Chapter 29:
Three days later a body was fished out of the Sound. Officials had to use dental records to identify the body. When it was announced that the body was female and identified as Elizabeth Morgan, Ana and Christian were flabbergasted. The body was found about three miles from their home, and they couldn't help but wonder if Elizabeth's death was connected to them somehow. Christian called his father and asked him if he heard anything from his police contacts. Carrick told him that he would make a few inquiries and get back with him.
Carrick's sources could only say that the female was badly beaten and was dumped into the Sound. It would take a lengthy, in-depth autopsy to find the true cause of death. Since the body was found in the water, officials were not expected to find any evidence. Elizabeth Morgan would become another murder statistic and her murder would probably go unsolved.
The holidays pushed the memory of the murdered woman from the Grey family's minds as they prepared for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the New Year. Ana was delightfully pregnant. She made the best-dressed pregnant woman's list in all the national magazines. Reporters and photographers tried to follow her as she went back and forth from work, but security kept them at bay. Once in awhile a brave reporter would shout out at her asking when the blessed event was to happen, but Ana would only give a small smile and remain silent.
"Can you believe this?" Ana asked one morning when sitting at the breakfast table with Christian with one of the tabloid morning papers beside her. "People are placing bets in Vegas and on-line on what we are having."
"Well, I am having an egg white omelet, so how much did they win?" Christian joked. Gail and Taylor were shocked to hear their employer make a joke. What had happened to the ill-tempered man that he used to be? Ana was laughing knowing and seeing Christian's sense of humor develop every day. Then, her laughter stopped when her eyes saw another headline. Her face went pale. Christian dropped his fork onto his plate and reached for her. "Ana, what's wrong?"
"Look." Her finger went to the article.
"Grey's Mother-in-law Tells a Tall Tale"
Carla Adams, the mother-in-law of Seattle's richest man is telling tales in jail. Adams was arrested in Savannah, GA, along with her husband, Robbin "Bob" Adams on various charges including insurance fraud, conspiracy, and attempted murder. It was revealed in court papers that Adams had conspired to kill her daughter, Anastasia Steele Grey, the lovely wife of Christian Grey for a life insurance payoff.
Adams has been heard telling other inmates that she and her husband, with the help of others were the masterminds behind the plot. It is reported that she is most gleeful when bragging how rich they would have been if the scenario had played out as planned. According to court documents, Adams would have been the beneficiary of over five hundred thousand dollars if the billionaire's wife had been killed.
Police informers have also testified that Adams has bragged that she had many friends in the BDSM lifestyle in Savannah and Atlanta with ties to Las Vegas and Seattle. She claims that her daughter's own husband is a most sought-after Dominant in the lifestyle and is famous for his BDSM abilities. No evidence has been found to substantiate that claim. Resources from the BDSM lifestyle have voiced their concerns for Adams' claims, whether true or false, since the BDSM community insists on complete confidentiality and protections of their identities since BDSM is not an accepted lifestyle in the "vanilla" society.
Mrs. Adams, when asked for the names of those who "helped" her and her husband to develop and execute their plan, remained silent. Mrs. Adams is still being held in a Savannah jail awaiting trial, as her husband, Robbin "Bob" Adams.
Christian reread the article then turned to Taylor and nodded. "On it." Taylor said lowly who then left the room. Christian took his wife into his arms. She was quietly sobbing which tore at his heart. "Shh, baby, it's going to be alright."
"Oh, Christian, how can you say that? Someone as talked, someone in your past. How could my mother know anything about you in the lifestyle?"
"I'm sure Taylor and the team will find out soon." His own mind was racing. Could it be that one of his former submissives had been talking? "This paper is considered a rag, darling. I don't know why you are reading it."
"It was in the mix of the newspapers that came in today. I just glanced at it. You know I love a good fabrication of aliens." Christian found himself laughing at her little joke. "But you know there will be those who will believe this."
"And I don't give a damn. This paper is trash, and no mainstream or respected news service will pick it up. Believe me, I will have the team monitoring this closely. I'm sure Agnes is on it also."
"There is truth to it." Ana declared lowly. "Mom and Bob must have some ties to the BDSM community. It would explain how they reached out to Issac Winters. Also, how would she know that you were a sought-after Dom?" She looked up to her handsome husband with tearful eyes. "They know about you and your past, Christian."
"Fuck." His voice was hoarse. His fucking past was rearing up and threatening his future. The ramifications to his business could be devastating. His worst fear was close to coming true. How would this affect his family and more importantly, his beloved wife? He would not let anything upset his Ana. "Let's let the security team deal with this. We have the holidays coming up to celebrate and I was thinking that we should have a "babymoon" in January. We could take some time and go to Aspen."
Ana smiled, intrigued by the idea. "Just the two of us?" She asked then bit her lower lip.
"Of course." His voice was deep and rich with need for his wife. "You and me … and no clothes."
"Mmmmm, you have my attention, Mr. Grey." She looked up into his darken eyes. "I like your way of thinking."
Ana tried not to worry about her mother, but the idea of Carla knowing about Christian's former lifestyle bothered her. So far, nothing else had been reported and that blip in that tabloid was never mentioned in the regular press. Ana had an idea that she wanted to investigate so off to Kavanagh Media she went. She was admitted into Agnes Kavanagh's office without an appointment and greeted warmly by the media mogul.
"Look at you, Ana. You are just beaming." Agnes said with a hug and a kiss. "Pregnancy becomes you, darling."
"Thank you, Mom. Also, thank you for seeing me without an appointment."
Agnes offered The Mrs. Grey a seat. "You are always welcome here. So, what I can I do for you?" Agnes sat in the chair next to Ana.
"I have a favor to ask of you."
"Anything, hon."
"What do you know about the BDSM lifestyle?" Ana asked straight forwardly.
"From my research it is a lifestyle that is not quite accepted by society."
"Don't you think it should? I mean, just hear me out. The LGBT wasn't considered mainstreamed a few years ago and now … well, who cares if one is gay or not. Why shouldn't the same be done for those in the BDSM lifestyle? What is done in the privacy of one's bedroom isn't anyone's business."
"And this means what to you?"
Ana took a breath. She couldn't just come out and say that she was trying to protect her husband. "Lately, we have been getting in transcripts for novels that deal with BDSM. Some of these books are well written and deeply developed. GP will be publishing some of them in the future. A few of the authors want to remain anonymous or want to use a pseudo-name which is fine. Their reason, the authors fear repercussions of their work." Ana shrugged. "I just thought we could shed some light on a lifestyle not well known or as some say, maligned because of a few bad apples."
"Such as Elena Lincoln?"
Ana smiled. "Exactly. What she did is not tolerated in the society as I have learned in my own research. BDSM is supposed to be safe, sane, and consensual. I have talked to a few participates and they tell me that approaching children or anyone underage is not acceptable." Ana reached for her briefcase. She rummaged around in some papers and produced a list of names. "These are people willing to speak to someone who will deal fairly with this unknown aspect of their sexual activity. In other words, they are wanting to come out of the BDSM closet and live freely without being criticized or have their employment or lives jeopardized because of their sexual preferences."
"Is this a real problem?" Agnes asked as she took the paper.
"According to these people, yes this is a real problem."
"Well, let me think about this and do some research." Agnes said. She looked over the girl that she considered a daughter. "So, honey, how have you been? You look wonderful."
"I am so happy." The smile on her face lit up the room. "The morning sickness lasted just a bit and I could have done without it."
"Says every mother." Agnes added with a chuckle and her own memories of pregnancy.
Taylor sat before his boss as Christian read the report that Welch and Sullivan had prepared about the tabloid article that "outed" the Seattle billionaire as a Dom and the dossier of the author of the article. Christian's face was hard with fury. "So, who are these credible resources?"
"Most are "friends" of Carla and Bob. According to our investigations, Carla and her husband dabbled a bit in the lifestyle while living in Vegas and when they moved to Savannah." Taylor cleared his voice. "Our team also found out that many of these people where paid to go on record, so to say."
"By whom? Carla and Bob were bankrupt. Where did they get the money? Someone is helping them." Christian threw down the report.
Taylor offered a fresh, crisp tabloid newspaper that ran a retraction of the Carla story with an apology to the Greys. "This was published this morning."
Christian's darken angry eyes scanned the headline. "I take it that Dad got involved." He shook his head and gave a low chuckle when Taylor nodded acknowledgment. Dear old Dad to the rescue! Christian felt relieved and well-loved. In the past Carrick would have made his displeasure and disappointment known. "Remind me to thank him later." Taylor only nodded and made the mental note.
"So, let's get back to who is bankrolling Carla and Bob. I need names, Taylor and I need them yesterday. I want this settled and put away. I will not have Ana upset."
"I have a few leads. My initial thought was Morgan and Hyde, but with the woman in the morgue…well…and of course we are still looking for Hyde. He's blown away like a fart in the wind."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing. No credit or debit card use. His apartment has been cleaned out because he was evicted for not paying his rent. There is nothing on him on the city CCTV. We even checked out where he likes to hang out and drink and no one has seen him for weeks." Taylor rubbed his brow. "Hyde is not in Seattle at this time."
"And anything on the Morgan investigation?"
"Nada."
Christian felt his back up against the wall. Even though the tabloid had offered a retraction, the story was still public and up for discussion. What people thought of him really didn't matter, but if that critical eye was ever focused on his wife … shit would hit the fan! He would not have her crucified in the public forums because of his past. They had to shut down this crap, sooner than later. "You said you had other leads."
"Elena Lincoln should still be considered, or at least those tied to her. We are running investigations into all fifteen of your past relationships. Lincoln's ex is also being looked at."
With a heavy sigh, Christian straightens the papers on his desk. "Keep looking for Hyde."
Taylor stood and buttoned his suit jacket. "We are on it, sir."
"Thank you, Taylor." Christian said shocking his head of personal security. Christian Grey did not thank people. He just expected the job to be done, that is what he paid them for!
"You are welcome, sir."