Gail returns in minutes with Taylor.
"Mrs Grey I understand you need my assistance"
"Yes, thank you Taylor but perhaps I am over reacting a little"
"No Ana, you have been a little suspicious from the beginning and I am feeling the same to be honest" Gail admits.
Taylor looks concerned
"What are you thinking Taylor?" I probe.
"I need to speak to Mr Grey about…"
"No, I don't want him worried about something that could be nothing, he has enough on his plate right now" I reply.
"But Mrs Grey, if he finds out what we…"
"I take full responsibility Taylor and when the time comes, if it comes, I will inform Christian of our issue" I say it firmly.
"Ok Mrs Grey, what would you like me to do exactly?" Taylor answers back.
"I want small discrete cameras in the office and the nursery to begin with, running and monitored 24 hours a day with the recordings to be viewed by you and Sawyer for any signs of trouble"
"Ana, can I propose something in your bedroom too?" Gail suggests.
I feel a little bashful about having a camera in the bedroom but I can have it connected to a different system and for my eyes only.
"Yes, but different system and for my eyes only" I can't help but blush "Can you arrange that Taylor?"
"Of course Mrs Grey, I just need to know when Mr Grey is out of the building and Niamh of course. It shouldn't take any more than an hour or two to complete" Taylor advises.
"Ok, I will liaise with Gail to get them both out of the apartment, please just be ready to go at short notice"
Taylor nods before leaving the room, Gail, seeing the building stress on my face comes closer and puts her arm around me, which in turn allows the flood gates to open, I cry for a while before Niamh interrupts, she looks shocked to find us in the nursery. She mumbles her apologies and she hastily backs out of the room again.
I dry my tears, shake myself down and go and attend to my children.
The following day Gail informs me Taylor has all the equipment ready to go whenever I am ready so knowing Christian is going to work for an important meeting tomorrow and should be gone for at least 4 hours, Niamh is going to be sent on a shopping trip by Gail under the guise of getting ingredients for baking a special cake, Nanna's favourite to take with us for the scattering service.
I feel like I am betraying Christian by not telling him what is going on but with Gramps passing, his own health, work and everything else, I don't want to put more stress on him especially if nothing bad is actually happening and my own paranoia is to blame.
I am nervous and jumpy to the point that Christian asks me if I am alright, I cover by saying I feel a little chilly. Christian wraps his arms around me and I sink back into his comfort, familiarity and care.
"Is that better baby?" he asks.
"I always feel better when I am wrapped in your arms" I smile up at him.
"Ditto baby, ditto, my worries disappear for a few moments" he smiles back before kissing the top of my head.
I almost crack and tell him what I am doing but manage to stop myself. I will tell him but not until after Gramps ashes have been scattered and maybe something will have shown up on the tapes.
The next day I am anxious again until finally after what seems like ages, Christian leaves for the office. About thirty minutes later I hear Gail packing Niamh off with a shopping list with some hard to find ingredients on it so we have the maximum amount of time to get things set up.
Gail finds Taylor and Sawyer and they get to work installing the office first, tucking an extremely small camera and microphone amongst a rarely used shelf of books but that has prime view over Christian's desk. The nursery is a little easier; the camera/microphone is tucked up on the curtain rail so you would have to be right up to it to see any evidence. Our bedroom however is a little more difficult but eventually decide to put it up on top of the wardrobe over my side of the room.
Taylor takes me to the 'observation station' situated in his office where I can see the office and nursery cameras operational, our bedroom camera has a separate screen and Taylor has password protected it with only a word he and I know.
I instantly feel more relaxed; they are up and running, filming and recording all of the time. Gail will report to me daily with any information so no suspicions can be drawn from frequent visits from Taylor.
About 20 minutes later, slightly defeated, Niamh returns having trawled the stores, eventually being successful in purchasing most of the ingredients required by Gail.
Gail gets to work baking a cake so as not to seem suspicious. When Niamh is out of earshot I remark to Gail that I feel like Cagney and Lacey or Rizzoli and Isles, two female detectives following leads, catching the bad guys and that sets us off in a fit of giggles until tears roll. Niamh walks past and looks quizzically at us both but carries on with her duties.
The apartment buzzer rings interrupting our laughter, Niamh opens the door, to my surprise Kate and Ashleigh come through the door.
"Kate! Sweetie, how are you? Is everything alright?" I panic slightly.
"No everything is fine, we needed some air and a little company if I am not interrupting anything" Kate asks.
"Not at all, How is my little niece?" I coo at Ashleigh.
"I will put the kettle on, tea or coffee?" Gail offers.
"Tea would be wonderful, thank you Gail" Kate acknowledges.
I lay a blanket out on the floor so Ashleigh, Max and Melissa can roll around together and Kate and I can sit on the sofa to have a chat.
"You are looking fantastic Kate, Ashleigh is sleeping better?" I compliment.
"She is much better and I love my sleep" we both chuckle.
"How's Elliot?"
"So busy right now, in fact I feel like I haven't not seen him in days, beginning to feel a bit lonely hence my invasion" Kate looks a little sad.
"Oh Kate you know you can come around anytime"
"I know, it's just I know you have a lot on your plate right now and I don't want to add to it" Kate confesses.
"Kate you are my best friend and soon to be sister-in-law, I am always here for you, day or night, ok?"
"Thank you. So how is Christian? Is he coping ok?" Kate asks.
"He is ok, he has not talked much but I know in time he will open up, I think once the scattering ceremony is done he will relax a bit and…" I think my face shows some guilt.
"What's wrong Ana?" Kate looks concerned.
I look around for Niamh, I can't see her but I suggest going for a walk, Gail is happy to watch all 3 children and Sawyer accompanies us to a local park.
"What's going on Ana?"
"I think Niamh is up to something so I had Taylor install cameras in the office, nursery and our bedroom" Kate raises her eyebrow at the latter "I know, I know what you are thinking but only Taylor and I have the password to access the film" I blush and Kate giggles.
"What do you think is going on Ana?"
"I'm not sure to be honest but I caught her in the office around the drawers and she really doesn't need to be in the office except to perhaps collect empty mugs or a plate from the desk, she has no need to go anywhere near the drawers" I tell her.
"Oh my goodness, I am surprised Christian didn't fire her on the spot!" Kate exclaims.
"He doesn't know Kate" Guilt washes over me again.
"Oh, why not?"
"He has enough going on and I didn't want to bother him with something that maybe nothing"
"He will be pissed when he finds out though" Kate says truthfully.
"I'm going to wait until after tomorrow, see if anything has shown up on the tapes that I can show him"
"Hmm, I guess it would be best to wait, let him settle until afterwards"
I see Sawyer walking toward us in a way I now recognise as brisk and likely we need to move on quickly.
I stand and advise Kate to do the same.
"We need to go Mrs Grey, Miss Kavanagh, some reporters are gathering, I think it is best to move on" Sawyer says in his concerned manner.
"Of course Sawyer, let's go"
The three of us hurry back to the car, fortunately ahead of the journalists but not before they have got a few pictures and shouted a few invasive questions at us which are ignored of course.
Back at home, Gail has been busy with the children, the three of them are now asleep and refreshments are waiting for us.
Gail reports nothing suspicious on tape so far and I am disappointed in one way as I hoped it could all be over but realistic enough to know that if she is up to something then she is going to be very careful and most likely to act when the house is empty.
Kate takes Ashleigh home and shortly afterwards Christian comes home.
"Was that Kate I saw leaving just now?" Christian asks.
"Yes it was, she was feeling a little lonely so came around for a visit with Ashleigh" I tell him.
"Is everything alright?"
"I think Elliot is away from home quite a bit at the moment, busy with work by the sounds of it" I say.
"I will see if I can talk to him tomorrow" Christian says.
"Good idea"
"Dinner will be ready at 6pm Mr and Mrs Grey" Niamh interrupts both our thoughts.
"Thank you Niamh" Christian replies "Ana, I have some more work to do but I want to spend some time with Max and Melissa first…coming?" I nod and we head to the nursery.
I watch Christian interact with his children and although he still seems a little frightened of picking them up through fear of hurting them, he is becoming more relaxed and beginning to enjoy them more and more. After a time I can see him becoming more distracted, I think about tomorrow and Gramps ash scattering service, feeding time is due so I suggest Christian goes to his office while Gail and I give them bottles.
When they are done, I ask Gail to watch them as I want to look through today's tapes from the bedroom. I sit in Taylor's office scanning the tape; fortunately Taylor showed me how to fast forward otherwise I would be asleep before an hour had passed.
About 3 hours in and when Kate and I had gone out, I see Niamh enter the bedroom which in itself is ok, she has to put laundry away, clean, dust, etc. but when she opens Christian's bed-side drawer, obviously looking for something, my heart sinks and I feel sick. She has no need or right to go in to those drawers. I pause and make a note of the time on a piece of paper before carrying on further. The rest of the tape is clear so I leave the office, go in to our bedroom and check Christian's drawer. Nothing is missing so that means she is looking for something.
Back in the nursery I ask Gail to tell Taylor what I have seen, indicating the piece of paper with the time written on it. Gail looks sickened and worried. The twins are asleep so Gail goes to see Taylor and I need a shower, I walk back to the bedroom, in to the bathroom and promptly vomit in the toilet.
A/N: Thanks for your support and feedback.