“For the purpose of our argument, ‘most people’ would mean your average accountant who works nine-to-five and has two cats waiting for him at home. Or a hairdresser who recently got divorced. Or a college student who doesn’t want to live with her mom and works three jobs just to have her own apartment, even though Mom has an apartment and a spare bedroom. That’s most people. What do you do to fit the mold?”
Not a damn thing. “Is your ex-husband an accountant?”
Dina sighs. “No. He’s a lawyer.”
I make a face. Ouch. She’s fighting a lawyer in court.
“Yeah.”
I pull my bottom lip through my teeth. “Are you afraid you’ll lose everything to him?”
“Yes.” Her shoulders slump, then she throws up her hands. “I have no idea why I just told you that, but I’m terrified he’ll put me on the street. Or rather, back living with my dad.”
I offer her the bar chair where I propped my leg.
She refuses. “My lawyer thinks we can beat him. But I’m not sure. Sergei is bullish, and his case about how I spent a decade at home with Chi-chi while he made the money I used to open the salon entitles him to ownership. It’s complicated. I never expected him to want to take the salon from me, but he cheated with my friend, who just wants me to move out of Selnoa and find another city to call home.”
“But you don’t want to go anywhere?”
“No! I love Selnoa. I’m going to grow old here.”
“Maybe they would like to move elsewhere?” I suggest, then wince when I imagine looking at a couple I never met through the scope of my rifle.
First and foremost, she has no idea what I actually mean by that, and the fact I mentioned it bothers me because I can make this departure permanent, and she’ll never have to deal with the ex or his new girlfriend again. But just because I can, it doesn’t mean I should.
“They might leave because of his debts.”
“Who owns his debts?” Even the banks are owned by someone who is connected with someone else. It’s all inside Massio’s network here in the city. Massio’s death will change everything. There’s lots of money at stake which is up for grabs now.
“I think it’s this guy Gino who works for a guy named Fabio who works or worked for Crossbow.”
“Massio Crossbow owned most people’s debts,” I say.
“Owned? We don’t even know for sure that he’s dead yet. The stations speculate all the time. The news lies. Crossbow owns two of our TV news stations. Not the one we’re watching, but it’s just a matter of time before he bankrupts them, then buys them too.”
“He’s dead,” I say.
She side-eyes me. “How can you be sure?”
“The stations are just waiting for the coroner to confirm the death and maybe give them the information on how Massio died. It’s standard procedure.”
Dina looks skeptical. “You read that at the library too?”
No, but I nod anyway.
“In that case, I’m not sure what will happen to Sergei’s debt. A discharge? What do the books say?”
A smile on her face tells me she’s not buying my library lies, but I’m thrilled she’s going on with it for the sake of our conversation. “The debt gets transferred to whoever takes over Crossbow’s empire. When a powerful leader, a dictator, if you will, dies suddenly and without a will or designated successors, it leaves a power vacuum. Selnoa’s finest will compete for the throne.”
“One of those finest probably shot him, then.”
Nah. That shit was personal.“Probably.”
“I’m sure whoever did it will come away as the new king. Why else risk it, you know?” Dina grabs her purse. “We’ll need popcorn. It goes with the developing events, so I’m off to grabsupplies. What do you need?”
I shake my head. “No supply run today. The gatherings might turn into riots.”
“That’s even more of a reason to get supplies. People will march through this street on their way to the Minister’s Hall.”
