Hunter didn’t leave her mind, even when she finally arrived at the hospital. To her annoyance, Liz found herself constantly glancing over her shoulder, expecting to see him lurking in a corner watching her. Though she didn’t spot him again, she knew without a doubt that he was nearby, and that the eyes she felt were on her weren’t just a figment of her paranoia.
The buzz of the hospital helped calm her nerves a bit as doctors and nurses rushed around, patients and visitors mixed in among them. Liz approached the front desk, pushing that uncharacteristically frightened woman deep inside, and her true self forward. Or, as much of her true self as she could manage.
“Do you speak English?” she asked the woman, to which she nodded. Good. That’ll make this much easier. “I’m looking for someone. Mr. Ricci.”
The woman frowned and Liz tensed on the inside. It was a long shot, she knew. The hospital was huge and there was a decent chance that whoever Alessandro was visiting didn’t share the same last name as he did. But Liz was out of options, and with Mr. Grenville breathing down Harold’s neck, out of time.
The nurse’s frown deepened as she reached for her records. She began searching, leaving Liz with enough time to glance worriedly over her shoulder a few more times. “Ah,” she said suddenly, in her thick Italian accent. “Signore Ricci. Are you family?”
Liz shook her head at the skeptical once over the woman was giving her. She wouldn’t have been able to pull off being family. “I’m a part of his legal team,” Liz lied. “He called me here directly.”
“Oh, I see.” The woman nodded, accepting the lie. She ran her finger along the folder she had in her hands then relayed Mr. Ricci’s location.
“Thank you,” Liz said before walking away. She didn’t let loose the breath of relief until she was safely alone in the elevator. She didn’t expect that to work. It was too slim a shot, but perhaps the odds were in her favor today.
She could hardly contain the bounce of her foot as she waited for the elevator doors to open. She was close to ending this now, close to leaving. If this person was actually connected to Alessandro all she needed to do now was convince him to sell her his painting. That was the easiest part of her job. That she knew she could do.
The door she came upon was closed but she could hear voices on the other side. She knocked softly, walking in without allowing them the time to respond. “Hello,” she called.
A nurse turned to her when she entered, straightening away from the man in the bed. “Hello, you are?”
Another lie grew ripe on her lips. Liz didn’t know what she was about to say, knowing full well that her previous lie wouldn’t fly well if the subject was within earshot. She opened her mouth, ready to say whatever it was she needed to say, when another voice broke through. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Liz looked at the speaker. He was in the corner of the room, buried under layers of clothes. After a closer look, she realized it wasn’t just layers of clothes, but clothes he was wearing. He staggered to a rise, wide eyes on hers.
“Do you know her?” the nurse asked, glancing at the man in the corner. The man in the bed turned his head to him as well, but said nothing.
“Yes,” the man replied. “She’s an… acquaintance.”
Alessandro Ricci. Liz’s eyes grew wide as realization took hold. She could hardly recognize him. Not only was his tall, slim frame weighed down by all that clothing, but his hair had grown out, as well as his beard. His eyes were zeroed in on hers, already annoyed. This wasn’t going to go over easy.
“Hello, Alessandro,” Liz said, turning to him. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“What are you doing here?”
“May I speak with you in private?” she asked calmly.
The nurse found her voice. “Everything’s looking fine here, Mr. Ricci,” she said, though Liz wasn’t sure which of the two men she was speaking to. “I’ll be back to check up on you in a couple of hours.”
The man in the bed groaned his response. The nurse smiled then backed her way out the room. The Mr. Ricci in the bed looked at Liz curiously, appearing so old and feeble, something in her heart panged at the sight of him.
“Outside,” Alessandro snapped, returning her attention to him. Despite the odd bundles of clothes he was wearing, he moved quick, standing before her in a second. “I’ll be back,” he told the man in the bed. His father? His uncle? His brother? There was no telling and Liz didn’t get the chance to have a closer look when he opened the door and gestured for her to step outside.
“Tell me you aren’t here for what I think you are,” he said the moment the doors were closed.
“It’s nice to see you too, Alessandro,” Liz said calmly. “It’s been a while.”
“Cut the crap,” Alessandro snapped. “You only show your face around here when you want something.”
Liz pulled her shoulders back, trying not to frown. The last time she’d spoken to Alessandro, she’d hounded him until she got what she wanted. She’d left knowing that they weren’t in the best of places, but had felt no remorse. It was necessary for the job then, just as it was necessary for the job now. Though his hostility was a bit unwarranted.
“I’ve been searching for you for a while, Alessandro. I’ve heard that you have a new piece out.”
“It’s not out. And where did you hear that?”
Liz waved her hand dismissively. “My source doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m right and I’d like to strike a deal with you.”
“No way.”
“If you’d give me a chance and hear me out, I’m sure you’ll see how we can both benefit from this.”
“I’m not giving you a chance because that painting is not up for sale. I don’t know who gave you your information, but it was wrong.”
Liz glanced down at the way he crossed his arms. She looked back up at him. Maybe she should take a different approach. “How’s your father?”
A wild leap. It seemed her luck was holding out. “That’s none of your concern.”
“I don’t need to concern myself with being polite?”
“You don’t care, so why bother to ask?” He spat the words out at her so venomously, it almost had Liz blinking in surprise. Why was he being so hostile?
“Alright, Alessandro.” She took a step back. “I’ll back off. I hope your father gets better.”
“Don’t show your face around here again, Elizabeth,” he said to her as she turned to leave.
Liz paused, back still turned. She knew he was still standing there, watching her with his arms crossed. Slowly, she looked over her shoulder at him. “I’m sorry I bothered you, Alessandro. Take care of yourself.”
She walked away, her steps echoing down the hallway. Liz didn’t hear the door reopen once.