No. I’m no longer in any association. ” “You’re no longer a felony? ” “No, ma’am, I’m now not. ” “Yes, you are,” she stated, in a sterilized voice. “Some type of a felony. all people in Gio’s international is a legal of a few sort. ” I didn’t say something. “What did he lease you to do? ” she requested. “To locate who... murdered your daughter. And why they did. ” “The police say they recognize. ” “What!? They be aware of who—” “Not who,” she stated, impassive. “Why. ” “Those are guesses, Ms. Greene. Theories. the single definite solution to locate the person that actually—” “Why do you assert that? ” “Well, theories are generalizations. They’re established on—” “No. now not that. ‘Person,’ you stated. The police acknowledged it was once a guy. ” “I can comprehend why they may imagine that, ma’am. And I’m now not arguing with it. simply attempting to not exclude someone until eventually i do know extra. ” “More? ” “More than i do know now,” I acknowledged, attempting to capture her waves so i'll surf. “Some of it, i'm hoping you’ll inform me. the remainder, i need to locate by myself. ” “And Giovanni employed you to do this? ” “Yes, he did. ” “Will you do it your self? ” “Mostly. It is dependent upon what it seems is required. i would deliver others into it, if i must. ” “Needed? ” “To locate the individual. ” “So Giovanni can kill him,” she stated, with no-affect sure bet. “I don’t comprehend whatever about—” “Oh, Gio will kill him,” she stated, mournfully convinced. “Honor is so vitally important to him. ” “Honor? ” I requested, switching roles. She smiled faintly, with out heat. “You’re correct, in fact. I stated ‘honor,’ yet I intended ‘image. ’ What the children name ‘face. ’ that's Giovanni, correct there. That sums him up. ” “I don’t comprehend him,” I slip-slided. “You acknowledged it could actually no longer be a guy. ” “Giovanni, I suggest. I don’t know... the child’s father. I’m doing a task of labor for him, that’s all. ” “Father? ” “Ma’am, i'm actually sorry if I retain stumbling round. I can’t appear to locate the best phrases. I don’t understand Giovanni. And I’ll by no means recognize your daughter. but when you’ll aid me find out about her, might be i will be able to locate who killed her. ” “What then? ” “When i locate whoever did it... if i will be able to? ” “Yes. What then? Will you inform the police? ” “That’s no longer my activity. ” “Will you inform me? ” “Yes,” I spooled out the lie like a bolt of silk, “of path i'm going to. you may have the best to understand. ” “Please wait here,” she acknowledged. At a nod from me, she stood up and walked out of the room. I didn’t stream from the place i used to be seated, contenting myself with a visible sweep of the room. It used to be neat and fresh, yet with out that demented gleam you get less than a No humans, No Pets, No enjoying regime. The room was once truly for corporation, yet now not the sort that kicked again with a number of beers and watched a soccer video game with their toes at the espresso desk. I’d been in houses the place humans had misplaced their baby to violence earlier than. I anticipated at the least one picture of the girl—a shrine wouldn’t have stunned me. not anything. whilst the mummy got here again, she used to be wearing a wide grey plastic field through the deal with. whilst she opened the pinnacle, i may see it was once crammed front-to-back with dossier folders. She knelt, put it at the ground in entrance of my chair, acknowledged, “I have 3 more,” and walked off back.