“Yes. According to some of their previous clientele, this team keeps making the same mistakes.”
“So, it could be that this is normal for them. Someone’s figured out their mistakes, and they’re exploiting them.”
“Or they could be pulling these kinds of things on other clients, and we’re the first ones to really peg them at their game. Either way, I’ve got someone contacting some of their previous clients to see if anyone had been robbed, harassed, or otherwise threatened while they were under their employ.”
“And until then?” he asked.
“You haven’t given me Emma’s full name,” I said.
“You suspect my personal assistant might be doing this.”
“We’ve already had this discussion. I think she has all the markers of someone who could spin out of control, yes. And, I’ve figured out she has access to your premises. Thank you for filling me in on that, by the way.”
“You’re welcome,” he said dryly.
“You’re holding something back from me.”
“How do you figure?” he asked.
“Don’t make me explain it. Just tell me I’m right and then tell me what you’re hiding.”
“I’m not hiding anything.”
“I’ve got another phone in my hand ready to send a text message to John. Not a phone call you can screen, but a message.”
“Why are you so hell-bent on doing this your way?” he asked.
“Because doing it your way got someone in your bedroom.”
I heard him sigh on the other end of the line, and I knew I had him. If only he would stop fucking fighting me at every damn turn.
“When I fired Griggs, he was kind of annoyed. I gave them more money than was laid out in our original contracts so long as they signed a nondisclosure agreement. I have a hard time believing he would still betray me after all that.”
“What do you mean ‘annoyed’?” I asked.
“Agitated. You know, that he lost his job.”
“Did he say anything to you?” I asked.
I heard another sigh, and I shook my head.
“Tell me,” I said.
“Griggs isn’t the one doing this,” he said.
“The fact that you have to say that tells me whatever he said was damning. Now, what the fuck did he say?”
“He said I would regret firing him.”
I closed my eyes and drew a deep breath as I sent the message to John.
“Why is John picking up his phone?” Derek asked.
“Pay attention.”
“Miss Williams, you will tell me right now why this burly man in my office is picking up his phone.”
“Get me the information I need,” I said.