Page 36 of My Rock Star Neighbor
“That would work well,” she says.
I hear Maddie’s footsteps on the stairs, and then she comes into view on our landing.
“I’m glad you guys are dating,” Stacy says.“I always thought there was something there.You two seem so well-matched.”
Maddie’s step falters for a second, but she recovers quickly.“How so?”
“You seem to communicate well,” she says.“You’re both invested in your careers.While that could be an obstacle, it could also work out for you.”
Maddie, Luca, and I all help ourselves to dinner from the various takeout containers on the steel counter in Luca’s kitchen.His apartment is an ode to functionality and minimalism.And fancy gadgets.The three of us take our full plates and sit at his round glass table on his “ghost” chairs.I don’t know how he lives with translucent acrylic chairs.They’re completely transparent.I’d probably end up killing myself if I lived here, because I’d search for a snack in the middle of the night or a piece of paper to scribble on and end up tripping over a chair and falling into the table.But to each his own.
“Aren’t you going to show us your new routine?”Luca asks me.
“No,” I say.“I don’t need to embarrass myself in front of you guys tonight.”
Luca casually slings his arm around Maddie.Maddie doesn’t look like she minds.Apparently, Luca doesn’t need to invoke clause eleven for physical contact.Heisa good-looking guy.
“You mean, you don’t want to embarrass yourself in front of Maddie?”Luca asks.
“That, too.I also need to rest up for tomorrow.”I look at my notes on my phone.“And frankly, now that I look at what I scribbled down for the choreography: ‘Arms/legs up, jump, side to side, turn and swing, swing,’ my notes are not going to help me.I feel like I’ve missed the basic class and vaulted straight into expert experience.”
“That’s so cool that you’re going to be doing choreographed dancing at your show,” Maddie says.“I’m impressed.”
That’s something.
Luca gets up and brings what’s left of the partially filled food containers to the table so we can help ourselves while seated.
“What’s happening with your investigation?”I ask.
Maddie fills Luca in on her research to date, after swearing him to secrecy.Luca owns his own security company, so I convinced Maddie he could be a good resource.A bribery case might involve high stakes with desperate people.But I can’t say that to Maddie.I don’t want her to think I don’t believe she can handle herself, even if it scares me to think of one of those guys coming after her if she gets too close to the truth.
“I found several other people who had shoddy repairs with a similar story to Tasha’s friend by looking through the repeat repair request tickets filed with the Infrastructure Department, so there’s a pattern.Also, I convinced my boss to allow me to do aMeet the City Agenciesarticle series, both because it’s helpful to know, but also as a way for me to interview the deputy commissioners, so I’m meeting with them tomorrow.”
“She’s on fire,” I say.This story could be Maddie’s big break.
“Tonight, I’m reviewing my repair tickets spreadsheet to see who else to follow up with,” she says.“I was able to crunch the data as you suggested, and Pommer has the most repeat calls.”
“If they’re taking bribes and facing criminal charges if discovered, that could be dangerous,” Luca says.
My gaze meets Luca’s to convey my thanks.I’m worried about Maddie pursuing this story for that exact reason.But it would be a career-defining scoop.
“Shouldn’t you guys move somewhere safer than your current apartments?”Luca asks.
Wait.We didn’t discuss moving.
“What do you mean?”I ask.
“Stalker woman might be able to figure out your address.I’m not sure the security is up to par, even if you did install that camera, Nick.Now that you’re taking off.”
“You’ve never mentioned it before,” I say.
“I’m worried about Maddie, not you,” Luca says.“There’s been an uptick in break-ins via fire escapes this spring.”
“Have you seen Maddie fight?”I ask.“You should be more worried about the burglar.I’m still scarred from when Maddie invited me to her ju-jitsu ceremony awarding her a brown belt.”
“My friend Iris made us all take classes,” she says.“I can definitely take stalker woman.”
“Can you?”Luca asks.He looks intrigued.
