Chapter 6 – The Invoice
Anna did not return for four days.
Then Marco messaged her.
Can we talk?
They met outside a supermarket.
Marco looked exhausted.
“You were right about something.”
Anna waited.
He took out his phone.
“I’ve been checking invoices.”
“Why?”
“Because I started wondering.”
He showed her photographs of veterinary bills.
Anna scrolled.
Some matched fundraising posts.
Others did not.
One campaign claimed a dog required an “immediate €3,800 procedure.”
The clinic invoice showed a much smaller amount for examination, medication and follow-up care.
Another campaign remained active for three days after the animal had already received treatment.
Anna looked at Marco.
“Maybe they were raising for aftercare.”
“Then why didn’t they say that?”
Anna kept scrolling.
There were screenshots from a private staff chat.
One message from Elisa read:
Don’t post the clean photo yet. We still need another push tonight.
Another:
Use the first intake picture. The current one looks too good.
Anna stopped.
“How did you get these?”
“I’m still in the group.”
“Does she know?”
“No.”
Marco rubbed his face.
“There is worse.”
Anna looked at him.
He hesitated.
“One dog came in with a minor wound.”
“And?”
“They kept using the same close-up for five different posts.”
“That isn’t worse.”
“No.”
Marco swallowed.
“The caption kept saying he was deteriorating.”
“Was he?”
“No.”
Anna stared.
“He was already improving.”
Neither spoke for several seconds.
Marco finally said:
“I told myself it was marketing.”
Anna looked at him.
“And now?”
“I don’t know what to call it.”
