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“I was.”

“She mentioned that a gray-haired man had visited her. Do you recall?”

“Any visitor would be on the log.”

“I’ve already checked the log, and no one is listed. And I know what you’re going to say. My mother is mentally ill and probably made it up. Only it’s not like her to make things up that aren’t already in her head.”

“I understand. I’d never assume she made anything up.”

“Thank you. The other nurse in her wing that day wasn’t quite as…”

He chuckled. “Lori. Yeah. She’s a great nurse, but she’s a little more seasoned, and she can be blunt.”

“Got it. Anyway, do you remember seeing any strange men in the wing that day?”

He paused a moment. “I do, actually. I just assumed the person had logged in and was allowed to be there. I didn’t specifically see anyone in Daphne’s room, but I did see a man outside her room. He was only there a few seconds.”

“So he could have been coming or going?”

“Right, or he could have been there for another patient.”

“Then he’d still show up on the log, just not as a visitor to my mother.”

“He should.”

“You don’t sound overly convinced.”

“Let’s just say it wouldn’t be the first time someone got through without signing in.”

“Are you serious? They’re rabid about that log. I have to sign in every time I see my mother, and they all know me now.”

He paused again. Then, “Some days are busier than others, and the front desk gets overwhelmed.”

His tone didn’t convince me. “Barry, this is serious.”

“I’m being serious. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“Yeah, you should have. My mother is a sick woman, as you know. My brothers and I don’t want her to have unauthorized visitors.”

“Like I said, I didn’t see the guy go into her room.”

“Can you describe him?”

“He was tall.”

“Okay. Was his hair short? Long? Thick? Thin? Balding?”

“I don’t know. I saw him by your mother’s door for a minute at most, and I didn’t really think anything of it.”

“Had you ever seen him at the center before?”

“Hard to say. We get a lot of people some days.”

I sighed. This wasn’t helpful at all. “Did he speak to you?”

Another pause. “No. He didn’t.”

Damn. I wished I could see Barry’s face. I got the distinct impression he was lying. I could easily set Talon and Joe on him. They could intimidate anyone into truthfulness.

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