Rhys received another call from Daniel after another hour.
"Listen, Rhys, I don't want you and Heather staying at Dex's place anymore. Go back to your house. I'll head over there with someone from our legal team, a Ms. Evangeline Evans. We need to strategize in a more secure environment."
Rhys hesitated. "Are you sure that's safe, Daniel? After the package Heather received..."
"We'll arrange additional security for your place immediately," Daniel assured him. "It'll be better than staying put in a stranger's apartment. We need to be somewhere we can properly coordinate."
Rhys glanced at Dex, a thought forming in his mind. "Daniel, can Dex come with us? He's been instrumental in all of this. And honestly, I feel better having him close by, working on this."
There was a brief pause on the other end. "Dex? The hacker friend? Look, Rhys, I appreciate his help, but..."
"He's more than just a hacker, Daniel," Rhys interjected firmly. "He's uncovering the truth. And having him there, with his setup, will only help us. I have a spare room. He can work from there."
Daniel sighed. "Fine. Fine. Bring your friend. But the moment the legal team arrives, we're taking charge of the information flow. No more freelance investigations without our oversight, understood?"
"Understood," Rhys said, a wave of relief washing over him. Having Dex close felt crucial.
"Alright. Go home. Lock everything up. We'll be there as soon as we can." The line clicked dead.
Rhys looked at Heather, a sense of purpose hardening his gaze. "Come on. Let's go home." He turned to Dex. "You packing light?"
Dex nodded, already unplugging cables from his primary rig. "Always prepared for a digital road trip."
The drive back to Rhys's house was filled with a tense silence. The familiar comfort of his home felt tainted by the knowledge of the threat they faced.
As soon as they arrived, Rhys double-checked all the locks, his security team arriving shortly after, their presence a reassuring but stark reminder of the danger.
Within the hour, Daniel arrived with Ms. Evangeline Evans, a sharp, impeccably dressed lawyer who carried herself with an air of quiet authority. As they settled in the living room, Rhys led Dex to the spare bedroom, quickly setting it up as a temporary workspace, complete with an extra monitor and a comfortable chair.
"Make yourself at home," Rhys said to Dex. "Anything you need, just let me know. Daniel and Ms. Evans are here now. We'll fill them in on everything you've found."
Dex nodded, already plugging in his equipment. "Sounds good. The deeper I dig, the more dirt I'm bound to find."
As Rhys rejoined Daniel and Ms. Evans in the living room, he felt a renewed sense of determination.
"Okay, Rhys," Daniel began, laying out a tablet on the coffee table. "Ms. Evans has been briefed. Show her what you've got."
Rhys recounted the events of the past few days, from the threatening package to Lena's taunting phone call, and finally, Dex's findings regarding Tiffany Wright's IP address and the temporary file.
Ms. Evans listened intently, her expression impassive as she reviewed the screenshots and the technical details Dex had provided.
"This is compelling circumstantial evidence," Ms. Evans conceded, her voice measured. "The IP address, the timing, the file fragment… it certainly points in a specific direction. However, it's not irrefutable proof. We need to be cautious in how we proceed."
"But it's enough to show the label that this isn't just some random internet hate," Rhys argued, frustration lacing his voice. "This is a deliberate, targeted attack."
"It's enough for us to take action," Daniel interjected, nodding in agreement with Rhys. "We can issue a stronger statement, publicly denying the allegations and stating that we have reason to believe Rhys is the victim of a malicious smear campaign. We can also involve law enforcement based on the evidence of the threatening package and the potential for cyberstalking and defamation."
Ms. Evans nodded. "That's the prudent approach. We can't directly accuse the Wright sisters without more concrete proof, but we can certainly paint a picture that counters the current narrative and signals that we are taking this seriously."
The wheels began to turn. Ms. Evans and Daniel worked quickly, drafting a press release that completely denied the allegations and hinted at legal action against those responsible for the malicious campaign.
Rhys, with Heather by his side, approved the statement, a sense of relief washing over him as the carefully crafted words were sent out into the digital world.
Starlight Entertainment and Mr. Rhys Connor are aware of the recent circulation of alleged direct messages attributed to Mr. Connor. We want to state that these messages are not authentic and have been fabricated with malicious intent.
We have reason to believe that Mr. Connor is the target of a deliberate and harmful smear campaign. We are working closely with law enforcement, who are actively investigating the origin of these falsified communications and the individuals responsible.
Starlight Entertainment stands firmly behind Rhys Connor and condemns these underhanded tactics designed to damage his reputation and cause distress. We will pursue all available legal avenues to protect Mr. Connor and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
We appreciate the continued support of Rhys's fans and ask that you exercise caution and critical thinking when encountering unverified information online. We will provide further updates as the investigation progresses.
The statement generated a fresh wave of online discussion, with some fans rallying behind Rhys, expressing skepticism about the leaked DMs, while others remained entrenched in their judgment.
@LoyalLuxFan: YES! Knew it! Those DMs didn't sound like Rhys at all. So glad they're fighting back! #JusticeForRhys
@DoubtfulDan: "Reason to believe"? Sounds like they're just trying to cover their tracks. Where's the actual proof it's fake?
@TruthPrevails: Finally, a strong statement! Glad to hear they're involving the police. Hope they catch whoever did this.
@TeamRhys: We believe you, Rhys! Don't let the haters get you down. We're here for you! ❤️
@HeatherDefender: So glad they mentioned the malicious intent. This whole thing has been awful for Heather too. Hope she's doing okay.
@JustSaying: "Malicious smear campaign" - that's what they all say when they get caught. I'm not convinced.
@SeeTheSigns: Maybe the DMs were real and they're just trying to protect their golden boy. Starlight's statement doesn't mean anything.
@WhereIsTheProof: Show us the evidence that they're fake! Talk is cheap.
@MediaWatch: Interesting to see them involve law enforcement so quickly. This could get messy.
@WaitingForMoreInfo: I'll reserve judgment until we see some actual evidence. Both sides have a story.
The tide hadn't completely turned, but the label's forceful denial provided a much-needed counter-narrative.
Meanwhile, Ms. Evans's team contacted the local police department, presenting the preliminary findings regarding the online activity and the PI investigation result for the threatening package.
The police agreed to open an investigation, acknowledging the seriousness of the threats and the potential for a coordinated harassment campaign.
The internet storm hadn't completely abated, but Rhys felt like he was finally fighting back, armed with the initial threads of truth unearthed by Dex.
This was just the beginning.
Lena's second and third plans still loomed, but for now, a small victory had been won in the battle for his reputation.
He held Heather's hand, his gaze fixed on the view outside, a renewed determination hardening his resolve. They would face whatever came next, together.