Page 11 of Donovan Blake: Passion

“Sounds like I should bring my box of tricks.”

“Trevor, I think that might be a good idea. A very good idea.”

CHAPTER SIX

Jimmy Pike had dreams.

Big dreams,

His saw himself heading his own criminal empire.

But he had no interest in prostitution and narcotics.

He had much grander plans.

He wanted to steal precious valuables and con the rich. Now, after years of petty crimes, he was finally stepping into the big league. And it was happening because he’d overheard a whispered conversation at a London nightclub.

He’d spotted two well-dressed men in a hushed conversation huddled into a dark corner near the men’s room. Creeping close enough to listen, he overheard them discussing the highly-publicized story about a sophisticated art theft gang and the arrests of the ringleaders. When they complained that even the homes in the countryside had become virtually impossible to burgle, and the only way was to have someone on the inside, Jimmy had immediately thought of Jane and Hawthorne Hall.

Summoning his courage and boldly stepping forward, he’d tapped the shorter of the two men on the shoulder. As the stranger had jerked his head around Jimmy had almost lost his nerve. But his ambition had driven him forward.

“Hello, my name’s Jimmy Pike, and I can help you.”

Over the course of several weeks he’d had a series of meetings with them in various coffee shops. They only offered their first names. Craig and Bob. They would pepper him with endless questions, then walk out leaving him to pay the bill.

But Jimmy didn’t care how long it would take, how much coffee and cake he’d have to buy, or how many trips he’d have to make to London. He instinctively knew they were big time and he wanted in.

When they’d finally instructed him to take photographs of the paintings at Hawthorne Hall, he’d calmly agreed, though his heart had been pounding so hard he’d thought he might die of a coronary.

When he’d produced the pictures of the various works of art throughout the grand home, they’d zeroed in on the portrait. It was only two days later they’d shown up at his rundown cottage. As they’d issued orders they’d handed him an envelope with five-hundred pounds. It had taken all his self control not to pump his fist in the air and let out a holler of joy.

Crossing paths with Jane and winning her trust had been almost too easy.

Persuading her to get even with her parents for all the anguish they’d caused had been more difficult. Though she was angry with her mother, she had no real grievance with her father.

But Jimmy wasn’t about to let his big chance slip away.

He’d plied her with wine and pointed out how unfair her father had been not to allow her more than a couple of days a month with her mother in London. When she’d said her mother was always so busy it didn’t really matter, Jimmy had insisted that wasn’t the point. He claimed her father was a control freak and she’d never be free of him unless she took a stand.

He’d also talked about how poorly titled men treated those born into far less fortunate circumstances, how her father exploited his servants, and just how wrong it was that the Hawthorne family could have so much for so long, while others suffered from the day they were born.

When her attitude towards her father began to change, Jimmy presented her with an outlandish makeup kit and garishly colored clothes.

“It’s time to be yourself,” he’d exclaimed earnestly. “You’re so bright and so beautiful. You shouldn’t be ruled by all those outdated traditions.”

But convincing her to help him remove the centuries old portrait wasn’t as easy.

“It’s the perfect message to send,” he’d insisted. “Get rid of the one symbol that’s tying your entire family to the past. Free them of the constant reminder, but most importantly, free yourself. With this one simple act you can make a powerful statement, and we can use the money I make selling it to help all those poor families around here and in those awful neighborhoods in London. We’ll make so many people happy, and we’ll be able to give hundreds, maybe even thousands of deserving children new clothes and toys and things their parents would never be able to afford. Just think about it Jane. Think about all the good you can do, and at the same time teach your pompous father a valuable lesson. It’s today that matters, not the crap from bygone years.”

He’d continued the drumbeat, and he could see she was weakening. One night, when she’d glanced at her watch and complained about how her father would rail at her because she’d be home late, he went in for the kill.

“If we had the money from that painting you could move out. You wouldn’t have to answer to him ever again…about anything.”

“Jimmy, you’re right,” she’ d muttered with a heavy sigh.

Now approaching Hawthorne Hall, he thought about how satisfying it had been to get the better of the snooty rich girl. His only disappointment was her constant refusal to have sex. Telling himself he’d find a way, he turned off his headlights, rolled to a stop, and glanced across at one of his oldest friends and partner in crime.

“Are you ready, Nigel?”

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