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And apparently, so had Leigh. Had they cooked up the scheme together?

“What about before Leigh left for this other location?” Alli asked. “Was anything different or strange going on?”

“Different or strange?” Terri echoed. “I don’t think so. It was always pretty much the same most days at the office. I sat outside Leigh’s office, you see. I was the receptionist, and it was my job to keep people out that Mr. Winslow didn’t want to see. If they somehow got past me, Leigh stopped them in their tracks. She was good at it, too. They could often sweet-talk me, or tell me some fish story, and I’d buy it. But Leigh? Not a chance. She was better than any bouncer in a bar, and she didn’t care who she made mad.”

“Was there anyone in particular that she made angry?” Sam queried. “Someone who, perhaps, she made life difficult for?”

“She made life difficult for many of the executives,” Terri laughed, taking a sip of her iced tea. “She didn’t care how much clout they had or what their title was. If Mr. Winslow didn’t want to be disturbed, she was going to wrestle the person to the ground to keep them out of her office. But she probably should have been a teacher because she never had to get physical. She could simply give them a certain look, or her voice had a certain tone to it. She kept them all in line. Not that they didn’t kick up a fuss. They did. But in the end, they’d all turn around and go back to their offices.”

“Who kicked up the biggest fuss?” Alli asked. “And who was she nicest to? Maybe she let him in when she wouldn’t let anyone else?”

“She treated them all the same,” Terri replied, shaking her head. “I never saw her play favorites.”

“Was she close to anyone in the office?” Sam asked. “Other than my dad.”

“I doubt she’d ever describe her relationship with your father as close,” Terri said, laughing. “No one got close to him. We all just worked for him. You didn’t question him; you just did what you were told. I think Leigh looked at their relationship the same way. She was there to do a job. I never really saw her being buddy-buddy with anyone, although I did see her get pissed off a few times. I remember the first time I saw it, I was completely shocked. He was the only person who could get Leigh to not be the consummate professional she usually was.”

“I have to ask who that was,” Sam said. “Who could get her to be emotional?”

“Your uncle,” Terri announced. “He was the only man who could get Leigh riled up. I saw them arguing twice, both times when I came to the office early, and Leigh was almost crying.”

“Rick? You’re sure it was Rick?” Sam pressed.

“Very sure. I remember because he was absolutely vile to everyone around him all morning. Eventually he calmed down, but he treated everyone terribly. Well…more terribly than usual. I hate to say this about someone in your own family, but Rick Winslow wasn’t a very kind person.”

“Neither was my father,” Sam said before he could stop himself.

“No, he wasn’t,” Terri agreed. “But he wasn’t cruel just to be an asshole either. Mostly, he just didn’t notice the worker bees. Believe me, when I saw that, being ignored is far superior to being abused by someone higher in the org chart. Your Uncle Rick was nasty just because he knew that he could.”

Sadly, that sounded like Sam’s Uncle Rick. He was a total prick, bitter about so many things, when in reality, Rick had it pretty much made.

They chatted a little longer about the office politics at the time, Terri reminding them that there were no female executives back then. Joel Winslow had told Sam more than once that women were too emotional to make good managers.

“Oh, and I thought you might like these photos,” Terri said, getting up to reach for an envelope on the counter. “I’d found these when I retired and moved here a few years ago. Frankly, I don’t have any use for them anymore, and you seem very curious about that era. It’s just some corporate shots of Christmas parties and such, but there are a few of Leigh.”

Sam accepted the envelope, thanking Terri for thinking of them.

“I was sorry to hear of her passing,” the older woman said. “She was a lovely person. So kind to me. I hope I was able to answer your questions today, although I’m not sure why you’re asking about thirty years ago.”

Terri looked like she wanted to say more, but she didn’t.

“It was a long time ago,” Alli agreed. “And we appreciate you taking the time to speak to us about when you subbed in for Leigh.”

“Let’s just say that I had a few open questions about that time,” Sam said. “Dad depended on Leigh a great deal.”

“He certainly did. I think he was glad when I went back to the receptionist desk, and Leigh took over again.”

“It all just went back to normal?” Alli asked. “Nothing different?”

“Back to the usual,” Terri replied with a shrug. “As I said, most days were the same. It wasn’t the most exciting job I’ve ever had. Certainly, there were challenges with some of the personalities, but the work was basically the same day in and day out.”

They thanked Terri for the refreshments, the photos, and her time. She walked them to her door and waved as they headed for the parking lot.

“What are you thinking?” Alli asked him as they climbed into the car.

“I’m thinking that I need to speak with Rick, but I already thought that before we came here. It’s just even more important now.”

Walter had said that Joel Winslow wasn’t the father. That he’d specifically asked if Leigh’s boss was the dad. But he probably hadn’t asked about Joel’s brother Rick. Could Sam’s uncle be Hannah’s biological father?