“Where is Ms. Sharpe?” Lucy asked.
Nina looked at Frank, he nodded, and she said, “She called in sick this morning.”
“Is that common?”
“No—she had a doctor’s appointment last week, she has been under the weather—so I’m not surprised she took a sick day.”
Was Danielle suspicious? Did her ex-husband say or do anything on the phone call that may have tipped her off? Lucy would have to listen to it again. Something wasn’t right.
“We need her address immediately,” Lucy said, “and we have some questions for you both.”
“I barely know Ms. Sharpe,” Frank said.
“Sandra Gillogley gave her a recommendation two years ago and you hired her.”
“Sandra is a longtime friend and colleague. She’s given many recommendations. Ms. Sharpe worked for her for a couple of years and did a good job, we needed someone with her experience.”
“And that’s it?”
He paused for a few seconds, then said, “Nina, I’m going to ask Trevor Banks to be our legal representative for this investigation.” He then said to Ken and Lucy, “Mr. Banks is one of our senior associates, he came from the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office and has extensive experience with criminal law and warrants. He’ll be your contact between this law firm and the FBI for the duration of the investigation into Danielle Sharpe. If you’ll excuse me.”
He walked out. Lucy wanted to say no, she didn’t excuse him, because he was a pompous jerk. But Ken let him go. He turned to Nina.
“I-I’m just stunned,” Nina said.
“Are you friendly with Danielle?” Lucy asked.
“Yes, we go out after work occasionally.”
“Did you speak to her this morning when she called in?”
“Briefly, she called on my cell phone, told me she was sick. She sounded sick, I told her to take the day off and if she needed another day to just let me know. She’s put in a lot of extra hours since the New Year for an important client.”
“When was the last time you saw her?” Lucy asked.
“Friday. Here at the office—she looked tired. She was supposed to come to Grace’s house—she’s another legal secretary—for a game of bunco. We have a group that plays once a month. But she said she hadn’t slept well, and felt under the weather.”
“So you would say that you and Danielle are close?” Lucy didn’t buy it. Danielle wouldn’t be close to anyone.
“I’m probably closer to her than anyone else here. Danielle is quiet, keeps to herself.”
“But are you close? Like girlfriend, tell-each-other-secrets close?”
“No, not like that.”
“Did you know that her only son was murdered by a sexual predator twenty-three years ago?”
Nina’s eyes widened. “No. All she ever said was that she was divorced.”
The door opened and a young, attractive male in a suit walked in. “Trevor Banks.” He handed his card to both Ken and Lucy.
“Kincaid,” Ken said, “go with Ms. Fieldstone and get Sharpe’s home address and phone number. Banks, take me to Danielle’s desk.”
“Mrs. Fieldstone can’t be alone with one of your agents. Which is more important to you?”
“Both,” Ken said. “A child’s life is in immediate danger and I’m not going to play one-upmanship with a bunch of lawyers.”
“Agent Swan, there’s no need for—”
“No bullshit, or I’ll arrest you for obstruction.”
“You hardly have a case—”
Lucy said, “If we don’t find Danielle Sharpe quickly, the son of one of your employees will be killed. We have evidence that she’s a serial killer, and every second you delay is a second closer to another murder.”
Nina sucked in her breath.
“I don’t think theatrics are necessary,” Banks said, though he looked both shaken and suspicious. “Nina, get Agent Kincaid what she needs. Agent Swan, with me.”
Wasn’t that what Ken just asked for? Banks turned it around as if the order came from him. Ken winked at Lucy as he and Banks walked out.
“Were you lying?” Nina asked as she led Lucy down a long hall and through a series of turns.
“No.”
“Dear Lord, I have a son.”
“Where is he?”
She looked at her watch. “My mother-in-law is picking him up from school. She watches him until I get off work. I need to call her.”
“Call her, and then get me the file.”
She shook her head. “She doesn’t have a cell phone. She walks to pick him up at school. She’ll be home a few minutes after three.”
That was still nearly twenty minutes away.
Nina’s office was private and spacious. She opened a file cabinet, pulled out a slender folder and handed it to Lucy.
Lucy immediately opened it. A photo of Danielle—much more current than her driver’s license. Lucy took a picture of it and sent it to the team that Ken and Chief Causey had assembled this morning.
She flipped through. Hiring dates, reviews, previous employer, address. “Address in Glendale—is this far?”
“I haven’t been over there, but it’s just south of the Galleria.”
Lucy had no idea where that was, but Nina made it sound like it was close.
She sent Ken a text message with the information.
Lucy asked Nina if she could have a copy of the file. Nina took the documents and left the room.
Lucy looked around. Nina didn’t have the view of the L.A. skyline, but of the freeway below and hills beyond that. Her desk was immaculate, with a pen and pencil set, her name plate, and a grouping of pictures. Lucy noted one of Nina with a man she presumed was her husband and a cute boy of about six. They were at Disneyland and Minnie Mouse and Mickey Mouse had joined the family for a photo op. A school picture of the boy, this maybe a year more recent. His two front teeth were missing and one had just started to grow in. A wedding photo of a much younger Nina and her husband.
Nina came back and handed Lucy the copy. “I had to get Banks to approve this, but it’s okay—it’s covered under the warrant.”
Lucy could have told her that, but instead focused on the photos. “Your family?”
“Yes. My husband—he’s a partner here. And our son, Kevin. He’ll be nine next month. The time sure goes … did you really mean that a child is in danger?”
“Yes.” Lucy looked at her phone. Ken said he had sent over two agents with Glendale PD to Danielle’s residence and to let him know when she was done.
Lucy wasn’t done. Banks wasn’t here, and Nina was thinking about something … Lucy had to get it out of her.
“How many employees with your law firm? It’s public information, please don’t make me do the research.”
“Um—well, with the partners, junior partners, associates, support staff … between sixty-five and seventy employees. I could get you exact numbers if you need them, but I’d need to run a report.”