"And you are not?"
"Obviously not." Her smile appeared briefly. "I am chasing twenty-year-old paperwork."
Nathaniel pulled out a chair. "You found another clue?"
"Maybe." She slid a document across the desk. "Look at the dates."
Nathaniel studied the page: several maintenance approvals appeared routine; then he noticed something unusual. "A six-week gap. Nothing was processed."
Genevieve nodded. "Exactly. During the period when repairs should have happened."
Nathaniel looked at her. "Someone intentionally stalled the project."
"That is my theory." Her expression darkened. "The question is why?"
Before Nathaniel could respond, footsteps approached. Victoria entered the library carrying invitation lists. Her smile appeared flawless as always.
"There you are!" Genevieve closed the documents immediately. Nathaniel noticed; so did Victoria. "Still working?" Victoria asked pleasantly.
"A little."
"You should take a break." Her gaze drifted toward the papers. "The Harvest Ball is only three days away."
Genevieve's expression became carefully neutral. "I remember."
Victoria laughed softly. "Good." Then she turned toward Nathaniel. "Alex, would you mind helping the staff move tables tomorrow?"
"Of course."
"Wonderful." Her smile never faltered.
Yet something about the interaction felt deliberate, calculated. After she left, Genevieve remained silent. Nathaniel waited.
Eventually, she sighed. "She does that often."
"What?"
"Appears whenever the investigation makes progress."
Nathaniel leaned back slowly. "You really believe it is connected?"
"I do not know." Genevieve stared toward the doorway. "But I am beginning to wonder."
The words lingered heavily between them.