Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
MAYA
Isit back and watch Ana look around uncomfortably. I've never asked her about Joshua, but from the looks of it, they are going to play like they don't know each other.
Everyone turns to look at her. Her shoulders are hunched, her posture caving in on itself.
She is going to close up and not talk, but I need her to tell us.
It will be a step toward her healing, she needs to do this.
She looks at me and I reach out to take her hand.
I hope she knows I'm offering her strength and support.
"What do you want to know, Mr. Donovan?" she asks shyly.
"Mrs. Davidson, how about you tell me a little about your husband?" he asks.
"My husband, Jonathon, works for a consulting firm.
He works with foreign diplomats. Mostly, he met them through my father's connections to the British Consulate in Tel Aviv.
I know he has worked with some Pakistani, Ukrainians, some Palestinians, and I believe some men from the Philippines and even here in the States.
His job is highly stressful and he can get angry.
I decided several weeks ago that I needed to get out.
Last evening I got on a plane to come to Maya.
I guess he's not happy, as Maya says." She presses her other hand gently to her face.
"Mrs. Davidson, can I call you Anabel?"
"No, but you can call me Ana."
"Ana, what did Jonathon mean he 'wants it back'?" I ask her. She shakes her head.
"Can you ask me another question? I'm not ready to answer that question."
"Ana, we need to know what we're up against to protect you," Joshua says
"I'll not go back to him. If you don't help me, Maya gave me enough money to disappear, and I will."
"Ana, we aren't asking you to go back. We won't judge. I'll not judge. I want to protect you," he says as he kneels in front of her and he takes her hand in his.
"I met Jonathon at university. He was such a gentleman when we met.
I tried to tell him I wasn't interested.
I was seeing someone else at the time, but he'd always be waiting for me.
When that relationship ended, we saw more of each other.
I began to suspect he wasn't truthful with me.
I never met any of his family. He'd say he was raised in London but didn't know his way around it.
He'd say words like Maya does. The first time he hurt me I can't talk about right now. After our engagement, he beat me so severely, I had a hard time hiding the bruises from Daddy. In December, the beatings got worse. I had to stay home to hide the damage. Finally, in January, I found out I was pregnant. I won’t raise my baby around him.
I need to make sure he doesn't take my baby from me or hurts my family.
" She pauses and takes a deep breath. "He has meetings at the flat sometimes, so I recorded a few of them.
Also, I copied his emails, paperwork, and some videos.
They're all hidden somewhere safe and he wants them back. "
"You took the documents?"
"No, I copied them, then gave some of them to a friend who works for the Post."
"What!" Duncan and I exclaim. Joshua grabs her hand again to focus her on him.
"What's the name of the firm Jonathon works for? Do you know anyone's names? Also, where's the information hidden?"
"It's called Consulting Incorporated, I think.
I wasn't allowed to go to work functions.
The only names I know are Lawrence Andrews and Stephan Landers, they'd come to the flat for meetings sometimes. Lawrence is my Uncle Marcus’s nephew.
Something happened in December that made Jonathon mad at Lawrence.
There's another man who calls Jonathon a lot, but I don't know his name; Jonathon calls him Sir.
Another American, an angry one, started calling too.
I don't know any more than that couple. The documents and emails have some names attached.
I've overheard him talking to a couple of different men who scare him.
The evidence is hidden back in London, I can't tell you where yet.
It's the only collateral I have to protect myself and my baby. "
The phone for downstairs rings, everyone except Ana and me jumps up. Derek answers, and grants access to the deliveryman. Joshua hands him some cash to cover for his men. After the deliveryman leaves, Duncan brings a plate to both Ana and me.
"Ana, does Jonathon know you're pregnant?" Joshua asks.
"No."
"Your father is safe for now, and we need to keep you safe."
"My friend at the Post was killed last week. Jonathon threatened to kill Daddy and Duncan if I ever left him. He'd tell me that he'd make sure that Maya was hurt real bad, but he needed her alive. He also knew about Derek and Greg, he threatened them too."
"I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise!" His eyes search hers and Ana drops her gaze so he can't read her feelings. He still cares for her, but she is so broken now I don't know if she can care for him too.
"Hey, Bossman, she's right about the reporter for the Post, although the reports are he died in a car crash," Timothy says, interrupting the quiet of everyone eating.
"Okay. Maya, tomorrow I'm going with you as a representative of our solicitor and the company. We have an attorney on retainer here also if necessary. Mr. Flemish has arranged everything for you." Joshua starts giving orders.
"I won't need you. I'll have a union rep. Hiring Mr. Flemish to handle all my legal matters, plus the company, was a good idea, he's earning his money now." I laugh.
"You're a partner in my firm. I will not have them smearing your name. In fact, how about we say you were acting on the company's behalf when you went to go get Ana? Plus, after the other attack, they're going to be watching you closer."
"I already told them I was just picking up a friend.
I identified myself as a police officer and Secret Service agent.
They'll probably have a problem with conflict of interest. I do know the previous attack is connected to today's attack, Jonathon all but admitted he knows who did it.
I'll take whatever help you offer though, something isn't right with what went down. "
"Okay."
"Wait, Joshua, did you just say Maya is a partner with the company?" Duncan asks, and all eyes focus on Joshua and me.
"Yes. She bought into the company with equal shares today." The whole room hushes. His men won't question him, although Duncan might be upset because I didn't tell him myself.
"Maya, is this right?" Yep, saw this coming.
"Yes, when we talked yesterday, I offered to buy in. You wanted me to work with you, right?"
"Yes, I do want you to work for us, baby. Can you afford to buy into the partnership though?"
"It's done. Don't worry, Big Guy." I smile at him and watch him calm instantly.
I look over at Ana. She doesn't know how strong she really is. I watch Joshua watching her. Him professing to protect her with his very life should've signaled Duncan, but he's so focused on me right now.
"Timothy, get a hold of James, ask him who he introduced Jonathon to. Also, run a more in-depth check into Jonathon's latest meetings." Timothy nods and starts working on his laptops. Joshua turns to me after giving that order. "Maya, what can you tell me about the attackers?"
Work mode, I’ve got this. I sit up straighter, feeling the pull in my ribs. I push my watch into my wrist, Derek steps up, knowing what I'm doing.
"East coast accents, trying to cover them by pretending they were southern, they carried .
45 revolvers. The one who got off the plane with Ana was supposed to be detained by TSA but was able to get away.
All had no IDs on them according to Philly PD.
The first shooter Duncan shot called me girly, just like the guy who attacked me at the gym did, and the guy from Duncan's condo. "
"Good. Anything, Duncan?"
"No formal military training, although they appeared to have some formal training with the guns.
The bloke who shot Maya did a center mass shot.
Other than what Maya said, I didn't talk, I just killed.
The one who shot Maya was not wearing a vest. She buried a knife in his chest before I dropped him. Now tell me about this other attack?"
"Wait, can I interrupt?" Ian asks. "Did you say she buried a knife in a git's chest? After she buried one in another's throat? Bossman, she sounds as good as you with knives." I smile at him.
"Not right now, Ian," Joshua gruffly replies. He's all business now too.
"Duncan, a guy was sent to my gym to challenge me to a fight.
I thought we were just training, but he attacked the gym owner and me.
When I finally took him down and handcuffed him, the cops took him away.
He was killed that night in a gang fight in the jail.
I never got to question him. He told me he'd kill you if I didn't stay away from you, and Ana would be hurt unless I stopped my investigation into Jonathon.
After the note I received at your flat, I knew you weren't safe, even with me away from you.
They're going to use you against me, just like with Ana.
I won't let that happen. When I got home that same night, my second knife that was stolen was stuck in my door with a note about killing someone and hurting another for me.
We found out that David's shooting was about me, not him. "
"Anything else, Maya, I see you chewing on something," Joshua asks as he lowers his brows and gives a hard look to Ian to keep him quiet.