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She stood. “Please. You’re the expert.”
Jena sat and started typing feverishly. Things started popping up on the screen that looked strange and unfamiliar. It was clear that Jena was reaching deep into the core code of the machine.
“No one else has access to your computer but you and Phoebe?” Jena asked, never slowing down her fingers.
“That’s right,” Ashley said, but then she recalled what had happened yesterday with Anna. “I don’t know if this means anything, but an urgent call came in from Walter Steele’s attorney yesterday. I had to leave my desk because Phoebe was on another call. When I came back, Anna was sitting in my chair in front of my computer.”
“Anna, who works at TBK?” Jena asked. “Anna Banks?”
“Yes. She lives in my apartment complex. We started going on runs together a month ago.”
Phoebe’s eyes narrowed. “A month ago was when Jennifer got served with papers from Walter Steele’s attorneys.”
“Yes. In fact, as I recall it was the very next day she invited me to run with her. That can’t be a coincidence, can it?”
“It’s not,” Jena said, pointing to the screen. “See this coding? I’ve run across it before. It’s Kip Lunceford’s work. Anna infected your computer. Someone has been able to access it remotely since yesterday, and I have a good idea that someone is Kip’s sister, Cindy Trollinger. Ashley, thank God you saw this when you did. Any later, and the fallout would’ve been horrible.”
Phoebe brought out her phone. “I’ll call Jason and tell him what we’ve discovered thanks to Ash. If Anna is in town, he can bring her in for questioning.”
Jena also held her cell out. “I’ve got to let Matt and Sean know immediately so that we can cut off her access to TBK. If Anna is working for Trollinger, I have no doubt she’s re-infected TBK’s network with Lunceford’s viruses.”
As Phoebe and Jena filled in their husbands about what they’d discovered, Ashley wondered how long Anna had been working with Trollinger.
“Thanks, honey. Please keep us in the loop.” Phoebe ended her call. “Jason is going to Anna’s apartment now and will call Easton Black on the way.”
“Jason is sending Nicole and Jaris to TBK to see if she might be there.” Nicole and Jaris were Jason’s deputies.
Jena clicked off her phone. “Anna has been working from home all this week.”
“I guess we know why now,” Phoebe said. “I’ll call Jason back and let him know they don’t need to go to TBK.”
“Actually, I think it’s good that Nicole and Jaris are headed to our offices. Matt and Sean might be able to help figure out where Anna might be if she isn’t at her home. Plus, we don’t know if Anna was working alone or if there were others at TBK helping her. The moment we hung up, Matt was going to call the Knights to fill them in.”
“I wonder what this has to do with Jennifer’s case.” Phoebe tapped her fingers on the desktop, something she always did when she was trying to figure out a difficult issue. “There has to be a connection. Why else would someone change Walter Steele’s middle initial?”
“I agree,” Ashley said. “This man must be an imposter. Once we research the change in his initial, I’m betting we’ll have proof. My guess is that Trollinger wants to get a foothold close to Destiny. If she could get title to the Steele Ranch, which is valued at over twenty-eight million, through the man claiming to be Walter Steele, then Trollinger could work through him to keep up her attacks on our town. Her M.O. is always to use others to get her dirty work done. Anna is just her latest patsy. You know what happened with your sister-in-law and the Reverend Willie. “
“If it hadn’t been for Josh and Jacob, we would’ve lost Carrie for good.” Jena sighed and looked at the screen. “Shit.” Jena started typing feverishly on Ashley’s keyboard.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“Whoever has remote access to your computer has been watching and listening to us through your computer’s microphone and camera.”
Shit was right.
Chapter Eleven
Having finished his crash course at Phase Four, Sylas couldn’t wait to talk with Ashley. “Thanks, Zac. I really don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
“No need, buddy. Great job for your first lesson. I find you to be a natural. Embrace your Dom side. Go find Ashley. Let her know how you feel. Be happy.”
“I will.” Sylas left the club, knowing that this lifestyle—the one Ashley desired—was what he wanted, too. Zac had told him that there would be many more lessons in the future, but today had been a very good start.
He brought out his cell and sent Ashley a text. I need to talk to you. Can we meet?
Everything Zac had showed him spoke to something deep inside. Being a Dom wasn’t about abuse. It wasn’t only about control, although that was definitely a part of it. Being a Dom, as Zac had showed him, was primarily about trust. The submissive gave her trust after the Dom earned it. The relationship between a Dom and his sub was a thing of beauty and mystery, something sacred between them alone. Just like the safe word given to the sub, every part of the lifestyle had a reason and a deep meaning.
He intended to be the Dom Ashley wanted him to be. He would have to learn even more about her than he already knew so that he would be able to give her the pleasure she needed the most.
