Maya removed a small sample of the residue.

“What does that mean?”

Niko watched her seal it inside a specimen bag.

“There’s an old service building on the north side of my property.”

“And?”

“The doors were painted that color.”

“Were?”

“Years ago.”

Marco’s expression changed.

Maya caught it.

“You know something.”

Marco looked at Niko.

Niko answered instead.

“The building is locked.”

Maya folded her arms.

“Apparently your cat disagrees.”

Luna purred from the examination table.

Niko looked at her.

“How did you get there?”

Maya raised an eyebrow.

“Unless she answers in English, we may have to investigate this normally.”

Niko glanced at her.

“You’re very comfortable talking to me like that.”

“You’re in my clinic.”

“And outside it?”

“You’re still Luna’s owner.”

Marco coughed again.

Niko looked at him.

“Do you need water?”

“No, boss.”

“Then stop.”

Maya smiled despite herself.

She inspected Luna’s fur again.

“There’s something else.”

“What?”

“Fine grit.”

She collected several particles.

“Could be concrete dust.”

Marco stepped closer.

“The old service building has a concrete floor.”

Niko’s jaw tightened.

“Who has access?”

“Almost nobody.”

“Almost?”

Marco hesitated.

“Estate maintenance. Security supervisors. You.”

Maya looked between them.

“This doesn’t sound like a veterinary problem anymore.”

“No.”

Niko reached for Luna.

The cat immediately moved behind Maya.

He froze.

Maya bit her lip.

“Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Laugh.”

“I’m not.”

“You’re about to.”

Maya failed.

Niko stared at his cat.

“I feed you.”

Luna blinked.

“I bought you imported salmon.”

Luna pressed closer to Maya.

Marco murmured, “Brutal.”

Niko turned.

“Marco.”

“Sorry.”

Maya lifted Luna.

“She needs rest for the paw. Keep the bandage dry. And I want to see her again in forty-eight hours.”

“I’ll bring her.”

“Good.”

Niko didn’t leave.

Maya noticed.

“Something else?”

“Come with us.”

Her expression changed instantly.

“No.”

“To the estate.”

“Still no.”

“You found the residue.”

“That doesn’t make me an investigator.”

“You understand what’s on her fur.”

“I understand animals.”

“Exactly.”

Maya shook her head.

“I have appointments.”

“I’ll compensate the clinic.”

“That’s not the issue.”

Niko studied her.

“What is?”

“You’re accustomed to people agreeing because you expect them to.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Usually.”

“Well, I’m busy.”

For several seconds, they simply looked at each other.

Then Niko nodded.

“Tomorrow. After your last appointment.”

Maya blinked.

“That wasn’t me agreeing.”

“No.”

A faint smile touched his mouth.

“That was me asking better.”

She stared at him.

Marco looked fascinated.

Maya sighed.

“One hour.”

“Fine.”

“And no intimidating entourage.”

Niko glanced toward Marco.

“One.”

“Zero.”

“Marco drives.”

“Then he stays in the car.”

Marco looked offended.

“I’m very pleasant.”

Maya looked at him.

“Your jacket has an earpiece wire disappearing into it.”

“Fashion.”

Even Niko smiled this time.

The following evening, a black SUV stopped outside Bennett Veterinary Clinic.

Maya climbed inside.

Niko sat in the rear seat.

Luna sat beside him.

The pink bandage was still perfect.

Maya smiled.

“You actually kept it dry.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I've met cat owners.”

“I employ people.”

“That explains it.”

Niko watched her scratch Luna’s chin.

The cat immediately abandoned him.

Again.

“You enjoy this.”

“Very much.”

Forty minutes later, iron gates opened before them.

The Bellini estate stretched across twelve acres.

At the far end stood a small stone service building.

Maya stepped from the SUV.

She stopped.

The door was blue-gray.

Niko came beside her.

“Same color?”

She examined it.

“Looks identical.”

Marco approached from behind them.

“The lock was replaced six months ago.”

Niko looked at him.

“By whom?”

“Estate maintenance.”

Maya crouched near the bottom of the door.

White hairs clung to a rough edge.

“Luna was here.”

Niko’s face hardened.

Then Maya noticed something else.

Fresh scratches marked the ground.

Not cat scratches.

Drag marks.

She pointed.

“What was moved through this door?”

Nobody answered.

Niko stepped forward.

“Open it.”

Marco unlocked the door.

The hinges groaned.

Inside was darkness.

Then the motion lights clicked on.

Maya stared.

Shelves lined the walls.

Boxes.

Documents.

Electronic equipment.

And in the center of the room sat Luna’s missing pink collar.

Niko picked it up.

His voice became dangerously calm.

“Someone inside my house has been using my cat to find out whether this room was being opened.”

Maya stared at him.

“How?”

Niko turned the collar over.

A tiny device was attached beneath the buckle.

Marco swore softly.

Maya whispered:

“Someone put a tracker on Luna.”

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