"He wasn't," Malcolm replied, frowning at Paul.
Paul smiled. "It's not really serious. It's just that I put too much weight on my ankles too soon. The doctors got tough. I have to be a good boy for a while." He grinned at Tanya. "I'd like to see Kevin. He saved my life, you know."
Tanya nodded. "He saved mine, too."
"How is he?"
"He moves occasionally. Yesterday, he made a few sounds. I have hope. That's all I can say."
Malcolm looked at his wrist watch. "Too late to talk business now. Let's take Tanya out for an early supper, since tomorrow I have a business lunch with Mr. Monteturro."
"You have a business lunch with whom?" Paul asked, surprised.
"With Luigi Amedeo, Kevin's recent business partner." He gave Paul a look full of tease.
"What kind of business do you have with him?" Paul asked. He appeared stunned, almost angry.
"Private matter," Malcolm said, brushing the questions aside with a smirk.
"Excuse me," Tanya said, rising from her kneeling position on the floor. "If we're going out to supper, I need to freshen up a bit."
As soon as she left the room, Paul pushed his wheelchair closer to Malcolm. "Mr. Monteturro is a suspected criminal. He looks for different legal activities to cycle his dirty money. We don't know how he brings it into this country. Everything looks legitimate at this end, but his presence where drugs and money are exchanged, has been proven many times." Paul's mouth was set in a tight line. He glowered at Malcolm.
"Paul, I'm aware of all that," Malcolm said calmly.
"Sorry, but I can't understand why you're so friendly with him."
"I like the man. I can't deny it." He looked at Paul. "That doesn't mean I wouldn't go after him, if necessary."
"I'm worried about Tanya. She might have the impression that Luigi Amedeo is one of your friends, someone it's okay to have around and trust. He wouldn't be good company for her."
Malcolm laughed softly. "Our girl is a big girl. I don't think too many people could fool her, or at least, not for long."
"No! I said no!" Tanya slammed the folder onto Malcolm's desk. "If these papers are not sufficient for your new investigation, that's too damned bad. You'll have to wait. I'm not going to stay here another day."