Page 77 of Forbidden Need

“What is the setup for going in and out? Do you need to register guests or can just anyone walk in any time?”

“No, definitely, no.”

He rolled across to the desk and brought an image of her up on the screen. Her. How did he…?

“That was just now,” she said, recognizing the car behind her. “Upstairs.”

“Yeah, the camera takes a picture of anyone who rings or beeps in.”

“Beeps in?”

“Yeah, it’s a scanner too.” He flicked the badge on his belt. “Have to beep in and out. Ties into the payroll system as well. Henry never complained about overtime. He was a good boss. Dunno what will happen now.”

No, to any of them.

“Is there a way to download the information from that night?”

“Yeah, not that there’s anything to see.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your grandfather beeped in, and we had a shift change after, but that was hours before… Was a quiet night. No one in or out after eight p.m.”

And time of death wasn’t until the early hours. A suspect would’ve had to lie in wait for a long while, increasing the chance he’d be seen.

“Was Lupe here that night?”

“No. Think she blames herself. Said if she’d been here, it wouldn’t have happened.”

Either the housekeeper was privy to the details of her grandfather’s life, or she thought a lot of herself.

“Where can I get hold of Lupe? Do you have a number?”

Shoving back, he rolled over to a drawer and retrieved a pad and pen to write a number. “Cops have all this.”

“Yeah,” she said, taking the slip of paper he tore off. “Thanks.”

Maybe this Lupe could fill in some blanks. She dipped to pick up her purse.

“Ms. McLeod…”

She glanced back. “Yeah?”

“Whoever did this, the asshole who… Is Ire gonna take care of it?”

Another smile. “No,” she said, much like Niall once upon a time. “I am.”

“If he’s ever looking for guys… I’ll be out of a job soon.”

“We’ll keep you in mind.”

Her grandfather’s death threw a lot of people for a loop. A person’s reach was only truly known after they were gone. He may not be walking the earth anymore, but his presence hung heavy over them all.

TWENTY-NINE

THE FRONT DOOR beeped again to grant her departure at the same time her phone rang.

“Yeah?” she answered the unknown number.

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