Page 47 of Donovan Blake: Passion

“Then we’re in agreement. I’ll be there at noon with the portrait, and driving a vehicle that can carry the frame.”

“You made a wise decision, Donovan. Once I have it Phoebe will be out of danger and you can rest easy. See you then.”

”That was amazing,” Phoebe said softly. “The ring must be magical.” “Not that I believe in such things, but you could well be right. The way he called at just that moment is remarkable,” Peter exclaimed, “and Donovan, I am in your debt. You are truly brilliant.”

“Not really, I’m just good at problem solving.”

“And coming up with ideas,” Phoebe interjected. “But the story of Julie and Richard is so sad. I wonder what happened to her.”

“If she’s still alive she’d be well into her 90’s so it’s doubtful, but I’d like to find her family and give them the ring.”

“Yes, we must,” Phoebe agreed. “Do you think we can?”

“We have her name and address from back then. That’s a great help. But I’m wondering why David Weiss reached out to Alexi at precisely the same time as David Cavendish.”

“I’d like to know that too,” Peter remarked.

“Hi, I’m here? What’s going on?” Jane asked stepping into the room with Trevor and walking over to join them. “Oh, wow, where did that ring come from?”

“It once belonged to a soldier who was sent here during the Second World War named Richard Weiss,” Peter replied. “He planned to propose to his girlfriend but be died before he could, and somehow managed to hide it in the Lake House. It’s connected to the portrait.”

“Weiss?” she repeated with a frown.

“What is it, Jane? Does that name ring a bell?”

“It does. A while ago I answered the phone and the caller said his name was David Weiss and he wanted to speak to someone about buying the portrait of Lord Percival Hawthorne. I told him it wasn’t for sale and hung up.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?” Peter exclaimed.

“Why would I? I’ve heard you complain about that friend of yours, Cavendish I think his name is, badgering you about selling it. What’s going on?”

“It’s a very long story. I don’t suppose Weiss left his number.”

“Won’t it be in the security system? Isn’t there a log of all the callers?”

“The one’s who numbers aren’t blocked,” Peter said thoughtfully. “I don’t know how far it goes back.”

“Well, he called again a couple of months ago.”

“Can you remember exactly when?”

“Let me think…it was the same day we had the Barrington’s for dinner. I remember because I was in here with Priscilla when the phone rang.”

“Excellent, that helps a great deal.”

“Phoebe, tell Jane what’s going on while Peter and I see if we can track down that phone number,” Donovan exclaimed as he rose to his feet. “The Weiss family probably fled to Switzerland,” he continued, speaking to Peter as they left the room. “I’m dying to find out how he tracked you down, and more importantly, why he knows Alexi Koslov.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Peter soon found the phone number from Switzerland, and Donovan placed the call from the house phone with Peter on an extension so he could listen.

“Lord Hawthorne?” the man said anxiously the moment he answered. “My apologies, I recognized your phone number and I’m just so relieved to hear from you. This is David Weiss. Are you no longer using Alexi Koslov as your broker?”

“Mr. Weiss, my name is Donovan Blake. I’m calling on behalf of Lord Hawthorne. Did you just say Alexi Koslov is acting as a broker?”

“Yes, or rather, he’s said he said he’s representing Lord Hawthorne.”

“How did you find him?”

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