Chapter 7 - The Missing Seconds
"Where did she get that list?" Becca demanded the next morning.
I had no answer. Our employee roster was held in a password-protected scheduling system. Lauren could have obtained it from an old applicant or someone with access. We could not guess and accuse.
Leah contacted the scheduling company about an access log and asked us to notify employees privately. Becca explained what we knew to each employee.
"I didn't sign up to have my home address sent around," Ezra said.
"You shouldn't have to," I told him. "We'll pay for monitoring if you want it, and we're changing access today."
Becca brought the security footage into my office. From camera three, Lauren appeared to lift her glass and tip it straight toward me. The recording had no sound, but her intent was painfully clear.
"Can we put this online?" Becca asked.
"Not before Leah reviews it. And not if it exposes guests who didn't ask for this."
We watched the clip again. The wine fell. I flinched. Lauren raised her phone for the photograph. Her two friends looked away.
Then Becca scrubbed back fifteen seconds. "Wait. Who's that?"
A young woman in a tan coat walked past Lauren's table, stopped, and pointed her own phone toward us. She appeared to be recording before the wine was poured.
"That's Tessa Hall," Becca said. "I remember her. Lauren told me she was an assistant and asked whether filming was allowed. I said no."
Tessa had vanished into the crowd after the incident. Lauren's letter never mentioned her.
Leah called while we were still staring at the screen. "I spoke to Harborstone's compliance office. There is no business reason Glasshouse should have your employee addresses. They asked for the full vendor file."
May you like
"Good," I said, though my hands were cold.
"Maya," Leah added, "their bid packet lists you as one of their references."
