Three days later, Mave returned to work.
The Copper Anchor looked exactly as it had before.
The chandeliers glowed.
The tables were polished.
The bartenders arranged expensive bottles behind the counter.
But Mave could no longer look at the private dining room without remembering Toby screaming on the floor.
Arthur met her beside the kitchen.
"Welcome back."
She folded her arms.
"Am I actually welcome?"
He sighed.
"Mave, I'm sorry."
She studied him.
Arthur looked exhausted.
His shirt collar was damp.
His hands trembled slightly.
Something was wrong.
"What happened?"
He glanced toward the office.
"Not here."
Mave followed him.
Arthur closed the door.
Then he sat behind his desk and covered his face.
"I made a mistake."
Mave's stomach tightened.
"What kind of mistake?"
Arthur looked up.
"Marcus Vale wasn't supposed to be working that night."
She stared at him.
"What?"
"He came in with a temporary security badge. Said he was covering for someone."
"Who authorized him?"
Arthur hesitated.
"Victor Salerno."
Mave stepped backward.
"You knew?"
"I knew Victor had business with the owners. I didn't know he was planning anything."
"Then why didn't you tell the police?"
Arthur's eyes filled.
"Because he threatened my family."
Mave went still.
Arthur opened a drawer and removed a folded piece of paper.
It contained a photograph of his wife and daughter.
Beneath it was a warning.
Mave recognized the format immediately.
The same kind of message she had received.
"Arthur."
He shook his head.
"I thought if I stayed quiet, they'd leave us alone."
Mave sat down.
For the first time, she saw the frightened man beneath the nervous manager.
"Did you tell them anything about me?"
Arthur looked away.
Mave felt her chest tighten.
"Arthur."
"They asked for the employee records."
She closed her eyes.
"My address?"
He nodded.
"I'm sorry."
Mave stood.
Arthur reached toward her.
"Please."
She stepped back.
"You gave them my mother's address."
"I didn't know—"
"You knew they were dangerous."
Arthur lowered his head.
Mave wanted to scream.
Instead, she took out her phone.
"You're going to tell Detective Bennett everything."
Arthur agreed.
By afternoon, he had provided investigators with the restaurant's employee records, temporary security schedules, and correspondence involving Marcus Vale.
The information revealed that Victor Salerno had arranged access to the Copper Anchor through a business associate.
Investigators also discovered that Marcus had entered a restricted service corridor shortly before the incident.
The veterinary laboratory's additional findings supported exposure to a substance capable of contributing to abnormal behavior, although the precise circumstances still required investigation.
Mave read the update in Detective Bennett's office.
"So someone deliberately hurt Brutus?"
"The evidence is consistent with deliberate interference," the detective said. "We're working to establish who was responsible and why."
Mave looked down.
The dog had been frightened.
Toby had nearly been seriously injured.
And her mother had been threatened.
All because someone wanted to hurt Declan Gallagher.
That evening, Mave visited Declan at his home.
The estate stood behind iron gates on the outskirts of the city.
She had expected marble statues, gold furniture, and men carrying weapons in every hallway.
Instead, she found a surprisingly quiet house.
Dark wood floors.
Tall windows.
A large fireplace.
And photographs of a smiling young man beside an enormous gray dog.
Daniel.
Declan's brother.
Mave stopped in front of one photograph.
Daniel was sitting on a dock, holding Brutus as a puppy.
The dog looked ridiculous.
All paws and ears.
Mave smiled.
"He was adorable."
Declan stood beside her.
"He ate three pairs of my shoes that summer."
"Brutus?"
"Daniel."
Mave laughed.
Declan smiled.
Then the moment faded.
"Arthur confessed," she said.
"I know."
"He gave them my address."
Declan's expression hardened.
"He's cooperating with the investigation."
"That doesn't make it okay."
"No."
Mave looked at him.
"Did you know Victor Salerno was using the restaurant?"
"I knew he had business interests there. I didn't know Marcus had access to Brutus."
"Why would Victor do this?"
Declan walked toward the window.
"Because he wanted me to react."
"How?"
"Violently."
Mave waited.
Declan turned.
"If I'd attacked his men inside that restaurant, he could have used the incident against me. If Brutus seriously injured someone, the consequences would have been devastating."
Mave looked toward the photograph.
"So he used your dog."
"Yes."
"And Toby."
Declan nodded.
"And you."
Mave felt a chill.
Brutus entered the room.
He was recovering well, although Dr. Shaw had recommended a gradual return to normal activity and professional behavioral support.
The enormous dog approached Mave.
His tail moved slowly.
She smiled.
"Hello, trouble."
Brutus leaned against her leg.
Declan watched.
"He likes you."
"He's a good dog."
"He frightened an entire restaurant."
"He was frightened too."
Declan considered her words.
Then he said, "Daniel would have liked you."
Mave looked up.
The expression on Declan's face surprised her.
It was not the cold confidence of the man who had entered the Copper Anchor.
It was something quieter.
Something vulnerable.
She looked away.
"Your brother sounds like someone worth knowing."
"He was."
Brutus rested his head against her knee.
For a moment, the three of them stood together in the quiet living room.
Then Declan's phone rang.
His security chief.
Declan answered.
His expression changed.
"What do you mean she's missing?"
Mave froze.
"Who?"
Declan looked at her.
"Your mother."
Mave's world seemed to stop.
She grabbed the phone.
"What happened?"
Declan's security chief explained that Evelyn had left the assisted-living building with a man claiming to be a transportation coordinator.
The staff had believed he was taking her to a scheduled medical appointment.
But no appointment existed.
And the vehicle had not returned.
Mave's hands began shaking.
She called her mother.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then a message arrived.
A photograph of Evelyn sitting in the back seat of a car.
She looked frightened.
Beneath it were six words.
TELL GALLAGHER TO COME ALONE. MIDNIGHT.
Mave stared at the screen.
Then she looked at Declan.
"Please."
Her voice broke.
"Please bring my mother home."
Declan took the phone.
He read the message.
Then he looked at Brutus.
The dog was standing beside Mave, watching her with worried eyes.
Declan made a decision.
He would not give Victor Salerno the violent confrontation he wanted.
He would get Evelyn home.
And he would make sure the people responsible faced consequences.
But first, he needed to keep Mave from making a desperate mistake.
Because she was already reaching for her car keys.