Chapter 1 - THE SECOND ANIMAL
“The second animal?”
Luca Moretti’s voice changed.
It did not become louder.
That would have been easier.
Vanessa’s champagne glass trembled.
Across the dining room, twenty-six wealthy guests had stopped pretending not to listen.
Bruno leaned against Luca’s leg.
The old German shepherd looked exhausted, but he was alive.
Very much alive.
The security guard repeated carefully:
“The driver says Mrs. Bellini told him there would be two animals.”
Luca looked at Vanessa.
“What second animal?”
Her mouth opened.
Nothing.
Then:
“Luca, I need you to promise you won’t open the door at the back.”
The entire room seemed to shrink.
Luca handed Bruno’s worn collar to me.
“Emma.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Take Bruno to my study.”
Then to his security chief:
“Matteo, with me.”
Vanessa stepped forward.
“No.”
Luca stopped.
She swallowed.
“You don’t understand.”
“Then explain while we walk.”
No one moved.
Luca headed toward the service corridor.
I followed with Bruno because I no longer trusted anyone else to carry him.
His paws slipped twice.
Each time I steadied him.
Vanessa rushed behind us.
“Luca, please.”
The old maintenance garage sat behind the kitchen wing.
I had found Bruno in the front section.
The rear door was steel.
Usually locked.
I had assumed it led to mechanical storage.
Vanessa grabbed Luca’s arm.
“Don’t.”
He looked down at her hand.
She released him.
Matteo entered the code.
Denied.
Again.
Denied.
“Someone changed it.”
Luca looked toward Vanessa.
“Code.”
“I don't know it.”
Matteo removed a key ring.
Emergency override.
The lock clicked.
Inside, darkness.
Then a low whine.
My stomach dropped.
Matteo switched on the lights.
A Belgian Malinois lay inside a kennel against the far wall.
Black mask.
Tan coat.
Lean body.
A blue security harness thrown on the floor nearby.
Luca stopped.
“Diesel.”
I knew the dog.
Everyone did.
Diesel worked nights with Luca’s security team.
Fast.
Alert.
Younger than Bruno by almost nine years.
Three days earlier, staff had been told Diesel had been sent to a professional trainer after becoming “unpredictable”.
Apparently another lie.
Luca crouched.
Diesel attempted to stand.
His back legs wobbled.
He collapsed.
Matteo cursed.
“Who did this?”
Vanessa looked toward the door.
Bad instinct.
Matteo noticed.
So did Luca.
I knelt near the kennel but did not touch Diesel until Matteo checked him.
Empty water bowl.
Food untouched.
A torn leather lead.
Then Matteo found a small medication wrapper near the trash bin.
He picked it up using a cloth.
Luca’s face went still.
“What is that?”
“Don't know yet.”
Vanessa whispered:
“They were upset.”
Luca looked at her.
“What?”
“The dogs.”
“Bruno is twelve.”
“I know.”
“Diesel is trained.”
“I know.”
“Why are both of them locked in a garage?”
She shook her head.
“I was trying to protect the dinner.”
For one second nobody spoke.
Then Luca almost laughed.
Not amusement.
Disbelief.
“You drugged two dogs for table settings?”
“I didn't drug them.”
“Who did?”
Silence.
Matteo looked at Luca.
“I’m calling Dr. Rossi.”
Luca nodded.
Veterinarian.
Independent.
Good.
Then I remembered Bruno’s collar.
“Sir.”
Luca turned.
“The tag.”
He looked at the worn brown leather in my hand.
The brass ring was empty.
His expression changed more than it had when he found Bruno alive.
“What?”
“My father never removed that tag.”
Vanessa whispered:
“It probably fell off.”
Luca ignored her.
He took the collar.
Studied the empty ring.
Then looked toward Diesel’s harness.
Matteo picked it up.
Something was missing there too.
A small metal identification plate.
Both dogs had been stripped of their tags.
Now even I understood.
This was not about old animals embarrassing an engagement dinner.
Luca looked at Vanessa.
“Why were the tags removed?”
She said nothing.
His security phone buzzed.
Matteo answered.
Listened.
Then looked toward Luca.
“The driver wants to leave.”
“Keep him at the gate.”
“He says he was paid cash.”
“By Vanessa?”
“He says the envelope came from Marco Bellini’s office.”
Every trace of color disappeared from Vanessa’s face.
Marco.
Her older brother.
The man sitting at the engagement table ten minutes earlier.
I looked back toward the house.
“Where is he?”
Matteo asked.
A guard answered through the radio.
“Mr. Bellini left during the disturbance.”
Of course he did.
Luca looked at Vanessa.
The engagement dinner was over.
May you like
She simply had not realized it yet.
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