Page 53 of Choosing Stella

Stella ate two bites before facing me.

“How wide is the access pool?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Can you narrow it?”

“Security staff. Supervisors. Anyone authorized to use pool equipment. Potentially senior personnel who could get access through somebody else.”

I took a drink of water.

“Which puts Volkov high on the list.”

“Yes. High, not alone.”

“I’ll take it.”

“That isn’t an accusation.”

“I know.”

I continued. “His authority and access matter, and Bellacorte’s death may reshape the power structure at the casino. If Volkov benefits from that, it gives us another reason to look at him.”

Stella lowered her fork.

“You think Antonio’s murder was about the casino.”

“I think somebody killed a wealthy man inside his own penthouse and interfered with security around the same time. Money, access, and who benefits are worth looking at.”

“And whoever killed him could be the same person who wants me.”

“Could be.”

“But you won’t say it is.”

“No.”

She sat back.

“I’m starting to see why tarot makes you uncomfortable.”

“Tarot doesn’t make me uncomfortable.”

“You look at my cards the way other people look at unexploded ammunition.”

“I know what ammunition does.”

“That’s exactly my point.”

I finished the last of my eggs.

Stella smiled without answering right away.

“What would make you believe?”

“In what?”

“That I actually see things.”