They reached the emergency veterinary hospital twenty minutes later.
Maya entered first.
“Niko, stay behind me.”
He stopped.
Marco looked delighted.
“I'm sorry,” Niko said. “What?”
“This is a veterinary hospital. I'm the veterinarian.”
“You don't work here.”
“Still more qualified than you.”
Marco whispered, “She's got you there.”
“Marco.”
“Respectfully.”
At reception, Maya identified herself.
A technician appeared.
“Dr. Bennett?”
“Yes.”
“The cat is safe.”
Niko exhaled.
“Where is she?”
“In treatment. A man left her carrier near the entrance and drove away.”
Maya's expression hardened.
“Was she sedated?”
“She's drowsy, but stable.”
Niko moved toward the treatment area.
The technician blocked him.
“Sir—”
“Niko.”
Maya touched his arm.
He stopped instantly.
“Let me go first.”
He looked at her hand on his sleeve.
Then nodded.
Five minutes later, Maya returned.
“She’s okay.”
Niko's eyes closed briefly.
“What happened?”
“Someone gave her a mild sedative. Nothing dangerous. She's already waking up.”
“Can I see her?”
“Yes.”
Luna lay beneath a blanket.
Her blue eyes opened when Niko approached.
He crouched.
“You are grounded for the rest of your natural life.”
Luna blinked.
Then Maya entered.
Luna immediately stood.
Niko pointed at her.
“Don't.”
Luna walked straight past him and climbed into Maya's arms.
Marco burst out laughing.
Even Niko finally smiled.
Later that night, the pieces came together.
Victor had been diverting money through false maintenance contracts. Luna had repeatedly slipped through the damaged foundation panel and wandered into the hidden records room.
When Victor realized she was leaving white fur and paw prints around the building, he'd removed her temporarily and sedated her.
But Luna kept returning.
The blue-gray paint had exposed the connection.
Marco eventually located Victor through financial records and passed the evidence to the proper authorities.
Niko did something Maya didn't expect.
He didn't chase him.
Didn't threaten him.
Didn't handle it privately.
He handed over the documentation and let investigators deal with it.
Two days later, Maya stood in her clinic as Niko arrived carrying Luna.
No carrier.
Luna wore her pink bow and walked beside him on a leash.
Maya laughed.
“Progress.”
“She destroyed the carrier.”
“Of course she did.”
Niko placed Luna on the examination table.
Maya checked the paw.
“Completely healed.”
“Good.”
“You don't need another appointment.”
Niko went silent.
Maya looked up.
He looked strangely disappointed.
She smiled.
“You know you can visit without inventing medical emergencies.”
“I have never invented a medical emergency.”
“You called me because Luna sneezed.”
“Twice.”
“She was smelling pepper.”
“I didn't know that.”
“You called because she slept for six hours.”
“She usually sleeps five.”
“Niko.”
He surrendered.
“Fine.”
Maya folded her arms.
“Fine what?”
“I wanted to talk to you.”
“That's better.”
He stepped closer.
“Dinner.”
She pretended to think.
“With Luna?”
“No.”
Luna meowed.
Niko looked at her.
“Stay out of this.”
Maya laughed.
“Dinner sounds good.”
“When?”
“Friday.”
“Seven?”
“Seven.”
He nodded.
Then hesitated.
“Maya?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“For Luna?”
“For not being afraid of her.”
Maya looked at him.
“I think you're talking about yourself.”
Niko didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
---