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“Because he wants to get his hands on that report as much as we do,” he replied.
“Again, I agree. On the other hand, maybe he was the mole and has been lying low for over ten years. He believes the heat is off and is now back to gather more intelligence.”
“Either scenario seems a stretch, Ty.”
I nodded. “So, what’s a third possibility?”
Before Z could respond, I saw via the home’s security cameras that El was on her way inside.
“Let’s revisit this in a few days. Eliza has just arrived.”
“Copy that,” Z responded before cutting the video feed.
25
ELIZA
Mike said he was certain Levi hadn’t seen the maquette I did of the larger sculpture I was getting ready to start Dança dos amantes or Lovers’ Dance.
It was the piece I’d sketched the night he and I met. It would be months before I finished it, but when I did, my plan was to give it to Levi as a gift.
Keeping a piece that size a secret would be no easy task, but Mike assured me he’d help.
I’d just walked in the door when the lift opened and Levi stepped out. I met him halfway, and we embraced.
“How was your day, honey?” I said in a contrived accent that sounded more Southern belle than fifties’ American housewife.
“Every day is better when I come home to you.”
When he’d stopped by the studio earlier, he seemed particularly tense. Now, he didn’t. “I struggle with not asking, because I know there’s little you can tell me, and seeming as though I don’t care.”
“I always know you care,” he said, kissing my forehead. “Let’s talk about your day. I’m sure it’s far more interesting.”
“Not really. Niven stopped by earlier. He said he was on his way to Shere. Did you see him?”
“In passing,” Levi muttered.
“Anyway, he was in a foul mood. I’ve decided that if he’s away from Harper, it’s his modus operandi.”
Levi laughed. “Sounds like me.”
I wouldn’t agree, but there were times I thought it. Particularly after one of the conversations I’d had with Kima.
“He’s a different person when he’s around you. Even more so than me. In general, he’s an angry grizzly bear,” she’d said.
I giggled, and he raised a brow. “Kima likened you to an angry bear, except when you’re with me.”
“Did your cousin stop by for a particular reason?”
I rolled my eyes. “I made the mistake of telling Harper about the studio, which was the reason he was here when you and Kima arrived several days ago. He wanted to see it. I’m guessing he asked her where I was living, and she told him I was with you.”
“I’m in the same place you just said you were, caught between not wanting to invade your privacy and not seeming to care.”
I pulled a bottle of wine we’d opened the night before from the refrigerator and held it up.
“Yes, please,” he said, getting two glasses from the cupboard. He carried them into the living room, where we liked to sit at the end of the day and look out at the sea.
“I know the two of you don’t get on, but today I had enough.”