“Smart girl, Mr. K. She like school?”

Korvutz nodded weakly.

“Some wine to go with the Diet Coke, Mr. K.?”

“No, I’m doing homework later, need to keep a clear head.”

“Kids,” said Gio.

Korvutz’s face turned sad. “It’s worth it.”

Elena returned playing with the hem of her sweater. She stopped at my table, pointed a finger. “He’s all alonely.”

Roland Korvutz said, “Leave the gentleman alone.”

“He’s alonely, Daddy.”

“I’m sure he’d just like to—”

“You’re alonely. You can eat with us.”

“Elena—”

The girl pulled at my sleeve. “Eat with us!”

I said, “If it’s okay with your dad.”

Korvutz’s face got hard.

Elena applauded. “Yay!”

“Elena, stop this. Let the gentleman—”

I got up and brought my water glass to their table.

“Yay!”

Korvutz said, “Sir, this is not necessary.”

“I don’t mind for a few minutes—”

“Yay!”

The intense couple glanced over. The woman whispered something to her companion. He shrugged.

“It’s really not necessary,” said Korvutz.

“It is nessery, Daddy!”

The hot-eyed couple smirked.

“Elena—”

“Nessery!”

“Shh, shh—”

“Nesse — ”

“Elena! Shh! What do we say about La Bella?”

The child pouted.

Korvutz said, “In La Bella, we need to be… say it, darling.”

A tear dripped from Elena’s right eye.

Roland Korvutz dried it and kissed her cheek. “Darling, in La Bella we need to be quiet.”

“Darling darling,” said Elena. “That’s Mommy.”

“You’re my darling, too.”

“No!”

Korvutz colored. “Sir, sorry to bother you, you can go back—”

“He’s alonely. Ms. Price say be nice to alonely people.”

“That’s at school, Elena.”

“Ms. Price say always be nice.”

I said, “I can sit until my food comes.”

“Elena, let this man be.”

Korvutz’s voice had risen. Elena’s face crumpled. He muttered something in what sounded like Russian and reached for her. She jumped off her chair sobbing. The young woman at the next table rolled her eyes.

“Elena—”

The child ran to the rear door. “I go, again!”

Korvutz said, “Sir, I apologize. She is very friendly.”

“I think she’s adorable.” Trying not to sound patronizing.

Korvutz’s stare said I hadn’t pulled it off.

I said, “I work with kids.”

“Doing what?”

“Child psychologist.”

“Okay,” he said, with utter disinterest. “Have a nice dinner.” Eyeing my table.

I fished out the brand-new LAPD consultant badge the chief had expressed to my house last night and placed it on the table in front of him. “When you have time, Mr. Korvutz.”

His mouth dropped open. Gray eyes behind thick lenses bulged. Despite the sparse light, his pupils had constricted to pinpoints. “What the—”

I pocketed the badge. “We need to talk. Not about you. About Dale Bright.”

He started to rise from his chair, thought better of it. Both hands clenched but remained on the table. “Get the hell out of—”