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"Both."

He laughs once. There isn't much humor in it. "This should go beautifully."

"Her mother too."

Now he's completely silent.

"Discreetly," I add. "Two men. She doesn't see them. Elena doesn't know."

"You're aware Elena notices things for a living, right?"

"Then find men she won't notice."

"Those cost extra."

"Send me an invoice."

"Should I include funeral expenses for when she finds out?"

I end the call.

By seven thirty, I've slept for another hour. Elena is still asleep when I get up, and I leave her there while I shower and dress. When I return to the bedroom, she's sitting against the headboard with my shirt still on and her laptop open across her thighs.

I stop in the doorway. "You slept with that?"

She doesn't look up. "Jealous?"

"Deeply."

"Understandable. It has excellent processing speed and never tells me to go to bed."

"I can throw it off the balcony."

"Then I'll testify."

"Against me?"

"With enthusiasm."

I walk over and close the laptop. Her eyes lift slowly to mine.

I leave my hand on the lid. "Breakfast."

"I'm working."

"Breakfast."

"Do you communicate with everyone using nouns?"

"When they're being difficult."

"That must save you tremendous amounts of time."

"It does."

She tries to open the laptop. I don't move my hand. For several seconds we stare at each other.

Then Elena sighs. "I hope you know this isn't attractive."