“I wanted to copy her work. It has to be reassigned. There are deadlines. We’ll get extensions, obviously. But the work needs to be done. And if you get the warrant and confiscate her files, I wanted another set of copies.”
“You said it was passcoded.”
“Yes, but I have a master code. As supervisor I have to be able to access any data necessary. I contacted Mr. Brewer personally, discussed it with him, and he agreed.”
“When did you contact him?”
“This morning. Early. I didn’t sleep well, and I was up. I thought about this, and knew I had to discuss it with Mr. Brewer.”
“Okay.” Which probably put Brewer in the clear. The timing didn’t work. “Let’s have a look at her office.”
“It was secured,” he told her as he unlocked the door. “There was nothing out of place, nothing I can see. I bypassed her passcode, began the copies, and I saw files missing.”
“How many accounts or clients?”
“I counted eight before I contacted security, then you. I was afraid to do anymore. That I’d compromise the evidence? The scene? I’m very upset.”
“But you checked for the backups?”
“Right away.”
“Where do you keep them?”
“Oh, sorry. I’ll show you. I have a safe in my office. All copies of sensitive material stay secured.”
“Who has the combination?”
“Besides me? The bosses and the head of security would have it on file.”
“No one else in the office?”
“No. No one.”
“How often do you change it?” she asked as she studied the compact safe inside a small closet.
“I . . . I’ve never actually changed it. It’s the factory default, and we’ve never had any trouble. There never seemed to be any reason to reprogram.”
“I bet sometimes when you’re securing sensitive material in this safe, someone might be in here. Your assistant, one of your accountants, one of their assistants.”
“I . . . Yes.” He dropped down in a chair, dropped his head into his hands. “This is a nightmare. The parties involved will have to be notified their data may be compromised. The work done, if not complete and already copied to clients or courts will have to be regenerated. And our reputation . . . I’m responsible.”
“The person who killed Marta Dickenson and compromised her data is responsible.”
“You think it’s the same person.”
Eve just looked at him. “What do you think?”
“I don’t know what to think.”
“Was anything else taken? Anything that wasn’t Marta’s work?”
“I don’t think so. I didn’t look thoroughly.”
“Look thoroughly now. I’m going to have a crime scene team process the offices, and my e-man will analyze the security discs, and the system. What time did you leave the office yesterday?”
“About four. We closed early. The partners came in, spoke to everyone, and told us to go home. We’re closed today as well. I stayed a little longer, then I locked up. I went to Mr. Brewer’s office. I just needed to talk to someone. Mr. Kyle and Mr. Martini were still with him. We talked about having a small memorial here, in the offices. I went to Marta’s apartment, to offer Denzel my condolences. I know it’s for family right now, but we were. Are. And when I got home, I had several drinks. My wife was very understanding.”
He paused, shook his head. “There was some petty cash, three hundred dollars. It’s gone. Otherwise, it’s just copies of Marta’s files. I count ten now. There must be two more missing from her computer.”