Page 93 of The Game

When I examine the pictures, they’re really clever. She’s drawn components but distorted and bent them so they look like cute animals. Wow.

“I’ll have you know we’re a serious electronics business,” I say, winking atSusie.

“Not anymore,” Susie says with a cackle.

Sean rolls his eyes. “All marketing people are maniacs.”

“I like these a lot,” I say, shuffling the papers. “Great job, guys. The drawings are amazing, Susie.”

She straightens up and smiles at me. “Thanks, boss.”

I message Anna a couple of times but there’s no response, so I assume she’s still on court and head to her apartment building at 3 p.m. to take Pepper home. The doorman is the same guy who was on the night Maroz smashed the desk in, so I ask him about the repairs and whether everything is all right while he fusses over Pepper. He nods and tells me that Anna paid for the damage. Somehow, I’m not surprised she’s had to fork out for it.

“Are you here to see Mila?” he asks.

Mila? Mila’s here? I tilt my head at him. “I’m bringing Pepper back,” I say.

“I’ll call up,” he adds.

I look down at the floor and take a big breath. The doorman chats to Mila on the phone for a bit and then waves me up.

When I reach Anna’s apartment, Mila is standing by the elevator, and I give her a small smile which she returns with a grimace.

“Hi Mila, I’m Adam,” I say, holding out my hand, which she takes. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Same. I’m here to look after Pepper,” she says.

“Oh, okay.” That’s odd. Why didn’t Anna text me to let me know that Mila would be here?

I bend down to let Pepper off the leash, and she races into the apartment and rushes around sniffing everything as Mila shakes her head. Then Pepper barrels back toward us, racing to Mila and jumping up, tail rotating like a propeller, and she pushes her off.

“Oh! That dog,” she grumbles.

I bend down and click my fingers, and Pepper bounces over to me and Igive her a rubdown.

Mila’s lips are twisted in an amused smirk. “You can always tell a person by how they respond to dogs. That’s how you know I am not a nice person. I don’t care about the dog, but you, Adam Miller, you clearly do care about the dog.”

I instantly like Mila: She’s self-deprecating and direct.

“Thanks for dropping her off,” she says.

“I’m just off to meet Anna at the training center,” I say.

She makes a face and shakes her head.

“What? Why are you shaking your head like that?”

“Anna’s not there.”

I straighten up. “What? We arranged to meet there later this afternoon. Where is she?”

She shakes her head again.

“What’s with the head shake? You’re not going to tell me?” That whole conversation last night … “Well, I’ll just wait here until she gets back.”

“She won’t be back tonight. That’s why I am here for Pepper.”

“What? Where the hell is she?” My stomach drops through the floor.

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