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“Handling things. He’s a very successful man.”
“What’s his way?”
She worked her lips. “He tends to keep things to himself and works out his own issues. I know people think you always need to express yourself but I disagree. I used to work at Sony, then at Bad Robot, then at Bruckheimer. Everything in the industry is personal. Including things you don’t want to be personal.”
I said, “Working for Doug is different.”
“Totally different,” she said. “Good different. Show up on time, get the job done, no egos, no extraneous nonsense, and once he trusts you, he gives you independence. He’s gone all the time, needs peoplehe can rely on. After what I went through in the industry, it’s a dream job.”
She looked at the mansion.
I said, “You’ve been here before.”
“Just to drop off papers. Did what happened—was it here?”
Milo shook his head. “Did you ever meet Ms. March?”
“I haven’t. I saw a picture of her, that’s all. On Doug’s desk, the two of them at some gala. She looked gorgeous.” Her voice caught. A woman she’d never encountered but human compassion kicks in easily for those blessed with it. “What a horrible thing to happen.”
I said, “What did Doug tell you about it?”
“Nothing. Next to nothing,” said Randi Levine. “He’s only been in the office once since it happened, yesterday afternoon, prepping for the Apex inspection—that’s a project in Columbus, Ohio. I thoughtsomethingmight be wrong because he was even quieter than usual. And kind of bent over. Like someone was sitting on his back—forget that. Please. I shouldn’t be talking about Doug, period. I’m sure you know all this, anyway.”
I said, “Bent over. Affected by what had happened.”
“How could he not be? How could anyone not be? I asked him if something was wrong and he came right out and told me what had happened and it blew me to bits. Especially when I saw the tears in his eyes, that’s so unlike— oh, shoot, let’s stoptalkingabout this, Doug wants everything to be discreet. Please don’t tell him I said anything, okay? Please.”
“Promise,” said Milo.
She looked at him doubtfully.
“So he told you what happened.”
“Then he said, ‘Randi, I don’t want to talk about it. Ever.’ And went into his private office and shut the door. I went to my desk and ensured that his travel plans were all set.”
She looked at the Audi, began tapping a foot.
Milo said, “Anything else you can tell us?”
“Can’t see how there would be,” said Randi Levine. “You really can’t tell me how long it’s going to take?”
“Depends on what we find,” said Milo.
“Oh God, that sounds ominous,” she said. “Well, I hope you find nothing. Okay, I’ll just wait in my car and catch up on work.”
CHAPTER
24
Unsnapping his gun but leaving it holstered, Milo remoted the gate open then strode past me.
I followed and caught up.
He stopped. “It probably won’t take long, wait outside.”
“Why?”
“Just to be careful.”
