Page 54 of Lorenzo

“They asked who would be taking over his accounts.”

“He doesn’t have accounts.”

“I told them that too.”

The confusion in Brennan’s expression appears genuine. He is accustomed to vendors exaggerating problems or pretending not to understand contract language when money is involved. This has left him without even that familiar explanation.

“Did they give you a name?” I ask. “Someone here who supposedly told them Alessio handled approvals?”

“No. I asked where they got the information, and the person I spoke to became vague. Said there had been some concern on their side and they wanted reassurance.”

“Reassurance about what?”

“That’s what I couldn’t get them to explain.” He lowers the folder. “They already know invoices and approvals come through my department. Alessio has never spoken to them as far as I’m aware.”

“He hasn’t.”

Brennan nods slowly, as though that only makes the call stranger.

“The second vendor asked whether recent events would affect the account.”

“Recent events?”

Brennan lowers his voice as if someone else might be listening.

“The arrest, sir.”

I work to keep my expression neutral.

“Did they specifically mention the arrest?

“No. They kept calling it a personnel matter.”

I lean back in my chair.

“Alessio isn’t personnel.”

“I know.”

“He doesn’t work in vendor relations.”

“I know that too.”

“And neither account is connected to anything he handles.”

“Exactly.” Brennan pauses. “That’s why I came to you. I thought I might have missed a change somewhere, but there isn’t one in the system. There’s no approval authority under his name, no vendor portfolio, no contract assignment. Nothing.”

The office beyond my windows is moving as it always does. Phones ring. Employees cross between departments. Someone laughs near the elevators before the sound disappears behind a closing door.

From here, nothing appears different.

That is how trouble usually begins. Quietly.

“What did you tell them?”

“That the accounts were operating normally and their points of contact had not changed.”

“Did that satisfy them?”