“According to the police report, he used a computer-simulated voice. Burke should be able to get a copy.”
Hannah took a deep breath and forced herself to go on. “Then I changed my number and made it unlisted. He called me again two days later.”
“Bastard,” Dex cursed. “He must work for us.”
“Agreed.” Slade nodded sharply.
Really? She couldn’t imagine which fellow employee would go to this much trouble to scare her.
“Hannah sent HR a notification when she changed her number. Besides the three of us, HR
was the only one with a record.”
“So it’s likely someone with access to the HR files. We should have known something was going on when she changed her number.” Slade cursed under his breath.
Dex nodded, then turned back to her. “How many friends have your new number?” She didn’t have a horde of friends, but she did have a few good ones. “Uhm, I told Wendy and Heather. Oh, and a couple of people from work.”
“We’ll need you to write them all down,” Gavin said.
“I can do that,” Hannah replied.
“What about Preston Ward, our CIO? You gave him your number after he kissed you?” Dex arched a brow at her.
“What the hell?” Slade stood, staring, his expression thunderous. “He what?” Hannah flushed. “I’ve handled that. And no, I didn’t. He must have gotten it from HR.”
“Why didn’t you tell me he’d come on to you?” Gavin demanded, looking none too pleased.
She looked at her boss—former boss—trying to understand the reason for this third degree.
“You’re the CEO. You don’t have time for my troubles.”
“Like hell,” Gavin snarled.
Slade’s mouth flattened into a thin line that Hannah couldn’t help but think boded ill for her.
Dex speared her with another stare. “What else haven’t you told us?” She confessed the rest. It was like ripping off a Band-Aid. Once she started, she just wanted to get it over with. She explained that this crazy man had somehow gotten her IM address and had started sending her long notes on her laptop about how beautiful she was and how much he wanted her. He’d called one night in a rage threatening to hurt her because she’d come home late. He’d asked if she’d been out with those perverted brothers.
“I think he meant you and Slade,” she said, biting her lower lip. Gosh, she didn’t want to offend them. “He obviously doesn’t understand that we just work together.” Slade frowned. “I think he understands all too well.”
Hannah frowned. What did he mean by that?
She pressed on. “Then Mr. Snuggles went missing, and I called the police again, but they said they couldn’t do anything since cats run off all the time.” Dex pinned her with his steely gaze, making her feel like a bug he was about to dissect. “Yes, the cops can do very little in a situation like this, which begs one question: Why didn’t you tell us?”
“It wasn’t your problem. Y’all are very kind to me. It seemed like a crappy thing to pay back your kindness by pulling you into this mess.” Hannah didn’t mention that she desperately wanted them to see her as a capable woman, not a burden. “Besides, I didn’t just call the police. I hired a private investigator.”
She waited for praise. They would see that she had this handled and they would lighten up.
Instead, they just stared at her. She tried not to but she squirmed in her seat.
“His name is Vinny. He came with great references.” The psychic whose shop he worked out of had thrown in a free tarot reading.
“I think I’ll stick with mine,” Gavin drawled. “But Hannah, a private investigator isn’t protection. You could be assaulted while your private investigator is digging into this.” Hannah reached for her purse, because she had an answer for that, too. Her hand met with cold metal, and she pulled out her brand new pistol. “That’s why I bought this. See? I’m prepared.”
Gavin turned a shade of white Hannah was certain no living human should ever be. Slade gasped, but Dex was on his feet in an instant, prying the gun away from her.
“Goddamn it, Hannah, the safety isn’t even on. You could kill yourself with this f**king gun.
What were you thinking?” Dex’s voice resounded through the plane.