The police found no clear evidence connecting the clinic break-in to Luna.

A drawer had been opened.

Files disturbed.

Nothing valuable taken.

Niko stood beside Maya outside the clinic.

“You shouldn't stay here alone tonight.”

“I wasn't planning to.”

“I can have someone—”

“No.”

“Maya.”

“I appreciate it, but I'm not having armed-looking men standing outside my apartment.”

“They don't have to look armed.”

“That sentence did not improve things.”

Niko almost smiled.

“Marco can drive you home.”

She considered it.

“Marco only.”

“Agreed.”

That night, Niko returned to the estate.

Anthony Rizzo was waiting in his study.

Gray hair.

Expensive suit.

Fourteen years of trust.

“You wanted to see me?” Anthony asked.

Niko placed the false invoices on the desk.

Anthony looked down.

Then back up.

“What are these?”

“You tell me.”

Anthony read the first page.

His face remained controlled.

“Someone used my authorization code.”

“And mine.”

“I didn't do this.”

Niko watched him carefully.

“Did you take Luna to a veterinary clinic six weeks ago?”

Anthony stared.

“What?”

“Answer.”

“No.”

“Someone did.”

Anthony's confusion looked genuine.

Then Marco entered.

“Boss.”

He held a tablet.

“We checked the estate cameras from the date on that veterinary invoice.”

Anthony turned.

Marco continued.

“The north cameras were disabled for forty-three minutes.”

Niko's gaze remained on Anthony.

“Your code disabled them.”

Anthony's face changed.

“My code?”

“Yes.”

“I wasn't here.”

“Where were you?”

“Philadelphia.”

Marco tapped the screen.

“He was. Hotel records, flight records and a conference appearance.”

Niko's expression sharpened.

“Then someone copied his credentials.”

Anthony whispered, “Someone inside the house.”

Marco nodded.

“And I know who.”

He turned the tablet.

Security footage showed a man entering the north maintenance building.

Victor Hale.

Niko's estate operations manager.

Anthony stared.

“Victor?”

Niko's jaw tightened.

Victor had worked at the estate for six years.

He had access to vehicles, maintenance schedules and security systems.

And Luna liked him.

Or had.

Marco said, “He used Anthony's credentials to hide fake payments. He took Luna out because she kept getting into the maintenance building.”

Niko understood.

“He sedated her to keep her quiet while transporting her.”

“And returned her before anyone noticed.”

Anthony looked sick.

“The clinic break-in?”

“Likely someone trying to learn whether Luna's bloodwork could connect the timeline.”

Niko stood.

“Where's Victor?”

Marco's phone buzzed.

He looked down.

Then up.

“Gone.”

“Gone where?”

“His apartment's empty.”

Niko's phone rang.

Maya.

He answered immediately.

“Maya?”

Her voice was tight.

“Is Luna with you?”

Niko looked toward the hallway.

His stomach dropped.

“No.”

“She isn't here?”

“No. Why?”

“I just got a notification from the microchip company.”

Niko went completely still.

“What notification?”

“Her chip was scanned.”

“Where?”

“A twenty-four-hour veterinary hospital on the west side.”

Marco was already moving.

Maya continued.

“Niko, someone brought Luna in.”

“I'm going.”

“So am I.”

“No.”

“Niko—”

“This isn't your problem.”

Her voice sharpened.

“She is my patient.”

“Maya.”

“And whoever has her may have drugged her before. You need a veterinarian.”

He closed his eyes briefly.

There was no winning this argument.

“Stay at the clinic. Marco will pick you up.”

“Ten minutes.”

“Five.”

She hung up.

Anthony stared.

Niko grabbed his coat.

“What?”

Anthony shook his head.

“Nothing.”

“Say it.”

“You finally met someone who gives you orders.”

Niko walked past him.

“Apparently I have two.”

---