Page 66 of Beaten

“Emily, if you’re okay with it, I’d like Doug to copy the texts and voicemails from your phone for our records. It’ll also allow us to provide a copy to the police when we report Craig in the morning.” I hated the look of terror that flashed across her face. “This is the second time he's violated the restraining order, and we can’t let it slide, especially since he’s threatening you.”

Emily nodded her consent and understanding.

“Meg, can you email Doug and ask him to come in tomorrow morning?”

Jack looked down at his phone and stood up. “AJ’s here.”

Jack stayed with the girls while I filled AJ in on the details. He didn’t hesitate to volunteer his services. “Any time I’m not on the clock, that is.”

I slapped him on the back. “Thanks man. I appreciate it.”

“Anything for family.” It felt good knowing he had my back, and Emily’s. Not that I ever doubted it, but it never hurt to be reminded when shit went south. “So what’s the game plan beyond hunkering down at Chez Sheppard for the night?”

We sat down and talked strategy for about an hour before the girls started nodding off.

I quickly changed the sheets on my bed while Emily and Ashley used my ensuite bath to change. I made sure they had everything they needed before returning to the kitchen.

Meg had started a list of things we needed to do, and we added to it as the night went on. We did what we couldby email, including letting everyone know we’d upgraded Emily’s detail to full-time bodyguard and asking who wanted extra hours since we’d still be covering the Taylor’s home. Luckily, Emily worked from home, so it wouldn’t be difficult to provide the extra coverage. When I said as much, Jack was quick to say, “Like you won’t be volunteering for bodyguard duty twenty-four-seven.” I wanted to argue, but what was the point, he was right. I’d be taking as many shifts as I could.

Before retiring, fully dressed, to the recliner, I emailed the SSI team with a detailed update of the situation, and the new game plan.

Chapter 31

Jamie

The recliner was great for napping, but not for getting a good night’s rest, so I was up early. Careful not to wake AJ, who was sleeping on the couch, I wrote a quick note letting Meg and Jack know I’d gone shopping, and put it in front of the coffee maker before checking on Emily.

She and Ashley were still asleep in my king size bed.Emily. In my bed. I quietly closed the door as I forced myself not to think about how natural she looked lying there in my bed, her hair spread out on my pillow, one leg sticking out of my sheets. Regret washed over me, I hadn’t had a chance to apologize properly to Emily last night.Hopefully I’ll have a chance later today.

At the store, I grabbed fresh baked pastries, a variety of yogurts, and pre-cut fruit, then headed home to brew some much needed coffee. I could hear voices, and smell coffee, when I walked into the hall from the garage.

Emily and Ashley were the last to get up, and before joining us, Emily asked if she should strip the bed. I waved my hand and told her I’d do it later.I wonder if the pillowcase will smell like her?Ishoved a piece of melon in my mouth to interrupt my thoughts.

After breakfast we met Doug at the office so he could download the texts and voicemails from Emily’s phone, and make copies for the local PD. Ashley stayed at the office with Meg, AJ, and Doug while Jack and I escorted Emily to the Weatherford PD to report Craig’s restraining order violation. Once that was done, we called Houston PD since that’s where it was originally filed, and where Craig lived. We emailed them copies of the local police report, text messages and voicemails.

They issued a warrant for his arrest, and put out a BOLO between Houston and Weatherford but couldn’t actively go looking for him yet. It wasn’t ideal, but I understood. Today was the Fourth of July, and they’d been swamped all weekend, and would be again today, with the typical holiday bullshit every police department dealt with when people got drunk, plus the added fun of drunks playing with explosives.I don’t miss those days.

Dad was waiting for us when we got back to the office. “How are you holding up, Emily?”

“I’m okay Mr. Sheppard.” Emily looked less scared than she had last night, but I could see her nervousness in the way she kept playing with her thumb ring.

Dad didn’t know I’d asked her out, though he was observant enough to know I was attracted to her. Not that itmattered now, after what had happened last night, I needed to press pause on our relationship.Before it even begins. Keeping Emily safe had to be my number one priority.

I started filling him in as we walked upstairs to the conference room. Meg stayed with Emily and Ashley in one of the upstairs meeting rooms. Because Craig knew SSI was protecting Emily, neither Jack nor I felt comfortable leaving the girls alone downstairs. We locked the door, but it could be breached. And while Meg was pretty handy with her gun, she wasn’t a trained professional and shouldn’t have to act as one. It was a harsh reality—one we were well acquainted with—that shooting someone, even in self defense, came with consequences: legal, emotional, professional, and social. We didn’t want Meg to go through that again.

As a team we reviewed the logistics of adding extra coverage for Emily, and the Taylors, around our existing jobs.

Doug asked, “Has Emily reconsidered our offer to install cameras?”

“She’s still against it, doesn’t want to feel like she’s living under a microscope.” I wish we could insist, but it was up to her and her parents, and they were against it.

Once we had everything organized, we went back to our place for lunch. Luckily, we had a ton of food left over from the BBQ. Meg, Emily, and Ashley set out a buffet on the counter and everyone made themselves a plate.

Emily picked at her food but ate little, not surprising—nerves tended to either kill or enhance an appetite.Now I know which it is for Emily.

Ashley had to leave a couple of hours after lunch, she was reluctant to go but Emily insisted. “I’ll be fine Ash. And I’ll call you every day.”

“Okay, but know that I’m only a phone call away if you want some company.”

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