Henry’s gut roiled, and he hustled to join the women.
“Look what they’ve done to my laptop.”
The screen and keyboard sat on the floor, separated into three pieces.Tears rolled down Maia’s face, and he tugged her into his arms, holding her pressed against his chest.Her folders of notes lay in scattered piles, and everything Maia had arranged on shelves and on her desk lay scattered.Red paint covered the wall, the wordthiefprominent against the neutral cream wall.
“A lot of rage here,” Charlie said from behind them.He took several photos from various angles.
“Any idea what they mean?”Laura gestured at the word on the nearest wall.
“No,” Maia said.
“I’m still thinking it’s someone connected to your rugby world,” Henry said.“If it was, today’s little prank would make more sense.”
“You mean the players resent me for joining the team?”Maia said.“I won my spot by playing well and training hard.”
“You know that, and we know that,” Henry said, “but sometimes disappointment makes people do stupid things.”
“Did you report the changing room episode to your team management?”Laura asked.
“Yes, they’re going to look into it.My coach muttered something about juvenile pranks.This felt more than that to me.”
“I agree,” Charlie said, retreating.“Let’s do a sweep of the rest of the house.”
Henry let Laura and Charlie go ahead before he released Maia.“Do you have backups for your work?”
“I do on the cloud and on a backup device, but that’s not the point.I’ll have to file a claim, purchase a new computer, and go through setting it up.It’s going to take time I don’t have.”
“We’ll talk to Megan and London.They might have suggestions on how to get you up to speed fast.”
Tears formed in her eyes, and one ran down her cheek.He thumbed it away, feeling useless and wishing he could make it all disappear.
She made a snuffling sound.“I’m sorry.These are angry tears.I feel like a punching bag, and everyone is taking a free shot.”
“We’ll sort this out and stop the culprit,” Henry promised.No one should have to suffer this level of harassment.
“Maia.Henry.”Laura’s voice originated from Maia’s bedroom.
“I don’t want to know what they’ve done in my bedroom,” she whispered.
Henry squeezed her hand, and she lifted her chin.His lady was so brave.
“Let’s go,” she said.
They walked down the passage hand-in-hand and halted in the open doorway of her bedroom.Henry cursed while Maia released a croak.“How could they?”
Chapter 25
“Thisisonedisturbedperson,” Charlie said, distress coloring his expression.
“Alba?”Maia closed her eyes, but the vision of a white puppy lying on her sheets remained seared to her retinas.
“It’s not Alba,” Henry said.“This puppy has a patch of brown on its right front leg.”
“Call Gavin.The puppy is still alive,” Laura said.
Charlie hit a button on his phone and spoke in a low, urgent voice before hanging up.“Ten minutes.”
“Maia.Maia!”Laura spoke sharply, dragging Maia’s attention from the poor puppy.
