“I see. I prefer a more hands-on approach. I’d like to talk to her again, face-to-face,” Clark 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’s computer hard drive, and all the information he had accumulated about my family.
Clark frowns. “Interesting. Can we have access to that?”
“By all means. I’ll ask my IT people to send it to you.”
My computer 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.”
Clark’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 I compose an e-mail.
From: Christian Grey
Subject: Statement
Date: August 26 2011 13:04
To: Anastasia Grey
Anastasia
Detective Clark will be visiting your office today at 3 p.m. to take your statement.
I have insisted that he should come 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’s computer. 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 to come 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?
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.
What can I say?
I’m staring blankly out of the window when Mrs. Jones knocks on my office door.
“Would you like some lunch?”
“Yeah. Sure. Thank you, Gail.”
“Very good, Mr. Grey.” With a polite smile she leaves me with my thoughts. I’m still trying to think of something to respond to Ana, when I hear the ping of a new message arriving from my iMac.
From: Anastasia Grey
Subject: Here’s the Thing…
Date: August 26 2011 13:56
To: Christian Grey
I will take your silence as an admission that you did indeed return to Seattle because I CHANGED MY MIND. I am an adult female and went for a drink with my friend. I did not understand the security ramifications of CHANGING MY MIND because YOU NEVER TELL ME ANYTHING. I found out from Kate that security has, in fact, been stepped up for all the Greys, not just us. I think you generally overreact where my safety is concerned, and I understand why, but you’re like the boy crying wolf.
I never have a clue about what is a real concern or merely something that is perceived as a concern by you. I had two of the security detail with me. I thought both Kate and I would be safe. Fact is, we were safer in that bar than at the apartment. Had I been FULLY INFORMED of the situation, I would have taken a different course of action.
I understand your concerns are something to do with material that was on Jack’s computer here—or so Kate believes. Do you know how annoying it is to find out my best friend knows more about what’s going on with you than I do? And I am your WIFE. So are you going to tell me? Or will you continue to treat me like a child, guaranteeing that I continue to behave like one?
You are not the only one who is fucking pissed. Okay?
Ana
Anastasia Grey