Page 52 of Calculated in Death

She badged her way through the door and dealt with the same security man she’d met the day before.

“I know Mr. Gibbons thinks he’s had some trouble up there. But I’ve got no record of anybody coming in or out of the building after hours.”

“Cleaning crew?”

“Yeah, sure, but they logged in.”

“I’m going to need copies of the discs.”

“I’ll have them for you.”

“I’ve got an e-man on the way. Show him your security.”

“No problem.”

With a nod, she stepped onto an elevator. And stepped off to a hand-wringing Sylvestor Gibbons.

“This is terrible. Someone stole those files, Lieutenant. They were on Marta’s computer. She worked on them on the day—on that day. Her unit’s secured, passcoded. That data is highly sensitive and confidential. We’re responsible.”

“I get it.” She moved into the office with him. “Why were you on her unit?”

“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.”