Page 57 of Callan

Carmen.

No, not her.

I don’t think so.

He was watching the building when he spotted me and followed me to Beverly’s building. And then he waited for me to come out from her building.

Why did he say he hadn’t had a choice?

Did he want to make sure I was okay?

Did he?

The prospect makes me weak in my knees.

9

CALLAN

I tossmy keys on my desk and remove my coat before pouring myself a glass of Irish whiskey.

As much as I indulged that girl and kept her company, that glass of sweet white wine did nothing for me.

“Any luck, brother?” Alistair asks.

Lifting my drink to my lips, one hand tucked in my pocket, my eyes pinned on the water outside, I push out a short answer.

“Nope. Someone else is looking for it. Two or three parties have been involved in the search so far.”

“So, the news got around fast, huh?” he rumbles before sliding into his seat.

The armchair groans under his weight.

“It fucking did, didn’t it?” I mutter.

Downing my drink, I turn to him.

“You can always count on that when it comes to easy money.”

“It won’t be easy to sell it even if they find it,” I retort.

“They’ll find someone to buy it. A private client. Someone who doesn’t know it belongs to you.”

A dark smile tickles my lips as I pour myself another drink.

“Or someone whoknowsit belongs to me. Some vengeful dick. They’ll do it out of spite. To start a war or something. People do the stupidest shit when it comes to money.”

Alistair reaches for his black tie and loosens it a little.

“You could call the cops or talk to the insurance company.”

I take a swig and wince.

“Do I want that? No. I want back what was stolen from me. I don’t want to collect the insurance money. And I don’t want the publicity that comes with it. And the investigation. I have enough problems as it is. I want what’s mine, and whoever is responsible for this needs to pay.”

“Shedidn’t pay for it.”

“Daniela, you mean?”

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