Chapter 27:
Carrick held his wife close as they quietly celebrated the fact that they were going to be grandparents. Grace made Carrick swear a vow of secrecy and silence about the matter. She told him to let the kids make the announcement in their good time and act damn surprised! Of course, Carrick agreed. In the last couple of months, he and Christian had grown closer, and he wouldn't do a thing to jeopardize that situation. He enjoyed their get-togethers to talk or have a drink. This was something they had never done.
Grace had other plans though. She knew from her informant in the prison mental ward that Elena had slid farther into madness. The woman was talking to a crack in a wall that she declared was her best friend. Oh, the glee! Agnes still sent donated magazines and papers that had anything to do with The Christian Grey and wife to Elena. It seemed that every article or photograph would send the woman to the wall to discuss her plight in life. Grace found solace in her revenge!
There were so many damn files! Jason Taylor and the security team were swapped with the computer files of Elizabeth Morgan and the targeted files from the server that Jack Hyde had uploaded. The team had already gone over them, but Taylor wanted them searched once again. He was looking for something, anything that would give him an edge on the latest threats against his employers. It was crucial that this matter be brought to its conclusion! He had to find a way to protect Grey, Ana, and now the Heir Apparent. He didn't have the proof he needed, but Taylor felt that Morgan, Hyde, using Issac, were responsible for the bomb that was almost planted in Mrs. Grey's vehicle. He knew that the crazy bitch-pedo was locked up and had no ability to communicate with anyone on the outside. He was certain that she was not the mastermind of this plan. His suspicions were on Morgan and Hyde. They had motive and opportunity. However, he knew that was not enough to get a conviction. He needed proof!
Taylor threw his pen on the desk even though he wanted to punch through the wall! He was frustrated. Luke Sawyer saw the anger on Taylor's face. "What? You find something?"
"Not a fucking thing." Taylor cursed. He grabbed his coffee cup and headed to the coffee pot they kept in the security office. "There must be a paper trail. Something to connect the dots."
"I got it!" Barney Sullivan barged into the Security Office with a stack of papers. "I found it."
"What exactly did you find?" Taylor asked as he poured his coffee. He was too tired for any more disappointment.
"I found the money trail. It didn't come from Morgan or Hyde. Issac was paid by someone else."
"Who?" Taylor asked turning to look at the young man that was barely out of high school. Sullivan was Grey's pet project. A young genius that finished high school when he was ten years old then went to MIT. He graduated with two Masters and a PhD in Computer Forensic Sciences before he was eighteen. Grey hired him sight unseen and put him to work on GEH computer systems and security issues.
"Something wasn't correct about the money-transfer that the cops told us about. All banks must have some type of digital footprint…you know for government and tax purposes. The transfer was encrypted and so deep that our first foray into digging came up with nothing. Guys, the money came out of Russia, then moved to a French bank, then was shuttled into an account in the Caymen's."
"So, who is it?" Luke was getting annoyed and impatient.
"Nobody." Barney said with a look of glee on his face.
"Nobody?" Taylor and Luke asked in unison.
"Yeah, it's all bullshit. Someone set up this elaborate track knowing that we would go deep." He placed some papers on Taylor's desk. "The money actually came out of Georgia…"
"Carla Adams?" Taylor asked almost choking on his coffee. How could that drunk of a whore know anything about computers and elaborate money trafficking. She must be working with someone else.
"Her husband got fired when Carla committed fraud with his company's credit card. Robbin "Bob" Adams has a degree in Computer Tech Science. He is more than able to pull off a deep scam such as this. He was trying to make it look like an international business deal gone wrong and the players were not happy and wanted to retaliate." Barney began to laugh. "His first mistake was using an old laptop that belonged to the company he worked for. It's still registered to the company. I traced everything back to that laptop."
"This doesn't make any sense." Sawyer said shaking his head. "Why kill Ana? She had nothing to do with Carla committing fraud."
"Since Carla couldn't get any money out of Ana or Christian, and Bob got fired because of his wife's actions, they hatched a new plan to get out of debt. A little bit of larceny must be able to save a marriage." Barney paused for effect. Taylor motioned him to go on. "Life Insurance. Carla took out a large life insurance plan on Ana a few weeks ago and made herself a beneficiary. Kaboom … Ana's dead and Carla gets a big fat check of over five hundred thousand dollars."
Taylor stood stoically by the coffee pot. His mind racing with thoughts. Most of them on how to get rid of Carla Adams in the most painful way! "Wait, a minute. How did she get the insurance? She would need Ana's signature. Also, how are they connected to Issac Winters?"
"She forged it." Barney said simply with a shrug of his shoulders. "Simple plan. So damn simple we almost missed it. And the Winters and Adams connection … still working on that one. Give me a bit and I'll figure it out."
"That fucking whore." Taylor rasped out. "That fucking no good whore!"
The kitchen was one of Ana's favorite rooms of her home. With Gail cooking, it always smelled heavenly. However, this day Gail was absent from the kitchen and Ana sat at the round table before the floor to ceiling windows enjoying the scenery. It was late autumn, and a few boats were still out on the water. She sipped her tea as she watched the tall sails of the boats float over the water. She was peaceful. She tried not to think about the information that Barney and their team had found when given permission from the authorities to investigate the money transfer of over twenty thousand dollars into Issac Winters' bank account. Dear sweet mom! Ana wondered where Carla got the money. Before her thoughts could get bogged down with worry her cell phone rang.
"Grey." She said sounding more like her husband.
"Hey, sweetie, it's Dad. How ya doing?" Ray asked. He sounded chipper.
"Oh, you know, the usual. Trying to figure out why my own mother wanted to blow me to smithereens."
"Ana." Ray knew this would throw his daughter off her game. She would worry that she had done something wrong to cause this situation. "You did nothing wrong. Carla is the bad guy here and she is paying. She's not liking being in jail for forgery and insurance fraud. She and "Bobbo" will spend quite a little time in jail for their crimes."
"But, Dad, she is my mother. She is supposed to love me and want to protect me." The pregnancy hormones were overtaking her emotions and the tears flowed. "She never loved me. I was just a burden to her."
"You are a joy to me." Ray added quickly. "You have always been my pride and joy."
"Oh, Daddy." She broke down in tears. "I wish you were here."
"That's why I'm calling. I'd like to come and stay awhile… that is if you and Christian don't mind."
"Dad, you are always welcome here, you know that." She wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'll get the room ready for you."
"Don't go through too much trouble, daughter. I'm a simple man. Just give me a blanket and pillow and I can sleep on the sofa."
"I don't think so, Daddy!" She exclaimed horrified that he would think that they would have him sleeping on a sofa when they had more than enough room. "What time will you be here?"
"Tomorrow afternoon. I have a few things to finish up here in the shop before I leave."
"Daddy, can you come tonight? I would like to discuss a few things with you." Tears were forming in her eyes. There were times when a girl needed her Daddy.
"I'll be there asap. Love you, Annie."
"Love you, too, Daddy." The phone went dead. Ana laid her phone on the table and let the tears flow.
Christian walked out of his study and looked about the house for his wife. He then remembered that she was with her father. Ray rolled in about nine o'clock and they had been together ever since. At first a little jealousy reared its ugly head, but Christian remembered that this was her father and sometimes girls need their Daddies. Ana needed to talk about the Carla situation. Hell, he needed to discuss this with someone because he couldn't understand why Ana's mother was the way she was. Why didn't she support and adore her daughter? It didn't make any sense. Christian witnessed the way his own mother treated Ana … like a treasure! He shook his head. It was mind-blowing! The only excuse he could come up with was that Carla was a narcissistic asshole of the worst kind! It was all about money and to damn with Ana's life!
"Christian, Dad would like to talk to us." Ana's soft voice interrupted Christian's musings. "Are you too busy?"
Christian turned to look over his beloved wife. She still wasn't showing her pregnancy, but it was still early. They still hadn't announced it to the rest of the family. Only Grace knew and of course Taylor and Gail. Ana wanted to wait until she was in her second trimester before the official announcement. Christian figured before Halloween they would make the big announcement. According to her first visit to her OB/GYN, she was just four weeks along. It was decided that the shot had failed. She was now going into her twelfth week. No significant bump, but her breasts had grown magnificently. Somehow, they got through her birthday with no one guessing or asking questions why she wasn't drinking alcohol. Ana also cut down her hours at work because of fatigue. Instead of twelve-hour days, she was doing the usual eight. Of course, Ana had GP running like a fine-tuned machine, but he and Roz kept an eye on things.
"Never too busy for you, hon." He gave her his little crooked smile. She only shook her head at him. "What?"
"None of that. Don't try to seduce me when my dad wants to talk to us." She held out her hand to him. "Maybe, later."
"A man can only hope." He mumbled as he took her hand, and they walked down the hall into her office/library.
Ray stood when his daughter and son-in-law entered the room. Even though he had greeted Christian when he first arrived, he offered his hand once again. "It's good to see you, son. Sorry we didn't get a chance to chat, but your wife swept me away into her office for a sit-down."
Christian chuckled. So that's where Ana got that term for a discussion. "It's quite alright, Ray, I know how she is."
"Oh, stop that." Ana rolled her eyes.
Christian and Ana sat on the sofa while Ray remained standing. "I've been thinking about moving to Seattle. I haven't decided yet if I want to sell the Montesano property, but I want to be closer to my daughter." They all knew why. Ray wanted a role in protecting Ana now that she lived such a public life as the wife of a billionaire. "I wanted to know what you both thought about that."
"Daddy, I already told you that I thinks it's a great idea." Ana offered. "I, for one, would love having you close by. You can even live here if you want."
"Ummm, no, but thank you. I need my own space." Ray said with a chuckle. "You never know, Ana, I might pick up some hot babe one night. I can't very well bring her back to my daughter's house for a roll in the hay!"
"Daddy! Really?" Ana was horrified as Christian was close to rolling on the floor in laughter. Ana nudged him in the ribs.
"Of course, I agree with Ana." He said, wanting to keep himself in her good graces.
"Okay, then, I am moving to Seattle. What I need is some names of some decent realtors."
"Stay away from Olga Hilders." Ana offered with a snort. "Biggest whore around."
"Ohhh really, let me make a note of that." Ray joked pretending to write down the woman's name. He noticed that Ana was not her merry old self. She almost looked like she was about to start crying. "Hey, honey, I was only joking."
"It's not you, Dad. Usually, I would be throwing back with you, but …" She started to cry and hid her face in Christian's chest causing her father all kinds of worry.
"Honey, we need to tell him." Christian said softly. Ana nodded. "Ray, Ana is pregnant."
Raymond Steele was speechless! He stood before his daughter in complete and udder silence! His sharp eyes took her in trying to find evidence of pregnancy, but she looked the same, except tired. "Ana." He sat next to his daughter and drew her close. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"We are waiting until I am in my second trimester to announce the news." She sniffed. "Don't be mad, Daddy."
"Oh, honey, I'm not angry. I am delighted. I'm going to be a "Poppy" or maybe a "Gramps". I am so happy for your both." He hugged her again and again, then offered his hand to Christian to congratulate him for a job well done. "So, when are you due?"
"March. A spring baby." Ana said with a little smile.
"Okay then, I have to get busy and find a decent house and get moved. I want to be settled before the big day gets here."
"Dad, I'm only twelve weeks."
"Yeah, honey, but at my age, time rolls fast."