Page 64 of Donovan Blake: Adrenalin

“In there…just inside.”

“What the hell…?” Rocky exclaimed, suddenly appearing at the door with his fellow agents. “Oh, my God, what happened to Agent Miller? Chad, call an ambulance,” he shouted striding towards his injured boss.

“Wait! Rocky! Clear the vault!” Donovan ordered sharply. “Manny’s supposedly in there and he might still be alive and carrying. Jim, cuff this asshole and search him.”

While Donovan continued holding the gun over the angry Russian, Jim deftly handcuffed him and quickly discovered The Alexandrite Empress.

“Wow, that’s really something,” Donovan muttered as Jim held it in the air. “Bag it, and what’s that painting on the floor?”

“Uh, it looks like one of those Victorian scenes,” Jim replied as he picked it up and handed it over.

“Damn, this is a Renoir!” Donovan exclaimed.

“Hey, Donovan, Trubello’s body is in here and it’s a real mess,” Rocky called, stepping from the vault and crouching down to help Agent Miller.

“Rocky, hold on!” Phoebe shouted hurrying to his side. “I’m a trauma nurse. Do exactly what I say.”

With everything under control but still staring at the priceless painting, Donovan called Sam and gave him a summary of the scene.

“I’ll order a forensics team right away. I’m arriving with backup and we’ll be there any minute.”

“You’re with them?”

“The moment I heard the name Alexi Koslov I headed out the door.”

* * *

Only a few minutes after Rocky had lifted the heavy marble globe off Agent Miller’s crushed feet, Phoebe heard sirens and hurried to the window. It was dark, but she could clearly see the ambulance and two SUV’s. She assumed they were carrying Sam’s men and the forensics unit.

“Rocky, thanks for your help,” she said, moving back to him. “The medics are here. Just stay where you are and keep reassuring him.”

“Phoebe, you were amazing.”

“Not really,” she replied, then walking into the vault to join Donovan, she found him just inside the entrance crouched beside Manny’s body.

“Hey, Phoebe,” he said raising his eyes.

“Can I come in?”

“No, but I’m going to bend the rules,” he replied as he straightened “You have to see the treasures in here. Just make sure you give Manny a wide berth.”

“That’s a lot of blood.”

“Yep, it even made me a bit squeamish.”

“I’ve seen worse,” she remarked. “By the way, the cavalry has arrived.”

“I thought I heard sirens. You’d better hurry. Sam will have my head if he finds you in here.”

“And I need to see Candy. She must be worried sick. It’s not fair to keep her waiting, and I have to tell her about Manny.”

“I feel for her, but you must take a quick look at this collection. I don’t know if you heard while you were busy with Agent Miller, but besides The Alexandrite Empress, Koslov was carrying out a Renoir.”

“I didn’t! But how is that possible?”

“The big time art thieves switch out the real ones with forgeries.”

“No. Surely that can’t happen. It sounds ludicrous.”

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