Pierce stood. “I’ll be right back.” His phone buzzed, and he lifted it. “Pierce.” He listened and then turned to me. “Somebody named Quint Albertini is with Jolene O’Sullivan insisting to be let inside. Something about the dog.”
I scratched behind Zena’s ears. “Have the officers let Quint in but definitely not Jolene.”
“Agreed,” Pierce said. “This will hit the papers anyway, but I’m not helping that woman out.” He kept talking on his phone as he moved down the hallway, and Bud gave me a look before following him.
Clark sat back. “I hope they take the crime tape off the outside of the office.” So far, he seemed to be taking this all okay. “We’re going to lose clients over this one. It’s one thing to have a bar fight and look tough, and it’s another thing to have dead bodies show up in your office. The corporate clients I just signed will be the first to go.”
“I’m sorry, Clark,” I said.
“Not your fault.” He stood. “I’m going to reschedule all of our appointments for this afternoon and will just use the calendar system Oliver set up. We need the afternoon off.” Then he opened the door wider so Quint could move in before leaving.
“Anna Banana.” Quint was across the room and hauling me up into a hug. He held a red dog toy rope in one hand. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” I hugged him back, letting his solidness ground me. “The woman was dumped here and the police are on it.”
He released me and dropped to his haunches. “Who’s a good girl? Who found the body?” His voice rose.
I stepped back.
He grinned and looked up, letting Zena take the toy and play tug of war. “She found a body and has to be rewarded since that’s her job. Playing with me is her reward, and my higher voice is so she knows I’m excited and happy with her. We want her to keep finding bodies when we’re searching mountains.” He tugged back and dragged the excited dog a foot across the floor.
Her tail wagged wildly.
“I didn’t know that,” I said.
Quint let Zena pull him a ways. “You did fine by petting her and letting her put her head in your lap. This is my job.” He stood but kept a hand on the toy as Zena fought to win it. “I’m staying at your place until we figure all of this out.”
I shook my head. “That’s sweet, but I have a police detail since Sasha was found on my porch and this woman in my office. The police think I’m both a suspect and a possible witness, so they can justify the overpay.” I touched his arm. “What about you? Are you doing better?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Getting away helped, although I’m still having nightmares. Then Chrissy called while I was out of town with Jolene, and somehow that got both of them mad at me. Sometimes I think I should just lay low and do my job with my true love here.” He patted Zena’s head.
“Well, she’s cute but can’t give back rubs,” I countered. Maybe I should get a dog. Or a cat. I wasn’t home a lot, so it probably wasn’t fair to a pet, either way. “I’m free if you need to leave Zena again. Any time.”
“Did you and Aiden split?” Quint asked.
I paused. “No. Why?” Just the idea hurt, but I wasn’t going to show that.
“Nonna called and asked me to invite Nick Basanelli to my poker night next week with the family. I figured something was up.”
Oh. Maybe the charity committee was just the beginning of Nonna’s plan. “Nonna is trying to fix Nick up with Tessa.”
Quint frowned. “Does Tessa know?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s a campaign,” I said.
Quint’s face cleared. “Then I’ll invite him. So long as Nonna is concentrated on Tessa’s love life, she’s not getting involved with mine. It’s every Albertini for themselves in this situation.” He released the toy so Zena could twirl around with it.
“Keep that in mind, cousin,” I said. “I haven’t told Nonna that you’re dating the woman who keeps writing mean articles about me in the paper.”
Quint hugged me again. “Thank you. You’re a goddess and I love you.”
I grinned. “True. All of that is true.”
Bud appeared in the doorway. “I have to go to the office and make another statement. That means you’re coming with me. Please.”
“Okay.” My easy acceptance obviously surprised Bud because he took a step back. Truth be told, the police station was exactly where I wanted to be right now.
Quint reached down and reclaimed the toy from the dog. “I have a dinner tonight, but then I’ll be over with ice cream for dessert and a chat. We can figure out what’s going on and come up with a plan for you, Tessa, and me. I’ll get her on the way.” He snapped his fingers and walked out with the happily panting dog right behind him.
