Maya removed her gloves.

“Cats don't care about locked doors.”

“This cat lives behind twelve-foot walls.”

“Cats care even less about walls.”

Marco smiled.

“I like her.”

Niko ignored him.

Maya pointed at Luna.

“If she's getting somewhere she shouldn't, find the opening.”

“I intend to.”

“Good.”

Niko studied her.

“You aren't curious?”

“About what?”

“Why a locked building on my property concerns me.”

Maya folded her arms.

“I treat animals, Mr. Bellini. People's mysterious buildings are outside my billing structure.”

His mouth almost moved.

Almost.

Then Luna climbed into Maya's lap again.

Niko stared at his cat.

“You're embarrassing yourself.”

Luna purred.

Maya smiled.

“She's devastated by your criticism.”

Before leaving, Niko stopped at reception.

“When does Luna come back?”

“Seven days,” Maya said.

“I meant what time?”

“For a paw check?”

“Yes.”

“Any time.”

“Ten.”

“Fine.”

He paused.

“And you'll be here?”

Maya's eyebrow lifted.

“For Luna?”

“Obviously.”

Marco stared very intently at the ceiling.

Maya smiled.

“Obviously.”

That evening, Niko and Marco crossed the Bellini estate toward the north maintenance building.

The lock was intact.

Marco checked the windows.

“Nothing.”

Niko crouched near the foundation.

Then he saw it.

White fur.

Caught beneath a loose wooden panel.

Marco pulled the panel aside.

A narrow gap appeared.

“Luna-sized,” Marco said.

They entered.

The building smelled of lumber and fresh paint.

Niko switched on the lights.

Nothing appeared disturbed.

Then Marco pointed.

“Boss.”

Small dusty paw prints crossed the concrete.

They followed them toward a stack of old cabinets.

Behind the cabinets was a narrow service door.

Niko frowned.

“That wasn't here.”

Marco tried the handle.

Unlocked.

The room beyond contained boxes.

Not contraband.

Not weapons.

Just records.

Invoices.

Property documents.

Maintenance contracts.

Marco opened one.

His expression changed.

“Niko.”

“What?”

“These are Bellini Development invoices.”

Niko took the papers.

Several listed payments for construction work that had never happened.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars.

All authorized through one executive account.

“Who has access?” Marco asked.

“Three people.”

Marco nodded slowly.

“Then Luna just narrowed our problem considerably.”

Niko looked toward the tiny paw prints.

“My cat uncovered accounting fraud.”

“She also destroyed a sofa worth twelve thousand dollars.”

“She contains multitudes.”

Marco picked up another document.

“There's something else.”

A veterinary invoice was clipped to it.

Niko frowned.

It wasn't from Bennett Veterinary Clinic.

It was from another animal hospital.

The patient name was Luna Bellini.

The date was six weeks earlier.

Marco stared at him.

“You took her somewhere six weeks ago?”

“No.”

The humor vanished.

Niko read the invoice.

Routine examination.

Sedation.

Bloodwork.

The signature authorizing treatment was supposedly his.

It wasn't.

Marco said quietly, “Someone took Luna off the estate.”

Niko's eyes hardened.

Which meant Luna hadn't simply escaped.

Someone had been using her movements to hide something.

The next morning, Maya's receptionist entered her office.

“Your ten o'clock is here.”

Maya glanced at the clock.

“It's nine twelve.”

“I know.”

“Why is he here?”

The receptionist leaned closer.

“He says Luna missed you.”

Maya looked through the glass.

Niko Bellini sat in the waiting room.

Luna occupied the chair beside him.

Marco stood behind them holding a coffee tray.

Maya stepped outside.

“Mr. Bellini.”

Niko stood.

“Maya.”

“You're forty-eight minutes early.”

“Luna was impatient.”

Luna was asleep.

Maya pointed.

“That cat?”

Niko glanced down.

“She exhausted herself with anticipation.”

Maya laughed despite herself.

Then she noticed his expression.

“What happened?”

Niko lowered his voice.

“You were right about the paint.”

Maya's smile faded.

“And?”

“I need you to look at something.”

He handed her the veterinary invoice.

Maya read it.

Her expression changed.

“This wasn't signed by you?”

“No.”

“Did Luna have blood drawn?”

“Not with my permission.”

Maya crouched beside the cat.

“Niko, I want to run bloodwork.”

His jaw tightened.

“Why?”

“To find out exactly what someone gave her.”

---