Chapter Fifteen #2
Hawk’s last demand on the companies doing all the work was the most important.
No outside labor. Only seasoned, trusted employees were allowed on-site.
Hawk used the bomb threat as a reason for his demand.
Their company didn’t need to be caught in the crosshairs of an active investigation with the authorities digging into the bomb threat.
And should this person strike again, every new person on the scene would be suspected.
No one raised an argument.
It was after four when Hawk made his way to the executive floor, seeking out Chase.
Dee informed him that Chase was busy on a call.
“I’ll wait in Alex’s office.”
Dee didn’t seem to know what to do with that information other than stare before Hawk walked away from her desk.
Inside Alex’s office, Hawk moved around and considered where he should place the truly hidden cameras he would have the following day. The kind that didn’t come from a home improvement store or Amazon delivery.
The door to the office opened, and Chase walked in.
“I’m told you had a productive day,” Chase said.
“Your spies are everywhere, huh?” Hawk smiled.
“Busa has his ear to the ground at CMS, and our employees mingle with others in the building. My employees aren’t fearful of losing their jobs if they venture an unpopular opinion. They talk to Busa, Busa talks to me ... It’s a win-win.”
“Which means your employees at CMS are your spies.”
Chase nodded. “Yeah. Essentially. That and Julia. She’s at the top of the corporate chain of gossip and texts Piper constantly.”
“Your spies are right. There are a dozen things in process. By next Monday, you’ll have a monitored garage. The key cards your employees use to enter the building will be used for the garage. If someone parks their car but never comes inside, we’ll know it.”
“And the guests coming into the building will have to utilize the outdoor lot,” Chase said.
“As it should be,” Hawk mused.
Chase moved to Alex’s desk and stared at the empty chair behind it.
“She hasn’t taken a break,” he said. “I can count on one hand how many days she hasn’t been in that chair since our father died.
” Chase lifted one finger up in the air.
“The day we found Max and confronted him. And that was only a half a day.” A second finger went up.
“The day we attended Max’s mother’s funeral .
..” Chase studied the ceiling for a moment, then lowered his hand.
“That’s it. Wait ... and an hour or maybe two at the end of the day, and only because she has an evening event that requires her to go home and get ready. ”
“I’m surprised she hasn’t gotten sick,” Hawk said.
“True. But ... my point is, her absence is going to be noticed.”
Hawk shook his head. “I still don’t think she should have a predictable schedule.”
“I agree. We all do. Truth is, we’re worried about her. Piper is trying to convince her to take some time off. Get out of town.”
“She’d still need protection.”
“Of course,” Chase said. “That goes without saying. If we can convince her to go off the grid for a while, can I count on you to see that she’s safe?”
Hawk found the question strange. “That’s what you’re paying me for.”
Chase raised a brow. “True. Although I’m not sure how it would work if she went to Europe or played in the snow for a week in Colorado. Would you have a tag team watching over her?”
“Depends. If she’s in a high-profile location, then yes. If she’s truly off the grid and no one knows where she’s at, then no.”
Chase smiled then. “Okay. There’s no way we’re going to convince her to take off until after Piper and I are back. She’ll never go along with us postponing our honeymoon.”
“I feel for anyone trying to get your sister to do something she doesn’t have her heart in doing.”
“We have a little over two weeks to work on her.”
A knock sounded on the office door.
“Come in,” Chase called out.
Dee walked in with her hands filled with a bouquet of yellow roses in a glass vase.
“These came for Ms. Stone.”
Chase stared at the flowers like he didn’t know what they were. “From who?”
Hawk stepped forward. “Who brought them up?”
“A delivery—”
Hawk cussed under his breath, cutting her off. “No more direct deliveries to this floor. Pizza, flowers ... anything.”
Dee blinked several times, turned to look at Chase, then back to Hawk.
She held out the blooms. “What do you want me to do with these?”
Hawk took them from her.
“Thank you, Dee. We’ll make sure the new rules are expressed to everyone.”
“Is there a problem? Did someone threaten Ms. Stone?” Dee asked.
“It’s a precaution,” Chase said quickly.
Hawk moved to the desk and set the flowers down.
Dee left the room in silence, closing the door behind her.
Hawk stared at the small envelope with Alexandrea Stone written on it.
“Any idea who these could be from?” Hawk asked.
Chase shook his head. “If there was a man in her life, we’d know it.”
Hawk reached for the card. “The last time someone sent her a package, it was under a car and disguised as a bomb.”
Chase and Hawk locked eyes.
Hawk held up the card and looked for a hint of permission to open it. Not that he needed it, but if this were personal ...
That thought left a strange taste in Hawk’s mouth.
Yeah, he didn’t need permission.
He pulled the small note from the tiny envelope and read.
I’ve heard of your troubles. I’m here to help if you need me.
Ashraf
Hawk handed the note to Chase.
What the hell was Ashraf Bakshai doing sending Alex flowers?
“The oil guy?” Chase asked.
Hawk nodded.
“You don’t think he could be behind last Friday?”
“That wouldn’t have been my first guess.”
But Hawk wasn’t about to rule the man out.