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“It didn’t go far.” She raised the collar of her coat. “It’s a shame since these buildings are so close to the marina. Revitalizing the warehouses would help with tourism. Rumor has it a corporation swept in and bought a bunch of them a few years ago but never did anything afterward.”
Eli’s nose wrinkled. “Investors looking to get rich when the property values increase.”
“Probably.”
Sienna strolled up the sidewalk to the entrance. The lobby was decorated in soft blues and soothing grays. As luck would have it, Gideon was behind the front counter, speaking to the receptionist.
He glanced up as they approached. Recognition flared briefly in his expression before he hid it away. Since his gaze was locked on both Sienna and Eli, it was hard to determine which one of them had caused the reaction.
Either was possible. Eli had worked as a Texas Ranger for years in Sandalwood before moving away. As for Sienna, she’d created a name for herself in the county and surrounding towns by successfully investigating difficult cases. Most residents knew who she was, even if it was by reputation only. Of course, with Albert’s murder, she’d become infamous for all the wrong reasons.
She plastered on a polite smile. “Mr. Wade?”
“Yes.” He straightened to his full height. Soft brown eyes, youthful features, and round cheeks gave him the appearance of a younger man. He wore a button-up dress shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows, and slacks. His straight brown hair was left to grow long on top and a swatch of it fell over his forehead. He brushed it away. “Can I help you?”
“My name is Sienna Evans, and this is my colleague Elijah Goodwin. We’ve been hired by Ruby’s grandmother to investigate her disappearance and were hoping to ask you a few questions.”
Not a flicker of surprise or confusion creased Gideon’s features. Sienna had the gut feeling he’d been expecting them. Had he heard about the investigation through the Sandalwood grapevine? Or had he hired Jesse, and once the man was arrested, figured it would be a matter of time before Sienna and Eli landed on his doorstep?
“Let’s chat in my office.” Gideon patted the receptionist on the shoulder. “Iris, hold my calls, please.”
He used a key card to access a door leading from the lobby into a long hallway. Classrooms outfitted with desks and whiteboards jutted off either side. A glass-walled library sat next to a computer room. The nonprofit hummed with activity as people moved from one place to another, but no one seemed in a rush. More than one person greeted Gideon with a brilliant smile. He never failed to respond with a kind word or a question about how classes were going.
Sienna watched each interaction with interest. She lengthened her steps to match Gideon’s as they passed a large staircase. Photographs and magazine articles about the organization graced the opposite wall. A trophy case with various awards flanked the entrance to a large conference room. “I’ve heard about Fresh Start, but I didn’t know the organization was this big. How many students do you have here?”
“Currently enrollment is 200. We offer vocational training in everything from plumbing to car mechanics, but most of the members avail themselves of our other services. We run support meetings, provide counseling, interview training, resume assistance, and a lending library.”
“Are all of your members recovering addicts?” Eli asked.
“Yes.” Pride filled his voice. “We’ve helped over one thousand people since opening our doors ten years ago. I can’t take all the credit, of course. Our founding director, Matthew Lyons, retired two years ago. That’s when I took over.”
Gideon stopped in front of a door and used his key card to open the lock. The office was modestly sized but decorated with a modern touch. Oversized windows provided stunning views of the rocky shore and the ocean. Elegant wingback chairs faced a sleek black desk topped with a state-of-the-art computer.
Eli placed a hand on the small of Sienna’s back as they crossed over the threshold. The simple touch was gentlemanly and utterly distracting. She quickly moved away to claim one of the visitor’s chairs. “Lovely office.”
“Thank you. My fiancée decorated it.” Gideon smiled and pointed to a framed photograph of him with a gorgeous, long-legged blonde woman. Sienna instantly recognized the couple in the photograph with them. Governor Whitman and his wife.
The family resemblance to Gideon’s fiancée was obvious. She had to be the governor’s daughter. Still, Sienna played ignorant. “Is this the governor and his wife?”
“It is. The Whitmans have been proud supporters of Fresh Start for years. That’s how Penelope and I met. She’s their daughter.” Gideon sat in the curved chair behind his desk. “She’s also the governor’s campaign manager. Rumor has it, he’s planning on running for senate next.” He winked. “Although you didn’t hear that from me.”
Sienna placed a hand over her lips and mimed zipping them. “I won’t tell a soul.”
Gideon’s tone was playful, but he wanted to make it clear he had friends in high places. A threat? A warning? It was hard to tell. Something about him didn’t add up. He appeared youthful and eagerly honest, but she sensed there was a cunning mind behind that baby face.
“Now then, you wanted to ask me some questions about Ruby.” Gideon’s gaze drifted between Sienna and Eli. “I’ve been meaning to reach out to her grandmother for weeks, but things have been so busy around here. We’re constantly short-staffed. Like most nonprofits, we have a tiny operating budget and our staff is small. Ruby was one of the best administrative assistants I’ve ever had. She had a talent for organizing, and I miss having her around.”
It was odd Gideon hadn’t called to offer his support after she disappeared. Once again, Sienna had the impression he was attempting to manipulate them. She held his gaze. “What kind of work did she do for you?”
“A bit of everything. Fundraising, organizing events, scheduling teachers. Whatever help we needed, she was always happy to pitch in.”
Eli removed his cowboy hat and rested it on one knee. “Did you find it strange when Ruby just up and disappeared?”
Gideon waved a slim hand one way and then the other in a seesaw motion. “She was unusually responsible, but also young, with a lot of things on her plate. A demanding master’s program, caring for an elderly grandmother, and a full-time job. So much expectation can become overwhelming.
“I was especially concerned about Ruby in the last few weeks before she disappeared. It didn’t seem she was getting enough sleep and was losing weight. I’d planned to have a conversation with her about cutting back on her hours here, but never got the chance.” He shrugged. “I spoke with Chief Ramirez a few weeks ago. He confirmed Ruby’s debit card has been used recently. We both figured she needed a break from life and would pop back up in a few weeks.”
“Losing weight and not sleeping?” Sienna leaned forward. “Sounds like she was worried about something. Do you know what it was?”
