Page 118

Andrei moves closer. I put the call on speaker.

“What happened?” I ask.

“His office has been emptied. His work phone is off, and he missed a meeting with our fraud department this morning.” Papers rustle on Linda’s end. “I saw him leave yesterday afternoon. I don’t know whether he took the records himself or arranged for someone else to remove them.”

I remember Rick standing outside Connor’s office, defending the order to clear it as routine. He spoke to us as if he expected to see us again. “Did anyone watch him leave with boxes?”

“I haven’t been allowed to review the cameras. Security and fraud are doing that now.” Linda pauses while a door closes near her. “I called the detective handling Connor’s case. I gave him the times I can confirm and told him Rick had contact with both of you yesterday.”

“Did he resign?” Andrei asks.

“Human resources hasn’t received a resignation, and nobody I’ve spoken to has reached him.”

I grip the edge of the blanket. “Connor’s office. Did anyone get to his things?”

“The remaining boxes are secured, and so is his computer,” Linda replies. “I checked before I called you. They won’t be packed up with Rick’s belongings.”

It’s one small answer, but I hold on to it. Connor’s notes, whatever files remain on his computer, even the ordinary objects on his desk will be there for the detective to examine.

“Thank you,” I tell her.

“If I find out when Rick last entered the building, I’ll call.” Her voice grows gentler. “I’m sorry I can’t tell you more.”

When the call ends, I stare at the screen. Yesterday Rick sat across from me in Andrei’s office and told me Connor could have left on his own. He described a packed bag and an envelope of cash in Connor’s car, and his investigator’s photographs made it look real, until I spotted a shirt Connor had given away months ago. Now Rick has vanished after ordering Connor’s office emptied.

Andrei gets out of bed and pulls on a shirt. “I’m bringing Drew and Reid to the office. I want you there.”

“You don’t have to invite me into this conversation.”

He pockets his phone. “I want you to hear it.”

I make my way downstairs with him beside me. The house looks different in daylight. Framed vineyard photographs line the hall, and the tall front windows open onto rows still wet from the night’s rain. Sofia has left coffee and a plate of toast in the kitchen. Murphy takes a seat beside his bowl, watching us as if he hasn’t eaten already.

Birdie texts while I’m pouring coffee. She spent the night at the guesthouse and wants to know whether I slept. I tell her I did, though I leave out the hours Andrei and I spent talking. She replies with a photograph of Walter in the paddock, taken from her window. He has his head over the fence, demanding attention from Mila.

I show Andrei. “Your horse seems to have recovered from being rescued.”

“He’ll expect twice as many peppermints now.” Andrei takes the mug I hand him, though he has forgotten to add anything to it. “Come into the office when you’re ready. I’m calling Drew.”

His office occupies a corner of the house above the front drive. Bookshelves cover one wall, while a broad desk faces windows overlooking the vines. A second table holds maps of the property, harvest reports, and a photograph of Andrei with his parents beside a much younger section of vineyard. He sees me notice it but doesn’t explain the occasion. I take the chair beside the table as he clears space for my coffee.

Drew arrives first, carrying a folder and the exhaustion of a night spent reviewing footage. Reid follows with his laptop. Both men ask about my injuries before they sit, and Drew waits until I assure him I’m okay before opening the folder.

“Mercer is watching Rick’s home,” he reports. “The car isn’t there. No one has entered since he took up position.”

“Mercer followed Rick after the meeting yesterday,” I recall.

“Yes,” Drew confirms. “Rick drove into an underground garage downtown shortly before six. Mercer watched the exits, but Rick’s car never came back out. We’ve requested the garage footage to find out whether he left another way.”

Andrei rests a hand on the back of his chair. “So Linda saw him at the bank before Mercer lost him at the garage?”

“Yes. We can account for him until just before six,” Drew replies.

I picture Rick’s hand turning his wedding band while he claimed to be helping me. “Did Mercer see anyone with him?”

“No. Rick drove alone when he left the bank.”

“His office was empty when Linda arrived this morning,” I add. “She doesn’t know when anyone removed his belongings.”