Page 47 of Playing With Secrets
He reaches over to a digital notebook and pencil. He presses something that causes the screen to illuminate.
“What kinds of things are you concerned about? Because if I go down this path, I don’t want any surprises.”
“He’s had someone investigate Dori all the way back to college, maybe longer. He’s spread rumors about her that don’t put her in the best light. On top of that, I believe he’s having her followed.”
Aiden finishes writing and considers something. He peers back at the screen. “How do you know all this?”
“I’ve heard the rumors myself. Dori told me she suspected he had investigated her to find out more about her past. I think he’s having her followed because someone was following me”
“Why do you believe someone was tracking you?”
“I saw a man around a few times and he was acting suspicious.”
“That doesn’t mean?—”
“Aiden, it was right about the time you told me to watchout for strange things happening.” I bounce my knee up and down under my desk.
“Okay. Tell me more.”
“I ended up seeing the guy in my complex. Hunter lives a floor above me, so I checked the guest log. Sure enough, Hunter had a visitor by the name of Joe Ison. I looked into him and found out he’s a PI.”
“Why would Hunter hire someone to follow you?”
“When he found out Dori and I knew each other as kids, he thought we were trying to take down his company in some underground conspiracy.”
“Why would he think that?”
“I don’t have all the details, but he’s paranoid about something. I don’t know what that is, though.” I shake my head. “I don’t get a good feeling about him, Aiden.”
He taps his electronic pencil against the edge of the notebook. “Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?”
“I didn’t think he was a bad guy at the time. Paranoid, sure, but not ruthless. Dori warned me he could be, but it wasn’t until recently I saw it for myself.”
Aiden pinches the bridge of his nose and thinks about something for a moment. I give him the time he needs and keep my mouth shut.
He peers at me through the screen. “What did you see him do?”
I can’t tell Aiden about Hunter’s threats toward me, so I latch on to the best thing I can think of. “It goes back to him having me followed and how I believe he’s doing the same with Dori. He’s coming across as overbearing and controlling.”
“How so?”
“Um… He shows up at restaurants when she’s out. She seems surprised as if she didn’t tell him she was there.”
“Has she told you that?”
“You know her. She’s private and won’t tell me if that’s thecase. She wouldn’t want to cast a shadow over him just in case she ends up married to him.”
Aiden sighs. “If I investigate his company, I have to get the department involved.”
“I’m not asking you to do that. This is all about Hunter. He’s hiding something. Just like you said, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” My heart pounds fast because I think I’m losing Aiden’s buy-in.
“Fuck, bro. If I do this and things go south, I could get in a lot of trouble. I hate doing things like this.” His eyebrows bunch together. “I don’t know if he’s that dangerous.”
“I’m not saying he’s dangerous, but he’s hiding something. And he’s changing your sister into someone she’s not.” My hands start to sweat.
I’m on the verge of panicking. If he says no, I’ll never know what Hunter’s up to.
“Jami, tell me more about how he’s changing her.”
