“I don’t think he has,” I admitted. “Is there a problem with us doing it?”
“No, it’s been released as a crime scene. I was there this morning, and I didn’t see anything of value to the investigation.”
“You didn’t tell me. You aren’t holding out on me, are you?”
“We haven’t talked since this morning, Savannah.”
“Okay, you’re forgiven. So, is it okay?”
“It’s fine with me, but it’s a little surreal having someone with that much money asking you for a favor, don’t you think?”
I stared out the window before I replied. “I’m trying not to think about how much money and power he has. Barton is someone who needs my help, and I’m going to give it. And, you never know, I may find something that you all missed.”
Zach’s voice lowered, and I knew he meant business. “Savannah, you’ve helped me in the past, and we both know it. There’s something about the way your mind works that allows you to reach conclusions that I can’t see. You’ve got a gift. Just be careful. Call me when you get back to the hotel,” he said.
“I will, but I have no idea how late it will be. You might beat me back here.”
“I wouldn’t count on it. I’m pushing myself through the last of these files tonight so I can actually start detecting. I’m afraid that it’s going to be a long night.”
“For both of us,” I said. “Love you.”
“Love you, too,” he said as he hung up.
At least I was ready for cleaning, since I was wearing my typical outfit of blue jeans and a T-shirt. That was one thing I loved about my job; there was no dress code.
I FOUND GARRETT WAITING FOR ME DOWNSTAIRS WHEN I entered the lobby. “If you’ll come with me,” he said.
“Sure thing.”
He wanted to say something else to me as we walked to the front of the building, it was clear in his eyes, but he held back. The poor man looked tortured, so I finally asked him, “Is there something on your mind?”
The manager stopped and looked at me. “I know it’s not my place, but I hope you’ll be gentle with him. He’s a good man in some serious pain right now.”
It was clear Garrett cared about his boss. “I’m doing all that I can to help him.”
“We all know that, and we’re most grateful,” he said.
We started walking toward the front door again. Parked outside was a shiny black limousine. I hadn’t been in one since my wedding day, and I honestly hadn’t expected to be in one again. The driver was standing by the door, and he opened it the second I approached. Garrett bowed toward me as I got in, and I winked at him. Barton appeared to be in a deep conversation on the phone with someone, and as we started to drive off, he hung up.
“What was that about?” he asked.
“What do you mean?”
“I saw the way Garrett bowed to you. That’s out of character for him.”
How had the man caught such a subtle move out of the corner of his eye while he was on the telephone with someone else? He had to have greater powers of focus and concentration than most people did. Maybe that was one of the sources of his ability to acquire wealth.
“Your employees care about you,” I said. “It should make you feel good.”
“I hardly know the man, and he’s my only contact there,” Barton said.
“They know you’re a good boss, and it’s pretty clear you’re hurting over your loss.”
Barton looked genuinely surprised by that. “Am I that transparent? I thought I hid my grief better than that.”
“It’s okay to be sad,” I said. “You lost someone you cared about.”
“More than I can say,” he admitted.
As we drove across town, Barton said, “I tried to get her to move into the Belmont where there was at least a modicum of security, but she refused. Cindy prized her freedom more than that. When she was off work, she liked to live her own life. Here, she could lift a finger and have anything she wanted, but in her own place, she had autonomy.”
“I like her already,” I said.
He nodded. “I approve of strong, independent women, but I should have insisted. If I’d only known . . .”
“You can’t play that game,” I said, putting my hand on his arm. “Second-guessing yourself is worse than cruel; it’s pointless.”
“You’re right. I embrace that philosophy in business, but I can’t seem to accept it in my personal life.”
“Don’t think about her loss,” I said. “Celebrate who she was. Tell me about her.” I needed to get his mind focused on the good rather than the bad. If I could do that, he might be able to get through the painful task we had ahead of ourselves. There was also the slight chance I might learn something new about Zach’s case.
“She was sunshine personified,” he said simply. “The room lit up whenever she walked in, and faded a little when she left it. Not that she was some kind of Pollyanna,” he added hastily. “Cindy had a temper that could be quite fierce when she was challenged. There was spirit under that soft demeanor, and anyone who crossed her had to be sure they were right. She clashed with me more than a few times over the years, and I knew when she challenged me that I needed to rethink my position. I trusted her as my moral compass on tough decisions, and I
