Page 7 of Donovan Blake: Passion

“Tonight? Fuck. I hope I can reach Roger and Charlie. I sure as hell can’t involve anyone else.”

“I hope they don’t have far to come.”

“No, thank God. They live on the other side of the village, and they’re brothers, so it’s not like I’ll have to chase them up separately.”

“This might sound silly, but I hope the portrait is going to a good home.”

“I have to deliver it to an address near Mayfair, so yeah, I’m sure it will be well taken care of.”

“Do you know how to get there? London can be a nightmare.”

“I’ve been there dozens of times, and once I get my money for this job I’ll be getting my own place. You can come and visit. We’ll have a blast.”

“Jimmy I would love that.”

“Great. But now I have to get this worked out. What time would be good? When does everyone go to bed?”

“Just like last time, around ten, so by midnight things will be quiet.”

“I’ll walk in again, but the van will be out of sight under the trees on the road across from the house.”

“That will be perfect. I’ll be on the front verandah waiting.”

“Okay. I’ll see you tonight. But if there are any problems be sure to call.”

“Of course I will. See you later, Jimmy.”

* * *

“Jane, you’re a star,” Donovan exclaimed, giving her a quick hug. “That was brilliant.”

“It certainly was,” her father agreed. “What now? How do we catch the blighters?”

“That’s up to the man I work for, but rest assured you’ll soon have your portrait back. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must make that call,” he finished as he and Phoebe headed out.

Entering the hall and closing the door behind him, he began striding forward.

“Donovan, slow down,” she said tersely. “Let’s do this in our room. I know where it is.”

“Sure, lead the way.”

“I will if you’ll let me.”

“Sam needs to know about this immediately. He might ask me to follow the painting into London to see exactly where it goes. If he does I’ll need to rent a car.”

“A minute or two won’t change anything.”

“What’s wrong? You don’t look very happy,” he remarked as she turned down another hall.

“Happy? What is there to be happy about?”

“Phoebe…”

“Where do I start?” she retorted, stepping into the opulent suite and glaring at him. “I’m totally jet-lagged, we’ve barely eaten since we arrived, and now, apparently, you could be following a van to London. What will I be doing? Sitting here twiddling my thumbs? I feel completely superfluous. I think I’ll just take that jet and go home.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Quietly closing the door, Donovan turned around and found Phoebe red-faced and breathless. Though he usually knew how to handle hysterical women, she was different. She might just make good on her threat and that was the last thing he wanted.

---