Chapter 62
CHAPTER 62
ELIJAH
P en returns a while later and I sense immediately something is wrong. I’ve been pacing the floor after her call.
“We need to apprehend him,” I say.
“No, we don’t. I promise he knows no more than we do,” I say. Needle is a first-class prick, but I’m not going to mess up his cover. “He gave us all he knows.”
“What the hell do these people want with Harper?” I ask, running a hand through my hair.
“That’s what we need to find out. I know it’s hard, but we need to be sensible. If we go in all guns blazing, we could make this worse,” Pen says, squeezing my arm. “Tell me what happened last year?”
“Not a lot. I made it clear to him that if he or any of his cronies went near April, there would be consequences.”
“What did you threaten him with?” Pen raises an eyebrow.
“A few skeletons he thought he’d hidden. I made him aware he wasn’t above the law, whatever his title, I’d hand my findings over to the police.”
The dossier I collated made me sick. The number of women who filed complaints of abuse over the years. Women who, like April, had worked at various clubs around the city. Complaints that magically disappeared as they were paid off or covered up. I’d even found hospital records of accidents Mrs Crawley had suffered over the years. The woman was either incredibly clumsy or, more likely, someone else was involved. Then there’s his son’s fiancé. She disappeared, and although I could find no wrongdoings, something did not feel right. I read the other girls’ statements after she disappeared. The man is a nasty piece of work. But then, after hearing him threaten April, I already knew that. However, having illegally obtained the documents, after I submitted them to the police, all they could do was file them and issue him a warning. However, his reputation was damaged.
“The police officer in charge may have had her hands tied, but she made a public statement by issuing the warning at his Gentleman’s Club. She told me she hates men like him who use their power and privilege to control and hurt,” I tell Pen.
“So do I. I’ll make a call. See what can be done. Do you still have copies of the files?”
I rub the back of my neck. “I didn’t exactly gain the information legally. It’s why the police couldn’t use them.”
Pen grins. “Are they official documents?”
I nod, as most of them were.
“Then have no fear. The people I know will deal with that side of things.”
“I really don’t want to know, do I?”
She shakes her head. “It’s in my past. But when the people I love are threatened, I’ll use every tool in my arsenal to protect them. If he or whoever he works with is going after Harper next, then I’m going to stop him, bring him down. No one hurts what is ours.”
She knows I will fight for my family. That’s never been in question. To know she will stand beside me... My pulse races as I stare at her. The determination in her eyes floors me. She means every word. I’ve always known Pen cares about my family, but going into battle for them? She already stated helping me might open a can of worms for her. What will it mean for her if she helps Harper?
“I love you,” I say, pulling her into my arms, knowing I will do everything in my power to protect her too.
She grins up at me and presses her lips to mine.
“Not as much as I love you. Now stop distracting me and get me those files. I need to make some phone calls.”
I step back and head to my office. I pick up the phone and make a call of my own.
“Mum,” I say. “We may have an issue.”
“Please to hear from you too. I heard about the hotel. Kat told me it’s under control, thanks to Pen.”
“There may be more.”
She moans. “Do we know where all this is coming from? Are they related?”
“Crawley,” I say.
Silence descends on the other end of the phone.
“That old bastard. Never knew why your dad allowed him anywhere near this family.”
“Was it a case of keeping your enemies closer?”
“I’m thinking it was. There was a lot more to your father than?—”
She cuts off.
“I’m not a child, Mum,” I say.
She sighs. “I know, but the past is done. Your father, gone. There’s no point dredging it up when he’s not here to answer any questions.”
“True.”
“What have you uncovered?”
“Apparently he’s going after Harper.”
Mum sucks in a breath. “Why?”
“We don’t know. Maybe because the rest of his plan has failed. She’s the baby of the family. The most vulnerable.”
“Do you know what he plans?”
“No.”
“Call Quentin. He may have heard something on the grapevine. If he has, I would have thought he’d have said something, but he may not know to look.”
“I will. And don’t worry. We’ll sort this.”
“I know you will. I have every faith in you.” There is another pause. “Elijah, I’m sorry I didn’t say anything. I honestly thought it was for the best. When you said nothing, I thought maybe you wanted to ignore it. When things between you and Darra got worse…I made a mistake, and I’ll take that with me to the end of my days.”
“Mum, I love you. I understand why you kept it quiet. But it was hard having to carry that knowledge alone. But you’re right. If I’d known you knew, I would’ve questioned whether I should’ve done more. I may have lost Lottie altogether.”
“I know,” she says quietly. “We will talk about this some more later.”
“We will.”
I disconnect the call, open my laptop, and my hidden directory. I scour my files until I spot the one I’m looking for.
“Okay, Pen, let’s see what your friends can do,” I mutter.