Angel

Chapter 28

Corey

"Mr. Henshaw," Lydia's voice startled me and I looked up from the file cabinet quickly. "Um, sir, security needs to speak with you. They said it's urgent and you weren't answering their texts."

I sighed, "Yeah, sorry, we've got a bit of a family emergency. I'll head that way now." She smiled and shut the door behind her. What the hell could they want that's so urgent I thought as I shoved the files in my briefcase and headed to the first floor. I waved to Max as he buzzed me into the camera room. "What's so urgent?"

"Sir, well, we, um found cameras, and they're not ours," he stammered.

"What!" I shouted, making Max flinch. Lowering my tone, I asked again, "Okay, what do you mean you found cameras? Where did you find them, and have you been able to determine who they belong to?"

He reached below his desk and handed me a small box that had at least a dozen minicams in it. "Some were in paralegal areas, others were in the lobby and various conference rooms, sir. We haven't been able to determine how long they've been here, but the one in the contracts section and the Rose conference room were still active."

"Did you try backtracking the signal?" I asked.

"It just pinged across hundreds of servers before shutting off. This is way above my skill level, Mr. Henshaw. I'm sorry," he said.

"Do a second sweep on the entire building and call my cell with the results. I have a family emergency and have to leave town for a bit, but I'll take these with me," I said, lifting the box. "Also, send everything you have on the servers to my remote dock. I'll see what I can figure out." I grabbed the box and headed to my car, already dialing Vic.

"Corey, what's up?" he asked, answering on the first ring.

"Someone's been bugging my law firm. It sounds like they had their cameras in almost every place Mattie has been, but I haven't got a clue if there really is a connection or not."

"Shit," he muttered. "Okay, how can I help?"

"Do you still have the access code to my remote dock?" I asked.

"Yeah. I mean, I haven't been on since we set it up, but I have it," he answered as I heard keys clicking.

"Good. Max is going to send everything he found to it and then do a second sweep of the firm. Can you keep an eye on it until we get there? I don't want to risk accessing it by cellphone," I explained.

"Yeah, I got it. This guy is fast, he's already uploaded a fairly large portion of his notes. I'll start sifting and get Kota on it too. We'll see you soon, man, and be safe," he said before hanging up.

I gripped the steering wheel racking my brain to figure out who could have put them there as I drove toward the house. Only a few more hours and we would be on our way to Charleston.

Marc

Mattie had been pacing all morning and refused to eat. "Angel, you need to sit down before you pass out again," I begged her. Brandon nodded his head and carried Violet into the front room where MawMaw was. "Mattie," I said sternly. She looked up at the use of her real name. "You need to sit down and eat now." She wordlessly sat at the table as I put a plate of strawberries and bacon in front of her, then sat next to her. She picked up a strawberry and nibbled at it. I pushed a glass of water toward her, inclining my head slightly. She picked it up and drank. Grabbing a piece of the bacon, I held it up to her lips. She huffed but took a bite as I gave her a cheeky grin. "So is this anything like trying to get a toddler to eat?" I joked, making her giggle slightly. It was a beautiful sound.

"What if they find us," she finally asked, her hands shaking slightly as she ate another piece of bacon.

"We will keep moving around as long as we have to, Angel," I told her.

She took another drink then putting the glass down she took my hands. "I need you to make me a promise, Nova."

"Anything, baby." I was not prepared for what she asked.

"I need you to promise me that if anything happens you will keep Violet safe - even if that means you can't save me." I started to say something, but she cut me off. "Nova, if something happens to me, she will need you more than ever. She comes first - no matter what. Promise me," she begged.

I felt a gnawing pain in my stomach and heart at her words, knowing she was right. We had to put our daughter first. "I promise, but I pray it never comes to that, baby." I pulled her into my arms and just held her, trying to push down my own fears. 

Author's Notes:  short but will be pivotal soon...

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