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“Thanks. Brenda, can I have a word with you outside?”
The poor girl appears terrified of me, but that’s not a priority right now.
“Of course.”
I wait for her to join me in the hallway before I speak. “Do you know when Grace left?” I don’t bother apologizing for earlier. This isn’t about her or her feelings.
She shakes her head. “No. Like I told Marco and Angus, I didn’t know she was gone. The last time I saw her, we were chatting in the kitchen. She told me she was going to the bathroom, and I didn’t see her after that.”
“Did you guys ever talk? Does she have a boyfriend? Friends?”
Her head shake continues. “She pretty much kept to herself.”
Disappointed, I brush off her information as useless. “You can go.”
She didn’t have anything to do with Niko’s disappearance. If she did, she would no longer be breathing.
“I’d rather stay, if you don’t mind. I love Niko and Aisling like family.” Her gall shocks me.
“If you stay, you won’t be able to leave the mansion until Niko is returned safely,” I warn her.
What is happening is not her fault, but I won’t take any risks with Aisling. No one is leaving this mansion until I get answers.
Brenda remains stubborn. “That won’t be a problem.”
“Okay, then. I’ll need your cell.”
She appears set to argue, but before I can repeat my order, she obeys. “I understand.”
She fetches her cell and gives it to me.
Satisfied Aisling is safe, I go back downstairs.
“Angus?” I call out.
“I’m right here.” He appears uneasy.
“Brenda wants to stay. She isn’t to leave the mansion under anycircumstances. Here is her cell.” I hand it to him. “I want you to search through everything.” He nods before cracking into her phone without inputting a security code. “Have you heard anything from Viktor or Oliver?”
Disappointment hits me when he answers, “No.”
“Do you know where they are right now?” He peers up from Brenda’s cell but keeps quiet. “I need to know.”
“All I know is they were going to Grace’s apartment. I haven’t spoken to them since.”
Needing to keep my mind occupied while waiting for an update, I say, “I want to review the footage for the last twenty-four hours of the mansion. Do we have a hacker?”
“Why? Do you need one?” he asks curiously.
I nod. “I want someone to comb through Grace’s financials and her cell log. Dig up anything they can find.” He stares at me, impressed. “What?”
Through a sly grin, he murmurs, “Youarea Manarch.” I don’t get the chance to register the pride in his tone. “Whatever you ask for will get done. I’ll have someone from the guardhouse come to the mansion.”
“Do you know and trust that person?”
I feel instantly at ease when he replies, “I hired him.”
“Good. I want to see you and Marco in Viktor’s office in five minutes.”
