Chapter 27
RORY
Reaching out, I stand and clasp the hand of the most Viking-like man I’ve ever seen. “Thanks for stopping by.”
“Not a problem.” Agent Dawson rises to his feet with me and shakes my hand. “We’ll get out of your hair. Thank you, Ms. Foster, for your help.”
“Of course,” Savannah returns diffidently at my side.
After Savannah ended the call with her lawyer, Rio Flores, we came back to the penthouse.
Savannah took a shower alone, much to my dismay.
Then Rio and his friend, Special Agent Asher Dawson, came over.
The conversation went smoothly as Savannah explained everything to Rio and Asher.
She sat on one end of the couch with Luke and me on either side of her.
Hunter took a seat, strategically placing himself between the two other men and us.
Asher gives her an encouraging smile. “If I have any more questions, I’ll give you a call.”
Rio steps up next to Asher and clears his throat.
Asher rolls his eyes. “What? I’m not going to call you. We live under the same roof.”
“You may submit any requests for a meeting via email.” Rio straightens his tie, picks up his briefcase from the floor, and walks toward the elevator.
Asher glares at the back of Rio’s head. “I’m telling Spencer you said that.”
“She’ll back me up,” Rio says over his shoulder.
Sighing, Asher rubs his eyes with his thumb and index finger. Dropping his hand, he says to Savannah, “Reach out if you need anything.”
Savannah nods. “Thank you. I will.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Hunter offers and gestures the way Rio went. Asher nods, and they leave the living room together.
“I’ll help,” I add.
Luke gives me a confused look, and I widen my eyes in return. When he still doesn’t get it, I tilt my head to the side, and understanding dawns on his face.
“Why don’t you go lie down?” Luke urges Savannah. She nods in agreement and heads to her room.
Savannah puts on a good face, but that conversation drained her. At the beginning, her back was ramrod straight. But slowly, she deflated, leaning into Luke’s side. She needs rest.
I tilt my head again, and Luke and I stalk toward the elevator. As we get there, the doors are closing on Asher and Rio bickering back and forth about the woman Spencer, whom they mentioned a few minutes ago.
Hunter turns around, taking notice of our serious expressions. “What’s going on?”
Luke rubs the back of his neck. “We found something in Savannah’s apartment when we were packing for her.”
Hunter raises a brow. “Finding a woman’s panties is inevitable when you go through her dresser. I don’t see how that’s something to note.”
Luke lets out an exasperated sigh. “There was more than underwear in her dresser.”
“Luke found a few pieces of jewelry—” I begin.
“A normal thing for a person to have,” Hunter interposes as he folds his arms across his chest.
I rub my eyes in frustration. “But it’s what was with the jewelry that’s alarming.”
“Okay,” Hunter says, unsure. “Show me. Cough it up.”
I turn my head to Luke, who stalks away and returns a moment later with the clear bags.
“You hid those in the damn kitchen? She could’ve found them.” I lightly smack Luke’s shoulder with the back of my hand.
Luke hits me back with a little more force than I used. “She wouldn’t have. I have hiding places all over the penthouse.” Then he holds out the bag to Hunter.
Snatching the items, Hunter examines the contents with a frown. He moves them around in the bag to get a good view at each note. His brows pinch. “Who is the Shepherd?”
“We haven’t the slightest idea.” Luke slips his fits into his pockets.
Hunter chews on the inside of his cheek, shaking the bag slightly at us. “I’m assuming Savannah doesn’t know you found these?”
“As far as we know.” I shrug.
Hunter nods. “I think we should keep it that way.”
“Secrets, secrets are no fun…” I trail off as I rock back and forth on the balls of my feet, uncomfortable with all the idea.
“Why? She clearly has a stalker,” Luke argues with Hunter.
I understand why Hunter wants to keep what we found on the down low. He likes to have all the facts before confrontation. But I understand Luke’s concern as well. This isn’t some slimy businessman we’re trying to get dirt on before getting into bed with him.
This is Savannah. She’s different. She’s my Dream Girl.
Hunter tilts his head toward Luke, with raised brows, “Or a grumpy ex-boyfriend.”
“An ex-boyfriend wouldn’t write notes that sound like a creepy-as-fuck pastor giving a Sunday School lesson.” Luke’s shoulders tense, and his jaw ticks with frustration.
I take a small step forward, putting myself between Luke and Hunter. I don’t think they’ll come to blows, but you never know. It’s not like we’ve been in this situation before. “Are we thinking the stalker and the attacker are the same person?”
“Seems most likely to me.” Luke drops his head at an angle.
“But what if it isn’t?” Hunter counters, playing devil’s advocate. He looks back at the bag in his hand. “Are these daisies?”
The tension in Luke deflates as he answers Hunter. “I think so. I’m not a botanist.”
“Why daisies?” Hunter narrows his eyes.
“Who knows?” I lift my hands at my sides, palms up.
“It has to have significance, especially since this Shepherd made sure the earrings and the necklace were the same flower.” Hunter looks closer, drawing in a slow, deliberate breath. “These are custom made.”
“What?” My head flinches back.
“How do you know?” Luke stands next to Hunter, searching for what he found.
“That.” Hunter points to something on the back of the delicate pendant.
Moving to get a look for myself, I squint to see the tiny jeweler’s logo. I recognize it instantly. It’s a simple, clean V stamp. “That’s Pascal Vireaux’s emblem. He owns Vireaux Atelier in the Diamond District.”
Hunter whips his head to me. “How do you know that?”
“Not just a pretty face,” I remark smugly, but Hunter and Luke aren’t amused. “I dated a woman who loved his stuff.”
“Could you—” Hunter starts.
“Meet with him and ask about who ordered the earrings and necklace?” I interrupt then snatch the bag away from Hunter. “Of course.”
“Luke, check CCTV footage and see if I can figure out who Shepherd is,” Hunter directs.
“We would need to ask Savannah when and where she received the jewelry. We don’t know if it was left for her at work, waiting on her doorstep, or something else,” Luke points out.
“We can’t,” Hunter insists. He paces back and forth for a minute, contemplating the posed problem. He finally stops, staring down at his feet. “I think it’s time we call in Hollis Calder.”
“Who is Hollis Calder?”
The three of us promptly turn our heads. Savannah stands there, dressed in tiny sleep shorts and a large shirt that hangs only on one shoulder. We stand there frozen in place like we were all caught with our hands in the cookie jar.
Savannah’s gaze watches us intently as we fumble for an answer to give her. I can tell the moment her eyes snag on the bag I’m holding.
The muscles of her throat work as she swallows nervously. “Where did you get those?”
Shit.
So much for keeping it a secret.