In this case, the family was the Bailey Shepherd Law Firm. A.L. nodded at the receptionist. “I can come back.”

“No, no. If I can help in anyway, I want to. I do. Let me page her.”

Her was the human resources manager, who was apparently not in her office.

“Oh, God.” Julia Spear reached for more tissues. He knew her name because she had a big gold nameplate. “No, just wait,” she said.

She punched some keys on her desk phone and seconds later, it rang. “There’s a detective here to see you. It’s about Leah,” she whispered. Not quite softly enough that he didn’t hear it. She hung up. “Greta will be right here.”

“What’s Greta’s last name?”

“Greta Pistolle. I thinks that’s French.”

As long as she spoke English, he was going to be happy. He wandered a few feet away from the reception desk, afraid that if he stayed too close, his proximity might prompt more tears.

Greta Pistolle was midforties. She wore a dark business suit and a white blouse. He sensed a rather no-nonsense attitude as she approached, so he was a little surprised when she took a minute to stop at the desk and check on Julia. “Take a few minutes,” she told the woman gently.

Then she approached. “Detective McKittridge, I’m Greta Pistolle, the human resources manager here at Bailey Shepherd. Let’s go to my office.”

Once there, with her behind the desk and him sitting in front of it, she offered up a smile. “Julia is an excellent receptionist with a very kind heart. The type who sends cards to the rest of us when our pets are ill or hurt.”

Before Felix, he’d have laughed at that. Now, he realized it would be hard if the cat was in a bad way.

“Obviously, this issue with Leah and her family is far more serious so she’s having a little trouble coping,” Greta said. “Now, what can I help you with?”

“Can you verify how long Leah has been employed with Bailey Shepherd?” A.L. asked.

Greta turned her chair so that she faced her computer. A few clicks later, she said, “Two years this December.”

“I understand she’s a paralegal.”

“Senior paralegal. She was hired as a paralegal but got promoted about six months ago.”

Leah had not made the distinction. Maybe it wasn’t that big of a deal. “What can you tell me about her work?”

Greta shrugged. “Of course I don’t see it every day but given the recent promotion, I think you can safely assume she’s doing just fine. It’s unusual for a paralegal to get to be a senior paralegal so quickly. Normally, it’s at least three years. But I recall her supervising attorney saying he thought Leah was something special.”

“His name?” A.L. asked.