Page 62 of Rugged Hearts: Part One
“Process of elimination based on your outside activities around the time the stalking began we’ve narrowed it down to a few possibilities within your former company, Titan Corp. There is a small chance this stalker could be someone you had a total innocuous encounter with, that is someone working at a coffee shop that you smiled at. These guys can take the smallest everyday gesture and twist it into something it’s not. For now, I’ve put that possibility on hold while we work these other leads.” I pause, checking in on everyone’s reactions. They seem to be following along.
“These are the top three we’ve found as likely suspects.” I pass out folders to everyone, each has the information on the three men. Then I look to Parker to continue with the information.
“The first guy you’ll see there is Dan Swanson. An alpha who worked in administration within the company, specifically managing the office systems. Getting people access to the office, etcetera. He could have some of the technical IT skills but we don’t think he is sophisticated enough to be pulling off everything the stalker has done so far. He is single with no pack. He did take a trip out of state around the time you had to flee from North Carolina. He didn’t go to that state but rather South Carolina. It’s possible he could have rented a car and drove to where you hadbeen in North Carolina, but I didn’t find a record of such transaction.”
“Questions?” I ask the group. Silence, not surprising, the questions will likely be a barrage at the end. I nod to Parker to continue. “Next is Derek Malloy, an alpha, who was one of your direct managers.”
Thea is already shaking her head. “No there’s no way he is the guy. He was a chauvinistic asshole but he was never creepy towards me.”
Parker looks to me, clearly wondering if he should continue as we discussed. “Let us lay out all the facts and then reassess,” I say gently. She nods and I look to Parker to carry on.
“Four months before the stalking started, his long-term beta girlfriend left him. He was very vocal online about this, writing anti-beta posts and saying things along the lines of alphas should only be with omegas anyways. I did some digging and he created a dummy account and followed you on your socials. Of the three though he doesn’t appear to have the IT skills needed,” Parker finishes. The last one is the one we both think is our guy. But I want to see what she thinks, her instinctual reaction to him is. If this is the stalker he’s one slimy motherfucker and I can’t wait to bring him down.
“Final contestant is Mark Henderson, the Chief Information Officer. He’s in charge of all IT for the company. Based on his school and work history, he has the skills needed to be keeping such close tabs on you. He was in a pack with two other alphas and a beta,” Parker starts then looks in my direction for me to continue.
“Around the time Connor died, Henderson filed to be separated from his pack in every legal way. While not unusual in that sometimes people go their own ways and leave a pack, what is surprising is he is bonded to the beta.” Thea gasps at that information. It is shocking. A bond is for life and would be extremely difficult to try to suppress, let alone painful. It is not common at all. The only times I’ve seen it is in abusive situations. It startedout great then over time after the bond was formed, it all changed. That’s those types of men’s style. They play the nice guy, build trust to the level of bonding. Once bonded and that person is stuck with them, their mask fades away to the real monster. I don’t miss seeing those cases. It feels like I’ve seen enough for a lifetime already.
“Yes, it’s pretty shocking. Something drastic must have happened to cause this alpha to break away like that. We also found he booked a flight and rental car to Chicago right before the stalker contacted you,” I finish, checking in on everyone. Thea is visibly shaken as she looks at the photo of Henderson and his pack.
“Thea, what’s wrong?” I ask.
“I…I’ve seen them before.” She’s still looking at the photo.
“What?” Keelan says with a growl.
“In the office, I remember seeing the beta a few times, he was really nice. He talked about how he was visiting his alpha, bringing him lunch. It was so sweet. That poor man, to have your bonded abandon you.” She shivers at the thought. Eli and Ben move closer to her. Even without all of us bonded they can sense her needs. She’s becoming so tightly woven into our pack, bonding really will just cement that connection we’re all feeling.
“Does Mark Henderson ring any bells?” Liam asks, clearly picking up on who is our likely suspect.
She appears to think harder on this for a few moments. “I don’t really remember seeing him all that much. He’s so high up from the position I was in, plus he’s in a totally different department so there really wasn’t any overlap. I did notice when the stalking was going on they seemed to start having more meetings in conference rooms close to the marketing area. I thought it was weird since in all the years I’d been there they rarely did that. Those rooms were used mostly by us for our team meetings and project presentations, not the C-Suite executives.”
Everyone but Thea is looking around at each other. We all seem to be in agreement this is a strong possibility he’s our guy.Leaving a bond is what sealed it for me. Especially if she’s saying the beta was clearly taken with his alpha. No obvious signs from his end that something was wrong. Stalkers already twist things for their own purposes, and someone able to leave their bonded is heartless in a special kind of way.
“Thea what do you think of these three?”
“Uhm, the first two don’t really register as anything, I guess. But for some reason Mark Henderson feels important. Just a gut reaction. Sorry I don’t have anything definitive that can be helpful.” She looks down.
“Hey, everything you’ve said has been incredibly helpful. I agree with you about Henderson. Let’s call my friend who’s still with the bureau. We’re going to need his help to get this investigation off the ground,” I say.Pulling out my phone, I bring up Logan’s number. I told him weeks ago I’d need his help, but I’d need to wait until I had something more concrete to give him. Placing my phone on the table on speaker phone, it rings a few times before a raspy voice thick with a New York accent I used to have more of, mutters, “Costello here.”
“Sleeping on the job Logan?” I tease.
“Damn it Jake why are you calling it’s—oh,” he says, likely having seen it’s not even eight o’clock at night. “Sorry man, I just got done with a case yesterday and was ready to sleep an entire day, guess that was true. What’s up?”
I definitely know that feeling. He’s sounding like the bureau isn’t everything he lived for like he was a few years ago. “That thing I need your help with, I finally got someone you can look into for it.”
“What’s the case? You never said details,” he asks. I look to Thea and she gives a subtle nod. I give him a quick rundown of the situation from the stalking starting, the letters, Connor’s death, and her running and the tabs he’s been able to keep on her. Sounding a lot more awake, he says, “Shit Jake you found your omega, a scent match, congrats.” Thea smiles slightly at his reaction.
“Thanks man, I’m gonna have Parker send you all the info we got on Mark Henderson. He’s who we narrowed it down to. Logan, you know me, I wouldn’t say it without proof but this feels like the guy. We need to build a case, not just tying him to the stalking but to Connor’s murder so he can go away for good.”
“Understood. I’ll start looking at the files as soon as you send them and let you know what I find,” he says.
“Thank you. Oh and please keep this low key, as much as you can.”
“You didn’t even need to ask. Don’t worry, we’ll get the bastard. Talk soon.”
“Talk soon,” I respond as we hang up, looking at Thea. “I promise we’re going to find this guy and he’ll never hurt you again.” She gets up and walks around the table, hugging me so tightly. Feeling her soft body pressed against mine and her scent filling every part of me, feels so right. “I know you will, I trust you Jake,” she whispers so only I, and maybe Parker, can hear. Those words mean more to me than she could possibly know. I have to find this guy because if I fail and something happens to her, I’d never forgive myself.
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