Page 25 of Lost Hours
“What can you tell us about the person who leased the space tonight?” Mina asked.
“First of all, it wasn’t just leased for tonight. The contract was for a full five days starting on Thursday.”
Nolan tilted his head. “So you had to be here for the entire five days?”
“That’s the weird thing about it all,” Harmony said. “The only time they came to the building was this afternoon to set up the dining room and then the event tonight.”
“Let me clarify. The escape room would’ve taken time to prepare. They didn’t arrive earlier in the week to set it up?”
Harmony’s eyes creased. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Mina pushed open the door. “Have a look.”
“That’s a new lock. I don’t know how it got there.” Harmony poked her head into the room and spun around. “Man, oh, man. I wasn’t here when they did all of this. Palmer is going to kill me if I can’t get this room back to normal.”
“If you weren’t here, how did they get in?” Mina asked.
Harmony tapped a finger against her narrow chin. “I dunno. Must’ve broken in or something.”
“I checked the door locks when we were looking for Smythe,” Nolan said. “No sign of a forced entry.”
She crossed her arms. “Like I said. I didn’t let them in except today. So I don’t know how they got in here. Maybe through a window. Did you check all of those too?”
He shook his head. “But that can be easily remedied. How about the building keys? Was there any time that your master key was left unprotected, and they might’ve had a copy made of it?”
“No, I keep them on this ring on my belt.” Harmony patted a keyring clipped to the belt at her ample waist. “And you’re not going to try to pin this on me. I didn’t do it.”
Mina didn’t doubt her answer, but she could just be a good liar. “So where were you between three and five p.m. today?”
“Here, like I said.” She fired an irritated glare at Mina.
“Is there anyone who can corroborate that?” Nolan asked.
Harmony tightened her arms. “If by using a big fancy word likecorroborateto mean vouch for me being here, then yeah, this Smythe fellow. He brought me up a snack around three o’clock, just as I was falling asleep watching the Road Runner. That show really cracks me up.”
For some reason, this woman wasn’t getting the gravity of the situation, and Mina needed to make sure she got the point. She propped her hands on her hips. “You better get serious about this. You could be in trouble. We don’t know how to find Smythe right now, which means you don’t have an alibi for the time of the mayor’s death.”
“Don’t need no stinking alibi.” Harmony glared at her. “I didn’t do it, and that’s all you need to know.”
She resisted sighing. “That’s not how it works, Harmony. If you watch enough television, like it sounds like you do, you’ve probably watched crime shows. You should know better.”
“I don’t watch them kind of serious things.” She scoffed. “I’m a comedy person myself.”
Maybe in your television viewing, but the humor doesn’t extend to your personality, Mina wanted to say but kept it to herself. “Are there security cameras on the property that could confirm your arrival and departure?”
“Nope. I wanted to install some for my safety, but Palmer wouldn’t allow them. Said he had guests who didn’t want to be seen, and he didn’t want to infringe on their privacy.” She sniffed as if the air were suddenly foul. “Maybe this will show him, and he’ll decide to put some in.”
This Palmer guy didn’t seem like he cared much about Harmony’s safety, otherwise he would’ve installed security cameras despite the cost of providing a private retreat. “Before I let you go, tell me about the person who leased the building.”
“Never met the guy. He made the reservation online. I can look up the information for you, but when he made the reservation his notes said a man named Smythe would meet me here and be in charge of the evening.”
Nolan described Smythe. “Is this the man you’re calling Smythe?”
“Yeah. Yeah. Sounds like him. I let him in and watched for a few minutes while he brought supplies into the dining room, then I went upstairs. My only other contact with him was the snack and dinner. I liked the guy. He’s the first person who’s ever brought me food. Didn’t much care for the meal, though. Too fancy for me. Especially that kale salad. That stuff belongs in a recycle bin, not on a table.”
After hearing what was served, Mina could see how Harmony might dislike it. But most importantly she could describe the food, lending credence to her statement. “Okay, then, we’re done here. I need you to go directly to your computer and print out the rental agreement for the property and any contact information you have. Include Cody Palmer’s address and phone number too. Drop it off at my office tonight.”
“Okay.” She lowered her arms like she was lowering her defenses.
