Page 57 of Lorenzo

The administrative desk outside Mario’s office is occupied by the temporary assistant covering for Julia while she is home with Cecilia.

The desk still looks like Julia’s. Everything is arranged with the same precision she established when she began running Mario’s office. The files are organized. His calendar is open on one monitor. A second screen holds a list of calls waiting for his attention.

But Julia is not sitting there.

The temporary assistant, Lisa Stinger, looks up as I approach. She is competent, yes, but jumpy. She straightens whenever one of us comes near the desk.

“Mr. Conti.”

“Is he alone?”

“Yes, but he has a call in fifteen minutes.”

“I won’t need fifteen.”

She reaches for the phone to announce me.

I shake my head and continue to the door.

Mario’s voice carries through it before I knock.

“Come in.”

I open the door.

He is seated behind his desk, reading something on a tablet. His jacket is draped over the back of his chair, his sleeves rolled at the wrists. A cup of coffee sits near his right hand.

He looks up when I enter.

“What is it?”

I close the door and cross the room.

“Alessio’s arrest is beginning to touch the company.”

Mario sets the tablet down.

“How?”

I place the folder in front of him and take the chair across from his desk.

“Two vendors called with questions. One asked whether Alessio would still be involved in approving their work, though he never was. Another wanted confirmation that the account would remain unchanged.”

Mario opens the folder.

“And?”

“A company scheduled to meet with us this week postponed.”

“Did they mention Alessio?”

“No.”

“Then we do not know the two are connected.”

“We know.”

His eyes lift to mine.