Page 38 of Without Warning
“Hello.Call me Cronus.I’m a friend of Darrell’s.I run a security firm.”He gives them the easy explanation of what he does.“Darrell has used my services several times.I believe I’m speaking to Daphne and Delphi Placer, correct?”
“Yes,” they both say at the same time, in the same voice.
“I’m Titan.I work with Cronus and Darrell too.I handle computer issues for them.I helped Delphi get her social media account straightened out.”
“Thank you,” Delphi says.
“I just want you ladies to be aware, so you can’t say later you weren’t notified, but a couple of my associates are with me too,” Cronus says, forever being the logical one.
“Cronus, get on with this,” I demand.
“Daphne, can I ask about the letters and gifts you’ve been receiving?”
“They started shortly after I met Darrell.”She pauses.“No, wait, that’s not right.I mean, these recent ones have been since then, but I was getting weird messages and things when I was still living in Atlanta.It’s one of the reasons I moved.I closed all my social media accounts because of them.But since I’ve been with Darrell, they’ve gotten worse.I honestly thought it was him.The first time I can remember was the day he sent me the dress and shoes.There was a huge bouquet of red roses too.”
“I didn’t send her flowers.Titan, I thought we had an agreement with the concierge to turn over everything that was sent to Daphne without her unit number on it?”
“We did, but it stopped a week afterward.I think they decided not to include us.I’ll get legal on it.”
“I got messages on my social media after Daphy closed her accounts,” Delphi says, and a growl can be heard across the line.“What was that?”she asks.
“Nothing,” Cronus says, then a smack echoes from the speaker.“Daphne and Delphi, can you forward me the messages?”
“Okay,” they both respond in unison.
“I want to do some digging on your computers, so I’m going to remote into your phones,” Titan says.
“No.You can’t do that to mine.I have attorney-client privilege.I don’t give you permission.”
“Goddamn it.Let him do it, Delphi,” Hades barks into the phone.“He’s got higher government clearance than most people.It’s for your fucking safety.”
“Kit, is that you?”
“Fuck,” he groans.“Yeah, goddess.It’s me.”
“No.”Delphi shoots up from her seat, her body trembling.“I can’t do this.Don’t count me in.”She looks at me before turning to Daphne and then back to me.“Protect my sister.I’ll send screenshots of the messages I’ve received, but I won’t be part of this.”
“Damn it, Delphi, you need protection too.If this crazy is after your sister, he could come after you as well.”
“I told you no.It’s a complete sentence.I won’t do this.I’m sorry, Cronus.Darrell, please promise you’ll protect my sister.Daphy, I’ll be in my condo.Come see me tomorrow if you can.”She smirks at me before walking out the door.
“Son of a bitch,” Hades growls.“Protect her as best you can.She won’t be a part of this if I am.”
“You,” my girl says.“I’d prefer Mr.Garrett have no part in this investigation, or I’ll walk too.”
“Daphne, baby, he’s part of the organization.He’s good, and he’s a friend.I don’t know what is going on between him and your sister, but trust him to help both of you.”
“I can’t betray her that way.He…” She doesn’t finish her thought, but I can see the pain in her eyes.
I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her onto my lap.
“We’ll get started with what we have so far, if that’s okay with you, Daphne?I don’t need access to her stuff.I’m used to working with attorneys.”
“I agree, Titan.Get what you can.Daphne, we’ll keep you safe, as long as you do as we tell you,” Cronus says.
“I can do that,” she says, her voice trembling.
ChapterNine
