Page 9 of Twisted Bonds
"Ryan has a guest staying in her wing with her. The woman is Olive, and nobody is to gossip about her being here. She's being helped through the program, so it must remain hush."
"I understand, Sir."
"Good, I knew you would. One more thing, be sure to find out what foods Olive likes and add them to the grocery list." I glance at my watch. "Ryan cleared her schedule for today in order to get her friend settled in, so they should be here soon."
"Yes, Sir. I'll make sure to get the groceries by this evening."
Helen, our house manager, is one of the best. She runs a tight ship from six in the morning until seven at night, and she is loved by all staff. She's been with us since Chloe and I married. She was actually the first person my late wife hired, and we fell in love with the woman. All my house staff is very secretive when it comes to the events taking place within Huntley Manor. They get paid well, and I've never had to fire any of my staff. I take pride in my household.
The front door opens, and Ryan and her friend walk in. "Speak of the she-devil, and she appears." I wink at Helen.
"Ha, ha, ha…" Ryan grins.
I keep the smile plastered on my face even after I see the poor girl's bruised jaw and eye. She looks very familiar, but I have yet to catch her last name, so stepping forward, I offer my hand. The girl flinches, and I quickly step back. "I'm sorry. I'm still getting used to the dos and don'ts. I'm Bain, so nice to meet you."
"No, Mr. Huntley. I'm the one who has the issue with flinching. Maybe one day I'll be able to greet people like a normal person again," she says, smiling. "I'm Olive Harrison, but my friends call me Liv."
"Harrison, as in…" I lift my brow, hoping she won't say who I think she is.
"Erik Harrison."
She did.
"I see. The youngest lead detective in Narcotics for our local PD, and is it true that he may be up for the sergeant's position soon?"
I've scared the poor girl. Her eyes are shifting nervously between Ryan and me. "I'm sorry, Olive. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable, and I want you to know that you are perfectly safe here."
"You act as though you know him well," she states.
"I make it my job to know everyone on our local police force and City Council. I depend on their help to protect me, my business…and my family. It deeply disturbs me that one of our own, who is supposed to Serve and Protect, has done this to the one person he should protect the most."
"Yeah, well, I think he missed the memo or maybe he was playing hooky from classes the day that was taught," Olive snickers nervously.
"Well, as long as you are staying under my roof, you are part of my family, and I learned the hard way that family must always be protected first and foremost." I reach out and rub Ryan's arm and smile.
She smiles back, knowing that I mean what I say. I've been doing everything I can to try and make up for the past. I can't give her back that year she was captive or any of her past, but I can make damn sure that I give her a good future and that another family member of mine isn't hurt in any way. I wish Beau would tell me where he is, but I can't make him talk to me. I fucked up; this is on me.
"I appreciate you opening your home up to me until I figure out what to do next, Mr. Huntley."
"Oh please, call me Bain. I want you to feel at home, Olive. Whatever you need, you can let Helen know. She's the house manager and in charge of making sure we have everything we need."
"Oh, well, I don't want to be a burden…"
"Liv, Stop." Ryan lovingly lectures her friend, "You are not a bother. I want you here. We have a lot of years to make up for."
"Before I go and leave you two to do whatever you will be doing, may I ask to see your phone?" I ask Olive.
It just occurred to me that with her husband being a cop and abusive, I can guarantee that her phone has a tracker as well as her car. Abusive men need to keep tabs on them at all times, which means I will have to contact my tech guy as soon as possible and have him hack into her phone line and erase any indication that she was here.
"Uh, yeah. Sure…" She hands me her phone, and I take the back off it, and it is right there, staring me in the face. I pull it out and hold it up. Olive and Ryan's eyes widen.
"I never thought about him bugging me." Her lip trembles.
"I'm going to take care of it. Don't worry about it." I then go into her apps and download a cleaner to wipe any spyware apps installed on her phone.
By the time it was done, it had found only two apps. "Here you go, you're all set. Oh, where is your car so I can check that."
"I didn't bring it because he would have gotten suspicious if he drove by and didn't see my car in the driveway."
