The woman answered on the second ring.

Regan told her who she was and said, “I didn’t think you would be working on a Saturday.”

“Then why did you call?”

Melissa’s antagonistic tone didn’t deter Regan. “I thought I would leave you a message, and you’d call me back on Monday. Since I have you on the phone, I wonder if you have a minute to answer a couple of questions for me. I could call back if it isn’t convenient now.”

“What kind of questions?”

“Computer questions.”

“Yes, sure,” she said. She sounded almost perky now. “I know everything there is to know about computers.”

“That’s what I understand,” she said. “Detective Buchanan told me that you had discovered my e-mails were going to other terminals in the hotel.”

“That’s right,” she said. “They went to your assistant’s terminal and to one in your brother’s office. Did you want me to pinpoint the exact location?”

“No, that isn’t necessary. I’m almost positive my e-mails were going to my brother Aiden’s assistant.”

“Okay, so what do you want?”

“This morning, when I came into my office, I noticed my computer was on.”

“And you think maybe he or she hooked up again?”

“Yes.”

“It’s easy to find out. I mean, easy for me to find out,” she qualified. “Are you sitting at your keyboard now?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then let’s get started,” she said impatiently.

For the next five minutes Melissa barked one order after another. Regan had to ask her to slow down a couple of times, but eventually she found the link that indicated someone else had locked onto her private and her business e-mails.

A couple of commands later, Regan knew exactly where her e-mails were going, and the link was broken. “Snoop’s gone,” Melissa said. “Now I’m going to talk you through this, and we’re going to make it impossible for anyone else to get in there.”

Melissa once again rattled off one command after another. Regan came up with a new password and typed it in.

“Okay, we’re done. If you do forget the password, just get hold of me and I’ll tell you what it is. You tell Henry what it is and to memorize it too.”

Regan thanked her for her help and said, “If you ever want to change jobs, please let me know. We could certainly use you at the Hamilton.”

“Honest? Or are you just saying that to be nice?”

“Yes, I do mean it.”

“Would I get to travel to the other hotels, like the one in London and the one going up in Melbourne?”

“Yes, you would.”

“Are there good benefits?”

“Oh, yes.”

“We’ll see,” she said, and then abruptly hung up the phone.

Melissa’s rude dismissal was both startling and somewhat humorous. Regan wasn’t sure what “We’ll see” meant, but she hoped the tech would seriously consider a move. She would be an asset. Regan was sure of that, and she also liked her. There didn’t seem to be an artificial bone in her body, and it was refreshing to talk to someone who didn’t have a hidden agenda.

While Regan had been working on her computer, her back was to the door, but when she swung around in her chair, Alec was standing there, not five feet away from her desk. He hadn’t made a sound when he’d entered her office, and she didn’t have any idea how long he’d been watching her.

She felt a surge of joy and hoped to heaven her reaction didn’t show in her face.

He looked as if he was about to change the oil in his car or maybe make his third trip to the hardware store. His gray sweatshirt had seen better days.

He looked amazing… and just about perfect. Surely she could find something wrong with him. Okay, she thought, he looked like a slob, and that wasn’t good, was it? Focus on the flaw, she told herself. Had he bothered to comb his hair? She didn’t think so. There you go, she thought. Another flaw to think about. God, who was she kidding? The slob was sexy and gorgeous and-

“What are you doing here?” Wincott called out.

Alec kept his gaze locked on Regan as he answered, “Just checking. I thought you were asleep when I walked in here.”

“Hey, I’m on duty. I heard you and I saw you.”

“Yeah, right.”

“I did. What did you mean when you said you were just checking? Checking what?”

Regan was the first to break eye contact. She leaned back in her chair and glanced over at Wincott, who admittedly did look half asleep. He had that glazed, I’m-watching-the-Sports-Channel look about him.

“Why are you here, Alec?” she asked.

“I was in the neighborhood.”

“You live in the neighborhood, Buchanan,” Wincott said without turning away from the TV.

“Yeah, well, I just wondered if anything was happening.”

She shook her head. “I’ve just been finishing up some things.”

“I thought you were going to pack today,” Wincott said. He hit the mute button on the remote and stood. “I don’t know why you think this is punishment. I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven. Just being able to order room service and watching television without kids climbing all over me… yeah, this is heaven.”

“Being with me is punishment?” she asked. She didn’t sound wounded, just curious.

Alec shook his head. “Lewis gave me the assignment as punishment. He thought I’d hate it.”

“And do you?”

He grinned. “What do you think?”

He didn’t wait for her to come up with a clever reply but turned to Wincott and said, “You want to explain why the head of the investigation is doing bodyguard duty?”

“I’m filling in until a replacement gets here.”

“Who’s on for tonight?”

“Lyle’s going to escort her to that formal thing she has to attend. He’s probably out renting a tux now.”

Alec shook his head. “Get him on the phone and tell him he’s off the hook. I’ll take her.”

“Off the hook?” Regan repeated. She didn’t know if she should be insulted or amused.

Alec ignored her and continued to frown at Wincott because he hadn’t pulled out his cell phone and dialed Bradshaw yet. “Call him,” he insisted.

“How come?”

“What do you mean, ‘how come?’ I just told you how come. I’m going to take her.”

“And I’m still asking how come you’re going to take her.”

Alec was glaring now. He knew Wincott was deliberately baiting him, and from the stupid grin on his face, he was having a fine time doing it too. Alec had the sudden urge to punch him.

“Because I said I would take her, that’s how come, and I’ve got a tux hanging in my closet.”

“But Lyle’s looking forward to tonight.”

“I’ll just bet he is,” he snapped. “We both know Bradshaw’s a…” He suddenly stopped.

“A what?” Wincott stretched as Alec crossed the room.

“Listen up,” Alec said, his voice low so Regan wouldn’t overhear. “Stop messing with me. Got that?”

“Last I checked, I was still in charge of this investigation, Alec.”

“That’s right, you are, John,” he replied, stressing the detective’s first name. “So go somewhere and investigate. I’m in charge of her protection, and you know what that means?”

Wincott grinned. “Yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re going to protect her.”

“Make the call.”

Alec turned to Regan and knew from her puzzled expression that she had heard every word of the exchange and most likely didn’t understand. She probably thought he was out of his mind, and maybe he was. At the moment he didn’t care. He wasn’t going to let anyone get near her, especially Lyle Screw-Anything-That-Walks-By Bradshaw.

“What time do you want to leave?” he asked Regan. He sounded downright surly.

“I’d like to be there a little early.”

“Okay. What time do you want me at your door?”

“Seven-thirty.”

Wincott walked with Alec into the front office.

“Have you got any leads yet?” Alec asked.

“We’ve checked out almost everyone connected with Regan, and we looked hard at Shields and his sidekicks. I didn’t see anything there. The three of them are in protective custody, and I’m told that Shields is scared sick.”