement, but Jim felt Stanton's evidence against Alliston was dubious and decided to represent the accused Treasurer. No such money was found deposited into any account relating to Alliston's personal finances. The man swore he was innocent. But he was the most likely suspect since he handled all the company's finances. Jim hired a P.I. to investigate. Although the P.I. found no authentic proof that would stand up in court, he did lead Jim to form certain conclusions about who might have been the actual embezzler.

"And you remember who I mentioned in my notes," Jim whispered. 

"Yes, I do." JoAnn answered. "But those suspicions were never made public."

"Nevertheless, my office was broken into and files searched. Nothing was discovered missing except the file I carried with me in my briefcase."

"Alliston's," JoAnn said, shakily." 

Jim nodded. "We are all in danger, aren't we?" JoAnn said.

"Yes we are," Jim said. "There's already been one murder committed relative to this case."....