The Inheritance Games, #4
The Brothers Hawthorne
by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Contents
CHAPTER 30: GRAYSON
Overview
Grayson and Gigi successfully infiltrate Kent Trowbridge's office, securing Kent's password list and copying files from his computer while discovering a hidden safe. Their search is interrupted when Duncan Trowbridge brings Savannah into the office and pressures her, exposing a darker side of Savannah's supposedly perfect relationship. Grayson's protective reaction toward Savannah deepens his emotional stake in the Sheffield/Trowbridge investigation, and the sight of a cowboy-hatted figure outside signals a new complication.
Summary
After leaving the Trowbridge party, Gigi confirms that Grayson is both truly named Grayson and famous, then leads him into Kent Trowbridge's home office through a lock she has picked. Grayson immediately surveys the room and notices signs of hidden security and secrecy, while Gigi searches for Kent's passwords, assuming he has written them down despite believing himself tech-savvy.
Grayson finds the key to the desk hidden under a disturbed corner of the rug. Gigi opens the drawers and discovers a paper taped underneath with dozens of passwords, including one for the desktop computer. Grayson photographs the list, restores the desk and key to avoid detection, and lets Gigi search the computer while he finds a concealed shelf door hiding a safe.
Before Grayson can attempt to open the safe, voices approach. Grayson hides the safe, locks the door, and pulls Gigi behind the desk just as Duncan Trowbridge enters with Savannah. From hiding, Grayson and Gigi overhear Duncan pressure Savannah physically and verbally after she repeatedly says they should return to the party, revealing that their seemingly perfect relationship is controlling and disturbing.
Grayson nearly exposes himself to defend Savannah, thinking of her as his sister despite their unresolved relationship, but Gigi jumps up first and loudly interrupts. Duncan backs away, Savannah adjusts her clothes, and Gigi improvises that Grayson is her new boyfriend to explain their presence. Grayson rejects the cover story but forces Duncan to leave with a cold command.
Savannah exits with Duncan, who insults her in the hall, and Grayson has to be physically blocked by Gigi from going after him. Gigi admits she has never heard Duncan speak to Savannah that way and thought the couple was perfect, a word that unsettles Grayson because of his own history with perfection. Gigi finishes transferring Kent's PDFs, documents, and image files to an external hard drive, while Grayson decides not to open the safe yet because Kent might trace access back to them.
As they leave, Gigi plans to check on Savannah and later search the downloaded files, while Grayson agrees to send her the passwords after altering them. In the hallway, Grayson spots a cowboy-hatted figure leaning near a truck outside and tells Gigi there is something he must handle first.
Who Appears
- Grayson HawthorneInfiltrates Kent's office, secures passwords, protects Savannah, and notices a cowboy-hatted figure outside.
- GigiPicks the office lock, copies Kent's files, interrupts Duncan, and worries about Savannah.
- SavannahDuncan's girlfriend; tries to maintain control while being pressured and insulted by him.
- Duncan TrowbridgeKent's son; corners and pressures Savannah, then reacts angrily to Grayson and Gigi.
- Kent TrowbridgeAbsent owner of the office; his passwords, computer files, and hidden safe become investigation targets.
- Unidentified cowboy-hatted figureSeen by Grayson outside near a truck, prompting him to address a new concern.