“Where’s Deirdre?”

Mrs. Engel’s impression of Brendan had sunk to its nadir. Had he not been her employer, she would have ignored him as though he did not exist. “She’s in her room.”

“Hmm.”

He sounded so non-committal and nonchalant it irritated Mrs. Engel enough to speak out. “Mr. Brigthall, Charlene McKinney arrived and told me to prepare a guest room for her. She said she’s going to stay here for a few days!”

“She’s here already?” Brendan remarked flatly. There was no sign to paint his re