Page 57 of Savage Justice

“What can you tell me of the picture’s current whereabouts?” he interrupts me to fire another question.

“It was in Nuremberg. I gather it isn’t there anymore…”

“And you know this how?”

His curt tone is making me distinctly uncomfortable. I came here to help him, for fuck’s sake, not to be bombarded with rapid-fire questions. I rein in my irritation and answer him. “I watch the news, Inspector.”

He grunts and pulls another document from the sheath before him. “This is a recent valuation of Death of Atalanta.”

I glance at the figure, produced presumably for insurance purposes. Thirteen point seven million euros.

“I see. And?”

“A considerable sum, would you agree?”

“I would.”

“Enough to make the theft worthwhile.”

“Definitely, though you could say that for any old master. That’s why the security surrounding such pieces is so strict.”

“Yet somehow, this item was… removed.”

“So I understand.”

“Inspector, are you intending to raise any matters not already in the public domain?” Ms Meadows manages to inject a note of boredom into her question. “We came here intending to assist your investigation, not go over existing ground.”

He acknowledges her point with a sideways glance in her direction, then returns to his file. “As I was saying, an exceptionally valuable item, security bypassed, is somehow spirited away. It’s clear that whoever perpetrated this crime knew what they were looking for…”

“And as Ms Lowe was saying, any first-year student of art would know exactly what they were looking for,” Lynne interjects. “They would need to have knowledge of security systems, and the means to move the painting quickly. Do you have any information on these matters, Inspector? Or are you intending to continue this little fishing trip for much longer?”

“I note that you are having high-end security installed in your home, Ms Lowe. You do have an understanding of that particular technology, then?”

“Ms Lowe has been bothered by intruders in her home. Her daughter was recently abducted, as I am sure you would know, were you to consult your colleagues, Inspector. She is naturally keen to strengthen her own security and has procured expert external advice in order to do so.”

Inspector Norris is undeterred. “You associate with known criminals. Ms Lowe. You have links to organised crime, and therefore the means to execute a robbery such as this.”

“I have never—”

“What exactly are you suggesting, Norris?” Nico’s tone is hard. “Do you have evidence to back this up?”

“Our investigations are ongoing.”

“Are you investigating Borys Glodowski?” I snap. “He’s the one you should be interested in. He has—”

“Mr Glodowski is assisting us with our enquiries but is not a suspect. He was abroad when this robbery took place so cannot be implicated. You, on the other hand…”

I can only gape at him as various facts drop into place. First and foremost among these facts, Inspector Martin Norris of the Art and Antiques Unit is as bent as they come. He’s clearly one of Borys’s tame coppers, which makes a sort of sense given Borys’s trade. He’d have to have someone to protect his interests on the inside, and who better?

Second, Norris is looking to fit someone up for this, and that someone is me. The robbery took place in Germany. Borys was in Poland, and I was in the UK. I was as ‘abroad’ as Borys, but I’m a suspect and he isn’t.

‘Helping with enquiries.’ What does that mean? Feeding them information most likely. False information aimed at implicating me.

“This is ridiculous,” Nico snarls. “Ms Lowe had nothing to do with any of this and you know it. We’re leaving.”

“I’m not finished—”

“Yes, you fucking are. We’re done.”

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