Page 29 of Choosing Stella

“Be careful who you trust, Ms. Moon.”

“That sounds almost like advice.”

“It is.”

“Then thank you for calling.”

She disconnected.

The kitchen went quiet.

I held out my hand.

“May I?”

Stella gave me the phone.

I checked the incoming-call information, then handed the phone back. The number gave me nothing useful.

“He knew police had spoken to you,” I said.

“He’s the security chief at the casino. Maybe they told him.”

“That’s possible.”

“He knew Antonio had enemies.”

“That’s also believable.”

Stella studied my face.

“But you don’t like him.”

“I don’t like anybody who offers to make a murder problem disappear before breakfast.”

“That makes two of us.”

“Did Bellacorte ever talk about him?”

“No.”

“Any reason Volkov would think you’d accept help from him?”

“No.”

I nodded toward her bag.

“Finish packing.”

“You think the call changes something?”

“I wanted you moved before he called. I want it more now.”

Stella took the phone back.

“That isn’t an answer.”

“It’s the one I have.”