She searched the drive.
Nothing.
Police collected the equipment.
Forensic specialists began imaging the computers.
Charles demanded an attorney.
Derek was found hiding near the maintenance road and detained for questioning after allegedly trying to leave with an estate laptop.
Jonathan barely noticed.
All he wanted was the rest of Margaret's message.
Then Rachel's phone rang.
She answered.
Listened.
Looked at Jonathan.
“We found Elena.”
“Where?”
“Stamford.”
“Tell her I'm coming.”
Jonathan stopped.
“No.”
Rachel waited.
“Ask if she'll see me.”
Twenty minutes later, Rachel returned.
“She said yes.”
Jonathan found Elena sitting in a booth inside a small diner.
Her daughter was at school.
A cup of coffee sat untouched in front of her.
When Jonathan entered, Elena looked past him.
Then back.
No recognition.
He approached.
“Ms. Morales?”
“Yes?”
Jonathan sat opposite her.
She frowned.
“Do I know you?”
He placed the gray knit cap on the table.
Elena stared.
Her face changed.
“No.”
Jonathan nodded.
“Yes.”
She looked from the cap to him.
“You're…”
“Jonathan Lancaster.”
She stood.
Not from respect.
From anger.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You let me lose my job.”
“Yes.”
“You stood there while Derek—”
“I know.”
“You could have stopped it.”
“Yes.”
Jonathan didn't defend himself.
That seemed to confuse her more than an excuse would have.
“Why?”
“I wanted to know how people behaved when they thought I couldn't help or hurt them.”
Elena stared at him.
“And?”
Jonathan looked down.
“I learned that was a cruel way to conduct an experiment.”
She sat again.
“That's not an answer.”
“No.”
He met her eyes.
“I learned my employees were afraid inside my own house, and I was too arrogant to notice.”
Elena said nothing.
Jonathan continued.
“I learned Charles and Derek were using information about staff to control them.”
Her face went pale.
“What information?”
“Personal information.”
She looked away.
Jonathan understood.
“They had a file on you.”
Elena closed her eyes.
“What was in it?”
“Photographs. Financial information. Your daughter's school.”
She stood again.
Jonathan raised both hands.
“The police have it.”
“Why would they photograph my daughter?”
“We're trying to determine that.”
Elena's breathing changed.
Jonathan felt shame.
All his security.
All his money.
And one of his employees had been terrified while he was sitting in Manhattan believing expensive systems meant safety.
“Elena.”
She looked at him.
“I will pay for independent security for you and your daughter until this is resolved.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“This isn't charity.”