Forgetting about her 3-D scene, she hefted the box down to Director Cusack’s office.

His secretary’s desk was empty. Louisa knocked.

“Come in,” Cusack’s voice commanded.

She opened the door.

“What is it?” Cusack closed his desk drawer with a slam. His mouth was tight and his eyes annoyed.

Louisa hesitated. Fear prickled her nape. Was he hiding something? She left the door open as she crossed to his desk. “I found something upstairs you’ll want to see.”

His attention snapped to the box.

“I believe this is full of stolen personal items.” Setting the box on the corner of the desk, Louisa explained how she found it. “Do you want to call the police?”

“Yes, I’ll handle it,” Cusack said.

“You should go home.” Cusack scrutinized her face. “You look tired.”

Louisa sighed. She was tired. “I just have a couple of things to finish before I leave for the day.”

She hurried out of his office. Cusack was acting strangely. One minute he was irritated, the next he was uncharacteristically considerate. He knew all the girls. He had access to the replica knife. If the police hadn’t already arrested Xavier, Louisa would be suspicious.

CHAPTER 30

30

“I think you’re being a big idiot.”

Leaning on the bar, Conor looked up from the stack of invoices in his hand. “What?”

Next to him, Pat dropped his reading glasses on the receipts he was tallying. The bar hadn’t opened for the day, but there was plenty of work to be done. “Hey, you asked.”

“I spill my guts, and that’s what I get back?”

“A smart, gorgeous, sweet woman told you she’s falling in love with you, and you didn’t say it back, even though we both know you feel the same way. You can’t commit because she has more money than you? That’s the lamest thing I’ve ever heard.” Pat pointed a finger straight into Conor’s nose. “Danny’s medical bills took us all by surprise. But we’ve paid off all the debt. We’re not flat broke anymore. In fact, without those extra interest payments, the bar has been turning a nice profit lately.”

“But—”

“I’m not finished.” The flush was creeping up Pat’s neck into his face. Pat didn’t get angry often, but when he did, he went full out. “We spent all our lives sweating the lack of money, Conor. I still wake up with flashbacks of an empty fridge, a mailbox full of bills, and a social worker on the doorstep ready to take Jayne and Danny away. Now you’re going to cry over the possibility of having too much money? Give me a fucking break.”