Page 47 of Lorenzo

“What about the rest of the night?”

“I ordered another whiskey when I started talking to her because I ordered her another martini as well.” He anticipates my next question. “I don't know how much she had before that. She had a martini when I walked up, but she didn’t seem drunk.”

He looks at his father. “I wouldn't have taken some stranger home if she was falling all over drunk.”

His father simply nods. I'm inclined to believe him as well. He seems earnest.

Then again, I can't forget who it is I'm speaking to here.

“What did you talk about?” I ask. “Before you left, I mean. At the club.”

“Nothing important.”

“That is usually where important things hide.”

His fingers tap once against his knee.

“She asked about Chicago. The club. What I did.”

“What did you tell her?”

“That I worked for my family.”

“Did she ask about your family?”

“Only when I said that I worked with them.”

I look up. “Did she know your last name?”

“I told her my name when I sat down,” he says. “You really think she targeted me? She died.”

“Someone targeted you,” I say. “I'm trying to figure out whether she was a part of it or not.”

His expression tells me he’s going to defend her.

“She could have been used too,” I continue before he can. “She could have approached you for one reason and ended up dead for another. Or she could have known exactly who you were and still had no idea what someone else intended to do.”

Alessio looks down at his hands.

“So you think she was bait.”

“I think it is one possibility.”

Lorenzo’s attention stays on me. “And the others?”

“That she chose him for reasons of her own, and someone took advantage of it.”

Alessio’s jaw clenches. “She was a person.”

“I know.”

“You’re talking about her like she was part of a plan.”

“She was.” I keep my voice steady and even in contrast to his emotions. “Whether she knew it or not, she was part of a plan.”

Alessio studies me for a moment and then nods.

“When you told her your name, how did she react?”