Chapter 26

My steps were hurried as I climbed the stairs to Hana’s apartment. It had been two weeks since I saw her last and it had been two rough weeks. Her little stunt with the sexy texting had almost broken my resolve to treat her like a friend and nothing more. But reading her telling me she was in the bath, horny, had me half way out of my apartment to get to her and help her with the issue. The only thing that stopped me was that she was drunk. Whatever would have happened if I had gone to her would have been tainted by that. I would have felt like I took advantage of her. I had overcome my desire. But the picture of her in the tub, naked and pleasuring herself hasn’t left my mind since. It didn’t help that I had no reason to see her. Things seemed to have settled down in her life. I was happy for her, but it did mean I had no way to see her. It had left me irritated and grumpy. Something my men had noticed, even Clair had asked what was wrong with me. Jason had just been smirking and humming, looking smug. It was a testament to how much I valued his friendship that I hadn’t planted my fist in his face by now. I slowed down as I walked up to her door and felt a smile settle on my face as I knocked on her door. She opened and she looked stunning. I had to force my eyes to meet hers as they would have stayed on the snug jeans and the alluring way the soft sweater showed off her curves. I needed to get a grip.

“Hello,” I said. I instantly wanted to kick myself. That was the best I could think of?

“Hi,” she said, returning my smile. “I’ll just grab my bag and I’ll be ready to go.”

“We have time to take a couple of minutes if you need,” I offered. I knew I had sprung this on her at the last minute.

“It’s fine,” she said. I stayed by her side as we walked down the stairs. It felt right to have her close again. I realised as I opened the door to the car for her that I needed to do something about this. If I had learned anything from the past two weeks it was that I would never be satisfied with being friends. To be at the periphery of her life. It left me with a couple of new problems. But I would save those for later. At the moment I just wanted to enjoy being in Hana’s company again.

“Is there something I need to know?” Hana asked as we were halfway to the office.

“Do you remember the advice Seymour gave you?” I asked her. She nodded. “Then you know what you need to know. This was one of the reasons I thought it would be good to have the talk in our office. I have asked Seymore to stay late. He will be there if we need him,” I told her.

“Oh, you shouldn’t have done that. He should get home to his family,” she said.

“His wife is understanding and we try to not hold him behind too often,” I reassured her. My instinct had me taking her hand in mine. “It will be fine.”

“And you will be there?” she asked. Her hand was gripping onto my hand.

“I will. And if they ask me to leave, we will make sure Seymour takes my place. They may be able to kick me out, but not him. We will not leave you alone with them,” I told her.

“Thank you,” she said. there was something fragile in her voice that made me want to pull her into my arms to make her feel safe.

“Is there something else to this, sweetness?” I asked. She tensed next to me and she tried to take her hand back, but I held it a little tighter and she relented and let me keep it.

“Um, I just don’t like being alone with men I don’t know,” she told me quietly. My jaw clenched and my grip on the steering wheel tightened. Someone had hurt her in the past. They had hurt her enough to scar her permanently.

“Do you want me to call my friend and ask that at least one of the detectives is a woman?” I asked her. Trying to keep the anger out of my voice.

“No, it’s okay. I won’t be alone with them,” she said. Fuck, she was killing me with her trust. I would end anyone that would even suggest that I would be leaving her during this conversation. We parked in the garage and I took her up to my office.

“Evening boss, Miss Bishop,” Clair greeted us. “I have readied the conference room. Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?” she then asked.

“I’m sure. Go home and get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow, Clair,” I told her.

“Bye, have a nice evening,” Hana said as Clair left. I placed my hand on Hana’s back and guided her into my office, but I left the door open for when the detectives arrived.

“Can I get you something?” I asked her.

“No, thank you,” she said. She walked up to the windows and looked out over the city. I left her to her own thoughts for now. Ten minutes later the elevator dinged and Hana turned around and joined me as we walked out of the office. As we walked into the waiting area, the detectives came walking from the elevator. Hana tensed and her hand grasped mine. I looked at her and saw her fear as she looked toward the detectives. I instinctively tugged her behind me as I followed her gaze.

“What the fuck!” I exclaimed when I saw that one of the detectives was the same one that had come for her and she had tased. Both he and his partner had stopped and detective Mike raised his hands to let them know he meant no harm. “What are you doing here? Haven’t you caused enough damage?” I growled.

“Mr Gardner, I’m here to apologise for my last visit. Miss Bishop, I am deeply sorry,” he said, leaning a little to the left to be able to see Hana.

“Don’t,” I barked. I heard a sigh from behind me and felt Hana squeeze my hand.

“It’s okay, Hunter,” she told me and stepped around me to stand beside me again.

“Hana,” I objected.

“It’s fine,” she reassured me. She then looked at the detectives. “I accept your apology, but I won’t offer one of my own,” she told the detective. He nodded and I had to bite back a smile. She was hot as fuck when she channelled her inner warrior. She was so much stronger than she thought she was. I just wished she didn’t need to be strong.

“Let’s sit down,” I said and showed the detectives into the meeting room. I didn’t let go of Hana’s hand until I held out her chair. I sat down next to her.

“Mr Gardner, Miss Bishop, thank you for seeing us,” the other detective said as they had settled down. “I’m detective Monroe, I think you have met my partner, detective Dundam.” I nodded and Hana found it in her to give them a smile. She sat next to me with a stiff spine and a look of determination. But I could see the slight tremble of her hands that she had hid in her lap.

“I would appreciate it if we could get this over with as soon as possible,” I told him. I was ignoring detective Dundam. I was worried that if I didn’t, I would end up introducing his face to my fist.

“Of course, we won’t keep you any longer than we have to. Miss Bishop, I need to start by asking if it’s okay with you that Mr Gardner is present?” detective Monroe asked her. I had to remind myself he was doing his job, that it was a reasonable question.

“Yes, he is here at my request,” Hana said. Her voice didn’t even wobble and I was proud of how she handled the situation.

“Good, good. You husband, I’m sorry, your ex-husband is a Simon Hunters, is that correct?”

“Yes, that is correct. He is my ex-husband,” Hana agreed.

“Do you know where he is at the moment?” detective Monroe asked.

“No I don’t.”

“Who do you think would know where he is?” the detective asked.

“His mother, most likely, or maybe his stepfather. His best friend, Morgan Johnsson, might know as well,” Hana answered. The detective took notes.

“We have talked with all those people, they all say they don’t know where your ex-husband is,” detective Dundam added.

“Okay,” was all she said. I faked a chough to hide the smirk that wanted to settle on my face. She was taking Seymore’s advice and I could see detective Dundam losing his patience.

“What do you think that means?” the detective tried.

“What does it mean that none of my ex-husbands closest family and friend doesn’t know where he is?”

“Yes.”

“He doesn't want to be found,” Hana said. Detective Monroe smiled, detective Dundam didn’t.

“Right, sounds reasonable,” detective Monroe agreed. “Last time you spoke to someone from our department, you said your lawyer had contact with Mr Hunters. When we questioned him, the phone number he provided us with had been shut off. Do you know if he has had any contact with your ex-husband after that?”

“I haven’t had any contact with my divorce lawyer after that, so I couldn't tell you. But I don’t see why he would,” Hana said.

“You don’t seem to know that much at all,” detective Dundam told her. My anger spiked and I felt myself getting ready to stand up. Apparently he hadn’t learned his lesson about how to treat Hana. I would make sure he got the message this time.