Chương 5
At six thirty, a housekeeper appeared with coffee, eggs, and fresh trousers in Nina’s size. The woman’s name was Amina. She was sixty or close to it, with a calm face and gray braids coiled beneath a scarf.
“I don’t need clothes,” Nina said.
Amina set them on a chair. “Mr. Castellano disagrees.”
“Does he normally guess women’s sizes before breakfast?”
“He did not guess. The trousers you wore last night are in the laundry.”
Nina looked down at the hotel robe she had found in the bathroom.
“You took them?”
“You left them beside the sink.”
“I thought I locked the bathroom.”
“You did.”
Amina poured coffee. “The bathroom has another door.”
Nina closed her eyes.
Amina’s mouth twitched.
Ghost rose and sniffed the breakfast tray. Amina pointed at him. “You already ate.”
He sat.
“You listen now?” she asked him. “Interesting.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Almost six years.”
“Was Dominic Vella here when he arrived?”
Amina’s hand paused over the coffee pot.
“I don’t discuss Mr. Castellano’s employees.”
“You just did.”
“No. I repeated a name you said.”
Nina looked at her.
Amina placed the pot on the tray. “You should eat. Powerful men are easier to argue with when your blood sugar is not falling.”
“Is that from experience?”
“Everything useful is.”
After she left, Nina ate half the eggs. Ghost watched each bite.
At seven fifteen, Lorenzo entered without knocking.
He had changed into another black suit. His hair was still damp at the temples. He looked as if the previous night had required no sleep from him.
Ghost stood but did not leave Nina’s side.
Lorenzo noticed.
“Your employer terminated you,” he said.
Nina set down her fork. “You told her to.”
“I told her to leave.”
“She knows who you are.”
“So do you.”
“I’m not good at being afraid on schedule.”
“No. You improvise.”
He placed a folder on the table.
Inside were copies of Ghost’s purchase documents. They identified him as a two-year-old imported protection dog acquired through Vella Executive Security. The breed, weight, training level, and vaccination history were listed. The photographs were taken against a concrete wall.
The dog in them was Ghost.
He was too thin. His eyes were dull. A wide leather collar hid the scar at his neck.
The origin document claimed he had been bred outside Zagreb.
Nina touched the paper. “This is fake.”
“I am aware.”
“You knew?”
“I became aware at four twelve this morning.”
“What happened at four twelve?”
“My office in Croatia opened.”
“You have an office in Croatia?”
“I have telephones.”
She turned another page. The breeder address belonged to a warehouse that had burned nine years earlier. The veterinarian whose signature appeared on the vaccination certificate had died before Ghost was supposedly examined.
Nina looked up. “Dominic sold him to you.”
“Dominic arranged the purchase.”
“For how much?”
“That is not relevant.”
“How much?”
“Eighty thousand dollars.”
Nina laughed once.
It came out ugly and loud.
Ghost startled.
“Sorry,” she told him, resting her hand on his shoulder. Then she looked at Lorenzo. “I bought him for two hundred and fifty from a family in Elizabeth because their landlord found out. He came with worms and one shoe.”
“One shoe?”
“He would not let go of it. I had to bring it home.”
Lorenzo sat in the chair across from her. “I will compensate you.”
The laughter vanished.
“For what?”
“Your documented expenses, emotional loss, and any reasonable claim of ownership.”
“You mean you want to buy him again.”
“I mean I will resolve the matter without involving courts, police, reporters, or anyone else who might mistake confusion for opportunity.”
“You think I’m confused?”
“I think you lost a dog six years ago. I think I paid for him in good faith. I think he has lived with me longer than he lived with you.”
“He was stolen.”
“Not by me.”
“You benefited.”
“So did he.”
Nina stared at him.
Lorenzo’s voice remained quiet. “He was starving when he arrived. His training collar had infected the skin beneath his neck. He attacked anyone who touched his food. He slept standing for three weeks.”
The anger in Nina shifted, catching on something that hurt more.
“Why did you keep him?”
“He was expensive.”
“That’s a lie.”
His eyes cooled.
“It may be true,” she said, “but it isn’t the reason.”
Ghost moved between them and rested his chin on the table.
Lorenzo looked at him. “He chose me.”
“He had nobody else.”
“He had me.”
The answer came too quickly.
Nina saw regret pass through Lorenzo’s expression, not for the words but for allowing them to reveal anything.
She leaned back. “How much do you think this is worth?”
“I am not assigning a value to your grief.”
“You did when you used the word reasonable.”
“Then name an unreasonable number.”
“No.”
“A house?”
“No.”
“Enough money that you never have to carry a tray again?”
“I’m good at carrying trays.”
“You dropped the last one.”
“He had teeth near my face.”
“He has teeth near everyone’s face.”
Ghost sighed.
Nina folded the purchase documents. “I want copies.”
“No.”
“Why show me?”
“So you understand that I did not steal him.”
“I believe you.”
Lorenzo’s gaze lifted.
“I don’t believe you’re innocent,” she said. “Those are different things.”
The room went still.
Nina slid the folder back. “I want him examined by a veterinarian I choose. I want the original records. I want to know who removed the chip. Then I want him back.”
“That will not happen today.”
“Then I’m staying.”
“No.”
“You said moving him would be bad.”
“I said you would stay last night. The night is over.”
Ghost lifted his head.
Nina touched his collar. “You’re going to drag me away from him?”
“If necessary.”
“Watch what he does.”
Lorenzo’s jaw tightened.
Nina stood slowly. Ghost rose with her.
She walked toward the bedroom door.
He followed.
Lorenzo said, “Ghost, stay.”
May you like
The dog hesitated.
Nina stopped.
