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"I didn't want anyone to look at me different I guess," Hannah admitted, staring straight ahead. "I've been getting a lot of threats."
"Yeah, no shit," Tad said rolling his eyes.
"This isn't even bad though. I mean I get dozens of letters and emails a day,"
"Oh, Hannah," Tad said, his voice a mix of concern and sympathy. "Why?"
"Because someone isn't happy about me and Elliott," she admitted, feeling strangled by the words.
"Whoa. Wait. What now?" he asked, turning in his seat to face her fully. "You and Elliott?"
"Yeah, well. Things happened. I know, I know," she said, holding up her hands as his eyes rolled. "I know you warned me. It just happened. I dunno. It's not even the point. The point is someone started this even before anything really... happened. Like they knew it was going to happen."
"You're his type," Tad said, shrugging.
"Yeah, I guess. But anyway yeah. The desk and the office rumors and then..." she felt her chest tighten. "Someone broke into my house. They stole my guinea pig."
"They what?" Tad exploded, his face a mask of disbelief.
"I know. It's crazy."
"That's like completely psychotic," Tad said, his hand reaching out to settle on her leg. "That's why you ran?" he asked, knowing the answer.
"Yeah. I went back to my hometown."
"And Elliott tracked you down and brought you back," he supplied, knowing it was true.
"Well, yeah. But not before someone cut my brake lines and put stuff in my car to make it smoke and break down and stuff. It's ruined," she said, sounding sad about a car that was already half in the grave before it happened. "Hence the note on the ground," she said, sighing.
"Hannah," Tad said, waiting for her to turn to face him. "You have to call the police..."
"No," Hannah interrupted. "I already tried that," she said hopelessly. "There is really nothing that they can go on yet."
"Alright fine. Get a private investigator then. You have to do something. You cant just let yourself keep being the victim. This person is going to kill you someday, you know."
Hannah felt the truth of that settle like a brick in her stomach. This person was not going to stop until she was gone out of Elliott's life. And since she proved that she couldn't -or wouldn't- stay away from him, she had to die. It was that simple in this person's mind. Tad was right. She needed to do something.
"You're right," she said, her eyes meeting his. "I'm going to find someone."
"Today," Tad clarified and she laughed.
"Today," she agreed.
Elliott mumbled to the knock on his door, distracted by a legal document Hannah had just handed him. Regarding his divorce.
"Hey big brother," James said in his lazy way.
Elliott looked up, shaking his head at his brother's work wardrobe- an old pair of faded black jeans, an old band t-shirt, and a formal black and white vest completely unbuttoned. Though unlike usual, he didn't find himself irrationally annoyed by it. "Nice vest," he said, putting his document down.
James' eyebrows raised, surprised, suspicious. His brother never let him get away with his casual attire without a lecture. He sat down, eyeing his brother. "Something is different," he said and Elliott snorted. "Oh no, I know you better than that," he scolded. "What is it? Is the divorce final?"
"No..." Elliott started and the door swung open.
Hannah came rushing in, a pile of files in her hands. She was too focused to notice him right away, walking over to Elliott and dropping the papers on the desk. She reached across him to grab his checkbook and Elliott's hand brushed the back of her thigh. James' eyes widened, thinking he had just seen something. But Hannah stood back up and her eyes lingered a split second too long on Elliott.
"Oh, James," she said, shocked at first and then a genuine smile spread across her face. "How have you been?"
James winked at her. "Oh, you know me. Keeping busy. Being gorgeous and charming is truly a full time job."
