Chapter 27: You planned this
POV: Zac
June 30, 2008; Monday
The Walk book was done. It wouldn’t be released until later though. We were now shifting focus to the tour and prepping. The three of us were working on that while Gabriella was looking up several psychologist in the area, trying to find one with good reviews and that she felt good about. Max had called, texted and e-mailed her a dozen times and she had deleted them all without so much as a thought. I smiled as I watched her move to another page, she was not someone I wanted mad at me.
“Earth to Zac.” Taylor said.
“I heard you Tay, that is fine.”
“I wasn’t sure, you didn’t respond right off.”
Gabby giggled. “That’s because he was staring at me. So I can quit being a distraction I’m going to the studio to draw.”
“You don’t have too.” I said, pouted a bit.
She smiled as she got her tablet. “But you will focus more if I’m not here.”
The other two didn’t argue so I didn’t either, without being able to stare at her I was able to focus more.
“How is she doing?” Taylor asked.
I rolled my eyes, they just didn’t object but then asked about her as soon as she was out of the room?
“She’s doing pretty good. We talked more about the whole Max deal and she seems to be okay, sad that he ended up being an asshole. She thought he was better than that. Abigail is still struggling with the entire deal, she loves him but I don’t know. Gabby told her she could do whatever she wanted, but if she chose to be with him she didn’t want to be around him ever.”
“Not that anyone can blame her really. Did he really send those pictures?”
“Yeah. Admitted it in an e-mail and was arrogant enough to think if she left, she’d go to him. He doesn’t believe she left or that she overdosed or anything. He’s a fucking jackass and doesn’t deserve anything from her.”
“Agreed. What about her ex? Simon?” Isaac asked.
“He has pulled back, almost like he’s forgotten about her. Maybe he is realizing that she’s not going to fall for his bullshit anymore.” I replied.
“Maybe.” Ike said.
His tone of voice told me he wasn’t quite certain that he believed his own words though, I wasn’t certain myself. We all heard the sound of the drums at the same time and I smiled, she was playing Stricken.
“I can’t believe she can play that way.” Taylor said.
“Yeah, so it’s about lunch time. Who wants to go today? I’ve gone the last three.” I said.
“We can both go, I rather want a nice quiet lunch out of this place.”
“Ditto, I want something decent too. Tacos are fine but I want something else!” Taylor said.
That was perfect for me actually. “We ate a late breakfast, literally on the way in. So, just bring us something back and I’ll do a working lunch.”
“Are you sure?” Isaac asked.
“Yep.”
They were going to Caz’s, so I gave them an order for us both and once they were well on their way I went to the studio where she was sitting at the drums, but her drawing tablet was in front of her and she was looking at something across the room. I looked over her shoulder and found guitars on her page.
“You are lucky I heard you come in, otherwise you might be hurting badly.”
I leaned down and kissed her neck. “They left for lunch.”
“Lunch huh? Yet you came here instead of going to eat?”
Again, I kissed her neck and then moved the tablet out of her lap. “I’m glad you wore that skirt today.”
She turned to me. “My Mr. Hanson are you coming on to me?”
My answer was a kiss, which she deepened. I couldn’t believe I was even here with any intention at all, but she clearly had planned this well.
“I think you planned this.”
“Me? How would I do that? I can’t plan your moods.”
“You wore the skirt, my favorite pair of thongs, those nice pretty lace blue ones.”
“How would you know? You weren’t in the room when I got dressed.”
I nipped her neck again. “Because you flashed me several times while they weren’t looking, then you know how irresistible you are when you’re drumming and you played my favorite song.”
“Then why are you still talking?”
That was a great question considering we didn’t have endless time! I had to admit that sex here was exciting, that aspect of being caught didn’t help and yeah I am glad my favorite set of drums was set up, because I’d always have that memory, which may or may not be good for me when I’m suppose to concentrate on a show. By the time Taylor and Isaac returned with lunch there was no evidence at all that anything occurred. She and I had lunch and we worked. About three she answered her phone and after several minutes she was calling off the studio’s address, we all looked at her once she’d hung-up.
“That was Detective Mabis, he’s on his way to talk to us. He said it was important.”
We went ahead and wrapped up what we could and then Isaac let him and Detective Myers in when they arrived. We sat down in the main lobby area where extra chairs were.
“Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Hanson. Is it okay to speak in front of them?” Mabis asked.
“Yes.” She said.
“We came to talk to you about your attack last November.”
“You mention progress? What did you find?”
“We have arrested one of the men responsible for your attack, he was arrested for a burglary charge and his prints matched those we found inside the apartment that did not belong to anyone known. We confronted him with that evidence and he admitted to being there.”
“Which one?” She asked.
“The blonde haired guy, you indicated he was there a while but left.” Meyers said.
“Does he have a name?” I asked.
“Harper Brown, he’s twenty-three. Do you recognize the name?” Mabis asked.
Taylor and Isaac looked confused and unsure about the information, but they’d been informed on what happen. He had directed the question to Gabriella but she was thinking.
“The name sounds familiar but it’s not someone I knew well or really knew, just heard the name casually.”
“From?”
“My ex-, Simon Barns. I heard him talking to a Harper once, but I thought it was a girl. Did he tell you who the other two were?”
“For a reduced sentence he rolled over on them. He identified the other two as Chris Reigns and Quinton Brooks. Are those names familiar?”
“Chris Reigns?” She asked.
“Yes. He was the guy with black hair.”
“I heard Simon speaking to him months before he kicked me out. He often didn’t tell me why and his conversations were clipped and short. I assumed it was someone that he knew in the drug trade. Simon was a drug user.”
“Mr. Reigns has a long history of assault charges, robbery, and drug related charges. But his prints weren’t found so we may need you to identify him by his voice. The same goes for Mr. Brooks.”
“I should be able to do that. Um…did they mention why?”
“Mr. Brown said they were for hire to solve problems. They have a specific newspaper box they use, they receive written orders there on who, what, and why and they provide an amount. Unfortunately, you were not a mistake. The address they had was correct and it was you they were after. There instructions were to break in and find the floppy disk at any cost. The time was up to them and they said they chose those days because you were alone.”
“So they watched the apartment?” I asked.
“Yes. We didn’t find a suspicious car because they didn’t use a car, they walked in.”
“Was their intention to kill her?” Isaac asked.
“No. They were not given instructions to kill her. Just whatever it took to find the disk. They knew she was being picked up Thursday so when they couldn’t find it they left. Mr. Brown was unaware that Mr. Reigns had stabbed you and the rape was not included either. They were paid Twenty-five thousand to try, it would have doubled if they had found this disk.”
Gabriella got up and went to the office and returned with the disk.
“This is what they were looking for.”
“You had the disk?”
She handed it to Detective Meyers and sat down.
“The disk was in the lining of a black duffle bag, when we got home I was upset with Zac and I didn’t grab it out of the bay. Taylor actually got it out thinking it was one of his, when we left earlier this year he brought me the bag and I found it. There isn’t anything worth it on the disk, it’s just a list of random letters and numbers. I’ve tried to decode it but I can’t.”
“Do you have any idea where it could have come from?”
“The black bag was the one Simon packed for me when he told me to leave. However, it was on tour with me also and in a bay where everyone had access to it. It could have been anyone that was on the tour or even venue staff. I mean I wasn’t careful with it. However, if I had to guess I’d say Simon because the coded words looks like things he used.”
“You said he was a user of drugs, was he also dealing?” Mabis asked.
“Honestly, I don’t know. There were times where he talked with Ash and Damien. Scarlet would keep me up front or elsewhere in the building, but I just assumed it was related to the tour or something.”
“What about at home?”
She looked at me and I smiled at her, nodded.
“At home he would lock me in a bedroom sometimes when they were over. He usually would tell me I’d done something wrong. Ash, Damien, and Scarlet were over a lot even when we were home.”
“Do you think Mr. Barnes would put this kind of hit out on you?”
“Honestly? Maybe. He’s been trying to get me back with him but I haven’t really seen him in a while. But, he was always a hands on guy, so I find it hard to believe he would contract anyone if he knew about it.”
“The last time I saw him was when he tried to drag you off to the bus.” I said.
“When was that?” Meyers asked.
“October of last year, around the beginning of the month. He approached her outside and when he tried to pull her away I stopped him. She didn’t want to go, so I wasn’t going to let him. As far as I know, that’s the last time she saw him too.”
“Yes, it was the last time I saw him also. He texted mostly and used e-mails this year, but nothing threatening, just put downs. So, they were after this disk?”
“It appears so, they weren’t told what was on the disk or where it was, just that you had it. He said they considered coming back later but you moved in with your husband when you left and the security there was a little better. There are cameras that monitor even walking traffic in and out. Added, his fans are like paparazzi genesis, they were afraid someone would catch them.”
“Have you arrested the other two?” She asked.
“We have warrants out for their arrest, Mr. Brooks lives in Oklahoma City and Mr. Reigns last known address was Jenks, so we’re looking for them. Mr. Brown said they had decided not to pursue you again because really, they went through everything and found nothing. They were however unaware of this other bag being missing.”
“Would they have left had they found it?” Taylor asked.
“He didn’t say.” Meyers said.
“Thank you for the update.” She said.
“You’re welcome. We may need you to identify and if so we’ll call you.”
“That’s fine.” She said.
They said their goodbyes and left and we sat back down with the other two.
“You found the disk and didn’t say anything?” Isaac asked.
“Was right before tour and I didn’t want everyone to know about it. It’s like pointless gibberish anyway.” Gabriella said.
“Maybe to you but to the owner of the disk it could be very important. But, least it’s not in your possession anymore and that’s good.”
Neither of us mentioned the print outs she’d been working on were from the disk. But we finished up the last few items early and she and I headed home. She started fixing some kind of soup since we had some extra time and while she was cutting I sat at the counter.
“So, did you decide on anyone?”
“I have two but figured you could check them out too. Doctor Cortez who looks like a Spanish lady and Doctor Jackson who is an African American lady. I like their credentials and both have good reviews, but I wasn’t sure about the schools they attended, Cortez was listed as one in Tulsa while Jackson was like in California.”
I pulled them up and both women had great reviews but I noticed that Dr. Jackson’s reviews mostly dealt with common problems like stress or drugs while Cortez had a lot of reviews from domestic abuse victims. I did some searching on the schools as well.
“I’m thinking that Dr. Cortez is your best option. School wise there even, both are accredited and legit, but Cortez has more experience with domestic abuse, which is close to what you have in your past.”
“Cortez it is. You want to call and make the appointment since you have the insurance cards anyway.”
“Sure.”
I called and lucked out that she had an opening for a new patient the second, so I made the appointment for 10 am and then shot Taylor and Isaac a message saying I needed that time Thursday, which neither minded. They understood that mentally she needed more help than any of us could provide. She finished the soup and while it cooked we cleaned up a bit, she put away clothes.
It was domestic life and I loved it. I wasn’t sure if I would really, because of everything that occurred with Priscilla but I was just wishing that I had met her much sooner. When dinner was ready we sat down at the counter.
“So, you mentioned this big family gathering for the fourth?”
“Yep. It’ll include cousins, uncles and aunts, some you haven’t seen because they don’t live around here.”
“How about we tell everyone then about the wedding plans?”
“Could we maybe discuss that first?”
“What is there to discuss?” She asked.
“Are you sure you want that for starters? Don’t do this just for my mother, if you don’t want the big deal then we don’t have to do it.”
She considered it. “I want that experience, couple months ago I would have said no but hearing Nicole talk about it and really, you and I both deserve it too. Something we’ll completely remember. Added, your parents deserve it.”
“Okay, are you sure you want New Years day? January 1?”
“Yes. I’d ideally like something that occurs around midnight, but that’s kind of rough for a lot of people. Although, I wouldn’t mind a December 31 st date with a reception that passes midnight.”
“Which can happen, the wedding can be done around 6 or 7 pm, receptions can last a long time. You know Mom’s going to be ecstatic and want details.”
“I know but I know something that will help calm her down. You leave that to me. As for the other details we don’t have to have that to tell people.”
“True, what are you planning?” I asked.
“I’m not saying. Have you considered what you’d want in a wedding? It’s December or January, both cold as hell so that eliminates everything outside.”
“Yeah, those dates no outside wedding. So, we can do inside.”
“Church or just a venue?”
“Either really, you haven’t mentioned faith in much religion things.”
“Neither have you. I think a venue would be best considering we aren’t really doing this for the first time. But, either is fine. Our wedding date will always be in November.”
“Okay, colors?” I asked.
“That I have no clue on honestly.”
“Well, we have time. So, we can announce it and then discuss everything else. We have plenty of time.”
“Did you never consider this before?” She asked.
“I did briefly, but then she fucked all that up.”
“Is there anything you don’t want? Something you’d just despise?”
I considered this. “I guess if I had to eliminate things it would be dark colors like black or neon colors of any kind. Beyond that I really don’t have a preference on colors.”
“I figured you’d want blue everything.”
“I did consider that but really blue everything is a bit overboard. I won’t mind including it somehow, but I don’t think I want it to be overpowering.”
“For the record, if you think I am wearing some big ass poofy looking dress like Nicole, you are out of your mind.”
“She has a dress already?”
“Her mother’s, it’s this huge puffy thing, but don’t tell Ike he doesn’t know about it.”
“Ironically, I never thought about that. But, you don’t strike me as the large poofy dress type. I mean the skirt you wore today isn’t poofy.”
“Not even when it’s around my waist.”
“Definitely not when it’s around your waist.” I smiled.
We finished dinner up and I cleaned up the kitchen and put portions into containers for lunch tomorrow. We then caught about an hour of programs before we both decided sleep called our names. I was really liking the new pajamas she’d gotten with Nicole, because they were tighter and shorter and just perfect. Especially when she was cuddled up with me.