Chapter 30 – Seattle - Two Hours Before
Nothing gets me out of the funk than dinner and a few brews with friends. Thankfully Ray and Bubba dragged my gimpy ass out of my house for a trip to the brew house. I can't wait until I'm medically cleared to drive again. We spent two hours discussing Morton and the threat he poses not just to Ana but to Ray and Carla. According to Bubba's sources in Texas, Morton had mouthed off to fellow inmates about revenge, especially after the picture of Ana and Grey from her graduation made the newspapers and internet. Now that they were officially an item, she had more value than just revenge.
The plan was for the three of us to fly to New York tomorrow morning and watch over Ana. We trusted Taylor, but Ray and Bubba knew Morton and felt better keeping her in sight. Technically, I'm off work for four weeks while I heal up, so there wasn't anything stopping me from going with them, but I'd feel better checking on Escala before I went. As Taylor's second, regardless of the fact that I'm on medical leave, when he's out of town, I worry and in this case, I check up on the new guys.
Ray and Bubba wait for me downstairs as I gimp my way to the service elevator and head up to the penthouse. It's unusually quiet in the penthouse, so I head toward the security office when I hear them.
"Now where is Anastasia Steele?" a menacing male voice asks Gail.
"She doesn't live here," Gail replies with a quivering voice. All I can think is where the fuck are Harrison and Jackson? I send a quick text to both men, along with a text to Bubba and Ray to call the police as Escala has been compromised along with the security code. When neither CPO answer, I use my cell phone to tap into the security cameras and see Gail is in the Great Room with a guy and a girl. The girl is your typical Christian Grey submissive and if I remember the files on each woman correctly, this one is Leila Williams. The guy is almost my size and armed.
I take my opportunity when the big guys back is turned and lunge at him, taking us both to the floor with me on top. Putting someone's head through a glass table sucks when you go through the same fucking table. All I can do is yell to Gail to run and barricade herself in the staff quarters before calling Taylor. The police were on their way. Thankfully she follows instructions as gunfire begins in the main room and two guys came out of the security office who I hadn't seen before. I'm fucking screwed.
Locking the staff quarter's metal door behind me, I breathe a sigh of relief. After I push the hutch against the door, I head to my bedroom and lock myself in. It's then the gunshots begin. With shaking hands I call Jason in New York and his sleepy voice answers.
"Gail, what's wrong?" he asks instantly alert. He knows if I call at what is after midnight in New York, something is wrong.
"The apartment has been infiltrated. Harrison and Jackson are out cold in the security office and Leila Williams is here with three armed men," I stammer. "They are looking for Ana."
"Where are you now?"
"Barricaded in my room. Luke came by and they have him pinned down in the great room," I explain struggling to keep myself together. "The police are on their way."
I drop to the floor when I hear another barrage of bullets in the penthouse followed by dead silence. Breaking the quiet are Taylor's yells for me through the phone. "I'm okay. It was all in Mr. Grey's portion of the penthouse."
"Turn your television to AUX2 so you tap into the security cameras," he orders and I do as I'm told. The sight of Ray Steele and Bubba in the great room, guns still drawn as they secure the three men leaves me in tears. I can't see Sawyer at all though. "It's over. It looks like Escala is secure," I mumble into the phone.
"I see it," he counters. "Just don't go out there until the police are in the penthouse or Sawyer tells you to come out. Do you understand?"
"Yes," I sigh.
"We're on our way back. ETA is six hours. Do whatever Luke, Ray, or Bubba tell you to do. The police will secure Escala as a crime scene. Don't stay anywhere without security. Do you understand?"
"Yes"
"I love you Gail. We'll be there soon."
"This is a mess Taylor. How could our security team have failed to protect Gail and Escala?" Grey demands as we take off from Teterboro.
"No idea sir," I counter. "Once we hit cruising altitude, I'll download the security footage. We're just lucky Luke stopped by to check on the security team and had Bubba and Ray with him."
There was nothing worse than dealing with the situation at Escala but receiving a text from Reynolds that Ana bolted from the townhouse not long after us, was news I didn't want to give Grey. Reynolds theory was probably right. She must have heard Grey's conversation with Ros and thought it was about her. She's out and about in New York unprotected with her asshole former stepfather out for revenge. This entire miscommunication and running bullshit is something they both need to figure out. He should have told her he was leaving, why, and the security arrangements he'd made for her. He should have told her that her former step father number three made parole in part due to overcrowding and disappeared before his first meeting with his parole officer.
The in-flight phone rings and I pick up, "Taylor"
"Ana returned to the townhouse and told me to get Grey on the phone to tell him off," Reynolds informed me. "She said and I quote: I'm done running. If he wants to be an asshole, then screw him."
"We'll call you back shortly. Just keep her there and bring her up to date on both situations and the Idaho deal ending. Also, call Welch and have him send two additional security details to Savannah," I inform him before hanging up.
I head back and sit across from Grey. This isn't a conversation I want to have with him. It's none of my business how he treats his girlfriends as long as everything that happens is between two consenting adults, but when he doesn't communicate with her and leaves without a word, note, email, or text like he did, and not realizing there was a misunderstanding, well, it's a potential security nightmare. Right now, all I can think about is Gail. I want to be with her, not addressing this bullshit.
After a heavy sigh, I begin. "Ana overheard what you said to Ros on the phone and thought you were talking about her. She ran from the townhouse without security."
He looks lost and frightened. "It wasn't about her though."
"How is she to know this?" I ask. I know I'm being a complete and total shit when I intentionally avoid telling him that she returned on her own after being out for ten minutes, because I need him to realize he needs to communicate more effectively with her with regards to his efforts to keep her safe.
After a moment he shrugs and I continue. "We left without telling her or leaving a note of any type. It is only natural, after hearing what she did, that she felt tossed aside like a child's defective toy." I pause briefly for effect. "She came back to the penthouse a few minutes ago demanding that Reynolds call you so she can tell you that you are an asshole. Her words, not mine." Just my thoughts right now. "She's walking around New York for the past twenty-four hours without knowing that Morton made parole almost a week ago and isn't happy with her or Ray. She needs to know this. We can't adequately protect her without her buy in. I have Reynolds filling her in right now."
"How could I have fucked this up so badly?" Grey muttered running his hand through his hair. "All I could think about was Gail and I had to get home."
That's one thing about Grey, he cares about his staff – especially Gail. It's difficult to be angry with him when he has the woman I love's best interest at heart. "There are three additional teams heading toward the New York townhouse as we speak, so Ana will be adequately protected during the remainder of her stay in the city and at her conference. We have the benefit of no one knowing she's in the city. The moment she's finished with her last meeting, which is Sunday night, I've arranged a charter to bring her and Reynolds back to Seattle. Might I suggest you give Ana a quick call before we tap into the security footage at Escala and call Luke."
"Agreed." He goes to the phone on the jet and briefly talks to Ana apologizing repeatedly. I can tell she's apologizing as well. God, these two belong together, but we'll need handcuffs to keep them together. He'd probably enjoy that a little too much. At least she came back after briefly over-reacting – progress.
We then call Luke's cell phone. Surprisingly Ray Steele answers. "How's it going out there Ray? Thanks for helping out," Grey informs him. "Where's Sawyer?"
"Arguing with Seattle's finest as usual. They want to search the entire place as a crime scene, but Luke isn't letting them into your office, the bedrooms, or the staff quarters. The cops are getting pissed at him. They've nicknamed him Timex because he takes a licking and keeps on ticking," Ray laughs. "His response was less than politically correct. When we leave here we'll be taking Luke to get a few x-rays of that thick head of his and maybe a few more stitches. I hope you weren't partial to that crystal globe Christian as it met with an untimely death after it bounced off Luke's head. Your glass table bit the dust as well."
"Give me that," we hear Luke snap half-heartedly at Ray. "Hey T, here's what I've got so far other than a fucking headache and I'll be picking glass out of myself all weekend. Harrison and Jackson broke protocol and ordered pizza delivery, eating from the same place. Turns out the pizza appears to have been laced with something by the delivery driver – what appears on the security camera to be one Leila Williams in full delivery driver uniform. The police found a hidden camera in the private elevator. That's how they got the apartment code. With Harrison and Jackson out cold, it left Escala and Gail exposed. Williams bolted from the apartment via the fire escape, well at least I think it was the fire escape because it wasn't the elevators. Two of the guys that came with her are dead and the other isn't talking, though from what I've overheard from the police he's originally from Texas and was in jail with Morton a while back. They were looking for Ana."
"Is either dead guy Morton?" the boss asks.
"Negative. The big question to me is - aw fuck," we hear him mutter as he moves the phone from his face. "Look detective, I can prove using the security footage they weren't in Mr. Grey's office, the staff quarters, or the extra bedrooms, so there is no reason for your forensics team to make a mess in those areas."
We hear the detective state he'd like to anyway. Luke's response made us laugh. "First, I don't have the key. Grey is a control freak. No one has the key to his home office other than him. I mean the man works on billion dollar deals and information on those deals is in that office. I'm sure if I call Carrick Grey to come over he'll agree that there is no legal basis for your team to access areas of the apartment that weren't accessed by the assholes. I have Carrick Grey on speed dial as number four if you'd like me to call him so he can tear you a legal new one."
"You're an asshole Timex. It's a wonder no one has blown your brains out yet," the detective laughs.
"Fuck you Jake. You always were an uptight asshole after I screwed your sister. At least I dated her for six months," Luke replies laughing. "Remember, she cheated on me and not the other way around. Granted I wasn't too upset about it, but still, technically I was the wronged party."
"Dumb ass," the detective tells him. "We still on for our game of poker in two weeks or will you get yourself shot or beat up again you pussy?"
Luke laughs. "We're on. I like taking your money. There is nothing better than winning my hard- earned tax dollars back fair and square. Bring your Seattle PD friends."
"Just make sure your hot, redheaded friend with the great rack is there. I don't mind losing some cash if I can stare at her," the detective counters.
"She's in Scotland for the next few months Jake. Sorry to disappoint but her rack will have to wait until spring."
"In all seriousness though, this place is being declared a crime scene. No one can stay here for at least a few days," the detective informs him. "Your two security guys are going to be okay after a bit of rest. They were most likely slipped Rophenol in their take out. They're on their way to the hospital now."
"I figured that. I'll make sure Mrs. Jones gets what she needs before we leave tonight," he counters. "Under the circumstances Grey's on his way back from out of town. I'm sure he'd appreciate an update when he arrives. My place tomorrow at say ten a.m.?"
"Fine. Will Miss Steele be there? Since she was the intended target of this attack I'd like to talk with her and make sure she has adequate security," the detective counters.
"She left Seattle a few days ago and will not be returning until next week. Mr. Grey has provided a team of security to protect her in her travels."
"Where is she?"
"Sorry but I'm not revealing where she is Jake. You know as well as I do that will just sharpen the target that's on her back with Morton. The fewer people that know the better. There are security teams on her mother and latest stepfather as well just as a precaution."
"You're obstructing the investigation Sawyer," the detective threatens.
"I'll call my lawyer Carrick Grey if you want to go that route. Miss Steele had no involvement in the incident other than being the intended victim. Her past relationship as the stepdaughter of Morton is known. She has nothing to offer this investigation other than motive and I know you've seen the hospital records of the assault on Miss Steele when she was a teenager at his hands. I'm protecting my charge, which is Anastasia Steele. That's where my loyalty lies. Now how late will your team be here tonight and what time will they be back in the morning so I can have a security team member here? I will not allow access to the apartment without one of our team present."
"We need another hour tonight, then tomorrow around eight the second forensics team will be in to continue," the detective replies. "You're an asshole Timex. How about at least acting like we're on the same side?"
"Where's the fun in that? We've known each other too long Jake to not push each other's buttons. Just find the woman and anyone else who might be involved with this mess. I don't like getting shot at especially given the Texas parole board are a bunch of assholes who let a convicted felon out on good behavior and the shit hits the fan here almost immediately afterward. So yeah, I'm pissed off. As someone born in Texas I'm allowed to bitch about my home state."
"Get that head and your hands taken care of before what little brains you have left leak out Timex," the detective counters. "We'll talk again before we leave tonight."
"Back, sorry about that," Luke informs us when he has the phone against his ear. "Long fucking night."
"Timex?" Grey asks with a smirk on his face. "So you take a licking and keep on ticking?"
"Yeah but not the type of licking I'd prefer," Sawyer mutters. "I had Bubba help Gail pack what she needs for a few days. Ray and Bubba are taking her to my place until I finish up here with the police. I hope you don't mind but I called Dr. T to prescribe something to calm Gail down. She's an emotional mess. She agreed to meet Gail at my house."
"Take care of her Luke," Grey orders. "She, not Escala is your number one priority."
"Understood and agreed. Just be prepared as the media is congregating at Escala."
When we hang up Grey comments that Sawyer is exceptional at his job. The perfect number two. I agree. I knew he would be, that is why I recommended him a few years back. He's got enough connections in Seattle for them to come in handy on occasion, like today. Even though the detective called him an asshole multiple times, it was half-hearted between old friends.
I couldn't help but repeatedly stare at my watch. The flight was taking too long in my opinion. I just wanted to get back to Seattle and see my Gail. Is that too much to fucking ask?
"So they paroled him? How the heck can they do that Reynolds? I mean, child pornography, child abuse, and illegal activities with a computer. He was supposed to be incarcerated for twenty plus years," Ana asks me. The look on her young face says it all. All I see is her disillusionment, confusion, and most of all fear.
"All we know is it's a combination of overcrowding and good behavior," I reply.
"If it's good behavior then they might let Charles Manson out next. I mean, he's in solitary, what kind of trouble can he get into. That's good behavior too but it doesn't make him any less of a psychopath," she counters almost in tears. "And hell, as his victim, how come I wasn't notified of his potential for parole? I mean, I should have had the option to go before the parole board to state my reasons for him remaining behind bars."
"I know Ana. I know. We're trying to find out what the hell happened. It sounds like a big fucking mess in Texas.
"Do you have more details on Escala?"
I dreaded that question. How to you tell someone who right now is hanging by an emotional thread that the person she fears most and is out on parole already made their first move for her. "The security team ordered take out which was drugged and the penthouse was compromised. Luke, your dad, and Bubba stopped by to check on the security team and saved Mrs. Jones. From what we know, at least one of the people had ties to your former stepfather and were after you. Unfortunately you are dating a wealthy man, which means you're at risk."
A small whimper slips from her before she pulls herself back in control. "Was anyone hurt?"
"Harrison and Jackson are in the hospital being checked out after being drugged; Gail is shaken up but unharmed; Luke needs a few more stitches in his head, but other wise our side faired well. Your dad and Bubba took out two of their guys and captured a third. The woman escaped. So if when we return to Seattle and any police officers ask, your dad and Bubba work per diem as Grey's security, okay?"
All she can do is nod. No surprise there. It's been another overwhelming evening. The kid sticks it out though through all the bullshit. I have to hand her that. She loves the boss, just no the bullshit that comes with him. Who'd have thought the boss's first real girlfriend would usher in the apocalypse of bullshit that's been at the fringe of his life for years.