The Argentina Rhodochrosite Read Online Free PDF Page B

his tongue.
    The manager ignored him. Ainsley guessed that she’d had years of practice doing this. “My theory,” she said, “is that it was a targeted theft, since nothing else was stolen. So my opinion is that you should investigate his friends instead.”
    Ovidio threw one arm over his head. It was an expression of disgust.
    “But it’s true!” said the manager. “Your friends are lowlifes!”
    “I’m not disputing that,” he said. “But they are my lowlifes. They wouldn’t steal from me .”
    “Lalo did.”
    Ovidio became agitated. Ainsley was noticing how visibly all of his emotions passed across his body.
    “Remember?” Nadia said, pressing further. “You caught Lalo selling stories about you to the tabloids.”
    “Of course,” the superstar explained. “But it’s Lalo. You know? That’s something Lalo would do. He’s an asshole.”
    “You are too generous.”
    “It’s only money, I can forgive that.” He wagged a finger at both women. “I can tell you this. Lalo wouldn’t steal my mother’s necklace. Nobody I know would do that. It’s not possible.”
    Nadia kept her composure. “I think Ainsley should talk to them anyways.”
    The superstar bolted to his feet, upset. “But the maid is so obvious. We know she lives in Villa 27, we just need to go—”
    “That’s why it’s wrong,” said Nadia. “It’s too obvious. She would’ve taken your jewelry, your gold, everything.” She turned to Ainsley. “Forget the maid. Start with his friends.”
    Ovidio pulled a toffet in front of Ainsley and sat on it. He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. The brown irises were flecked with green. Ainsley felt herself hypnotized by him.
    “Listen to me,” he said. “You should forget my friends. Start with the maid.”
    Both people, the athlete and manager, were looking at her. Ainsley realized that she had the responsibility of casting the deciding vote.
    “You both have valid points,” said Ainsley, “but I’m going to agree with Nadia.”
    The superstar stood up, aggravated. He waved Ainsley away with his hand. “Gemstone detective, bah. You don’t know my country. You don’t know my life. You probably don’t even know jewelry.”
    That got Ainsley’s goat. She fought down her anger and followed him over to the window, approaching him from the side. She had learned to do that with certain men when they were upset, so as to not seem confrontational.
    “ Señor Angeletti,” she said, “there is not much that I am able to do well. I have quit or been fired from almost every job in my life. But this, this I can do. I’m good at this one thing. You know what it feels like to have a calling. Don’t you?”
    He nodded.
    “You play football. And I find gemstones. I will get your mother’s necklace back. And you will play again. Just let me try .”
    He turned slightly towards her. Ainsley noticed that there were tears in his eyes. His voice cracked as he spoke. “Everybody thinks I am so powerful. I’m not powerful. That necklace, my mother… it gives me everything that people expect to see.”
    “Then let me help.”
    Ainsley waited for an answer. She saw Ovidio’s heavy eyebrows crinkle in suspicion as he looked out the window. “Who is that man?” he said.
    “What man?”
    “That one.” His forefinger stabbed the windowpane. Ainsley looked down to the street. At a bus stop was an ordinary guy wearing a gray hoodie and a pair of headphones.
    “The one waiting for a bus?”
    “He’s been there five minutes.”
    “Yes, he’s waiting for a bus.”
    Ovidio’s eyes narrowed. “I think he’s monitoring me.”
    Ainsley tried not to roll her eyes. “No, you’re okay. Don’t worry.”
    He rubbed his palm on his cheek. “I don’t like how he looks.” Agitated, Ovidio turned to his manager. “Nadia, I need to change hotels. They’re watching me—”
    Nadia answered before he’d even finished. “It might be a long-distance bus. If he’s