Chapter 142


    “That’s great news.”


    “Mr. Grey, he was stunned to get the call.”


    “I bet. Thanks for tracking him down.”


    When that’s over I call Senator ndino.


    Our conversation is short and we resolve to have lunch next time she’s in Seattle.


    Taylor is standing in the doorway when I finish the call.


    “Yes?”


    “Detective rk is here, sir.”


    “Show him in.”


    Detective rk has a firm handshake and a curmudgeonly, hangdog appearance. “Mr. Grey, thank you


    for seeing me.”


    “Please sit.” I direct him to the chair in front of my desk.


    “Thank you. I was hoping to get a brief history of your dealings with Jackson Hyde.”


    “Of course.” I exin that I own SIP, and that Ana used to work for him, until he was fired, and all the


    circumstances around that, including my run-in with him at SIP.


    “You assaulted him?” rk’s eyebrows are raised.


    “I taught him some manners. He attacked my wife.”


    “I see.”


    “If you check his employment history, he has a track record of being fired for assaulting his female


    colleagues.”


    “Hmm… You think he’s behind the GEH arson attempt?”


    “I do. We have the CCTV from Grey House.”


    “Yes. I’ve seen it. And thank you for the CCTV from the garage. The forensic team have been


    examining the van.”


    “Did they find anything?”


    “This.” He pulls out a stic evidence bag. In it is a note. He shows it to me so I can read the note


    through the bag. It’s scrawled in ck Sharpie:


    Grey, Do you know who I am?


    Because I know who you are, Baby Bird.


    I look at the words nkly.


    What a weird note.


    “Do you know what this means?” rk asks.


    I shake my head. “No idea.”


    He slides it back into the inside breast pocket of his jacket.


    “I have some more questions for Mrs. Grey. How is she?”


    “She’s good. She’s remarkably tough.”


    “Hmm… Is she here?”


    “She’s at work. You could phone her.”


    “I see. I prefer a more hands-on approach. I’d like to talk to her again, face-to-face,” rk grunts.


    “I’m sure I can make that happen. Given the intense press interest in my wife and me, I would request


    that you go to her office.”


    “I can do that.” He nods and sits quietly while I send a quick e-mail to Hannah to see when Ana might


    be free.


    “Hyde had a gun. Does he have a license for it?”


    “We’re checking.”


    “Have you spoken with the FBI team investigating the sabotage of my helicopter?”


    “We’ve been in touch.”


    “Good. I suspect he might be behind that, too.”


    “Hmm… He does seem a little obsessed.”


    “A little.” I tell him about Hyde’sputer hard drive, and all the information he had umted about


    my family.


    rk frowns. “Interesting. Can we have ess to that?”


    “By all means. I’ll ask my IT people to send it to you.”


    Myputer pings, announcing a response from Hannah.


    “My wife is free at three this afternoon at her office.”


    “Excellent. Well, I won’t keep you, Mr. Grey.”


    He stands, as do I. “I’m relieved you have him. And hopefully he’ll stay behind bars for a long time.”


    rk’s smile is menacing, and I suspect he’s thinking the same. “Great view you have from up here,”


    he says.


    “Thank you.”


    Taylor shows him out and Ipose an e-mail.


    From: Christian Grey


    Subject: Statement


    Date: August 26 2011 13:04


    To: Anastasia Grey


    Anastasia


    Detective rk will be visiting your office today at 3 p.m. to take your statement.


    I have insisted that he shoulde to you, as I don’t want you going to the police station.


    Christian Grey


    CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.


    I go back to searching through the contents of Hyde’sputer. An e-mail arrives from Ana.


    From: Anastasia Grey


    Subject: Statement


    Date: August 26 2011 13:12


    To: Christian Grey


    Okay.


    A x


    Anastasia Grey


    Editor, SIP


    At least I get a kiss.


    I open up Hyde’s files once more. He has a great deal about Carrick in one of the files. Why is he so


    interested in my dad? I don’t get it.


    Notification of an e-mail from Ana pops up on my screen.


    From: Anastasia Grey


    Subject: Your Flight


    Date: August 26 2011 13:24


    To: Christian Grey


    What time did you decide toe back to Seattle yesterday?


    Anastasia Grey


    Editor, SIP


    The kiss is missing. I respond.


    From: Christian Grey


    Subject: Your Flight


    Date: August 26 2011 13:26


    To: Anastasia Grey


    Why?


    Christian Grey


    CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.


    From: Anastasia Grey


    Subject: Your Flight


    Date: August 26 2011 13:29


    To: Christian Grey


    Call it curiosity.


    Anastasia Grey


    Editor, SIP


    What is she trying to find out? I send a glib answer.


    From: Christian Grey


    Subject: Your Flight


    Date: August 26 2011 13:32


    To: Anastasia Grey


    Curiosity killed the cat.


    Christian Grey


    CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.


    From: Anastasia Grey


    Subject: Huh?


    Date: August 26 2011 13:35


    To: Christian Grey


    What is that oblique reference to? Another threat?


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    You know where I am going with this, don’t you?


    Did you decide to return because I went out for a drink with my friend after you asked me not to, or did


    you return because a madman was in your apartment?


    Anastasia Grey


    Editor, SIP


    Hell. I stare at the screen, uncertain what to say. It wasn’t a threat.


    Jesus.


    She knows I came back before I knew about Hyde. If she doesn’t, she hasn’t done the time-zone math.


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