According to the security chief at the estate, with the exception of the main entrance to South House, they dont save the recordings unless there is something notable. There are six security officers in a dedicated facility on the estate monitoring the footage in real time. If theres nothing suspicious, they delete the files every hour. As a result, there are huge sections of time in multiple areas on the estate that have no coverage.

Jessie tried to keep her voice even, not wanting to take her frustration out on him.

Do you buy that? she asked.

She could almost hear him shrug.

Its not inconceivable, he admitted. With the sheer volume of raw footage that place accumulates, it would become unwieldy pretty fast. But youd think theyd want to hold onto the stuff a little longer after a party, if only for liability issues. As it turns out, the material we do have is mostly still there because of money.

Money? she repeated.

Yeah, Tech says the best stuff we have is from the camera across from the entrance to the main house. Apparently they kept that active and recording all the time to tally the total number of attendees in order to better track catering needs.

So the only workable footage we have exists because they want to make sure they had enough food? Jessie confirmed.

Before Jamil could reply, her phone alarm went off. It was the reminder to give Ryan his meds.

I have to go, she said. Well talk tomorrow.

After hanging up, she noticed a text from earlier she must have missed. It was from Nurse Patty: Leaving for the day. Reviewed Ryans status with Hannah. See you tomorrow.

A wave of shame washed over her. Shed been so immersed in the research that shed been gone all afternoon and never thought about it. Shed insisted that this case wouldnt interfere with her personal life and yet she was getting sucked in again.

And there was more. Despite the relaxed nature of the text, a burst of apprehension shot through Jessie. The idea of leaving Ryan alone in her sisters care made her uneasy.

Excuse me, she said to Karen as she dashed from the room. I have to make a call.

CHAPTER TWELVE

So you dont trust me.

Hannah couldnt decide if she felt more offended or put upon.

I didnt say that, Jessie told her. If I didnt trust you, I wouldnt have let Nurse Patty leave. I just wanted to review the medications with you since its the first time youre giving them to him.

You didnt let Patty leave, Hannah reminded her. She was going no matter what and now youre trying to make it sound like it was all part of your grand plan to entrust me with responsibility. But I already told you that Patty walked me through the meds, so this feels a lot like youre checking up on me.