Page 135 of Homeport

“I didn’t mention Giovanni,” Ryan told her. “That can’t come from me. You’ll have the idea for this tomorrow, and after running it by me and securing my agreement, you’ll send her a memo.”

He set his plate on the counter, chose a cracker for her and topped it with cheese. “Out of that will come the notion that all key staff members from all Jones organizations will attend the event in a show of unity, support, and respect.”

“They’ll come,” she murmured. “My mother will see to it. But I don’t see what good this does.”

“Logistics. Everyone connected in one place, at one time.” He smiled and ate another cube of cheese. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“I have to get to work.” She pushed both hands through her hair. “I have an exhibit to design.”

“I’ll be flying in from New York tomorrow.”

She paused at the doorway and glanced back. “Oh, will you?”

“Yes. Morning flight. It’s going to be a pleasure to see you again, Dr. Jones.”

twenty-three

“It’s good to have you back.” Lori set a steaming cup of coffee on Miranda’s desk.

“I hope you feel that way by the end of the week. I’m about to run you ragged.”

“I can handle it.” Lori touched a hand to Miranda’s arm. “I’m so sorry about Giovanni. I know you were friends. We all liked him so much.”

“I know.” His blood’s on your hands. “He’ll be missed. I need to work, Lori, to dive in.”

“All right.” She walked to a chair, poised her pencil over her notebook. “Where do we start?”

Deal with what needs to be done, Miranda told herself. One step at a time. “Set up meetings with carpentry—get Drubeck. He did good work on the Flemish display a couple of years ago. I need to talk to legal, to contracts, and we’ll need to pull someone out of research. I want someone who can check data quickly. I’ll need ninety minutes with Andrew, and I want to be notified the moment Mr. Boldari arrives. Arrange for lunch to be set up in the VIP lounge—make it for one o’clock and see if Andrew can join us. Check with restoration. I want to know when works in progress of our era will be completed. And invite Mrs. Collingsforth to be my guest any day this week for tea—again we’ll use the VIP lounge.”

“Going after her collection?”

The avaricious look sharpened Miranda’s eyes. “I think I can convince her she’d enjoy seeing her paintings in this showing, with a nice, tasteful brass plaque saying ‘on loan from the collection of.’ ”

And if she couldn’t convince Mrs. Collingsforth, Miranda thought, she’d sic Ryan on her.

“I’ll need measurements of the South Gallery. If they aren’t on record here, get me a tape measure. I want them today. Oh, and I want to see a decorator.”

Lori’s busy pencil paused. “A decorator?”

“I have an idea for . . . atmosphere. I need someone inventive, efficient, and who knows how to take orders instead of giving them.” Miranda drummed her fingers. Oh yes, she knew what she wanted, right down to the last inch of fringe. “I’ll need a drawing board in here, and one delivered to my home. Send a memo to Andrew, requesting that I be copied on all steps of the publicity and all conceptions for the fund-raiser. Mr. Boldari is to be put through at any time and is to be accommodated in his wishes whenever possible.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll need to talk to security.”

“Check.”

“In four weeks, ask me for a raise.”

Lori’s lips curved. “Double check.”

“Let’s get started.”

“One thing.” Lori flipped her book closed. “You had a message on your machine. I left it on. It was in Italian, so most of it was lost on me.”

She rose, moved over to click back the counter on Miranda’s machine, punched it in. Immediately there was a flood of excited, emotional Italian. Mildly irritated, Miranda stopped the recording and began again with her mind adjusted to translate.

Dr. Jones, I must speak with you. I try to reach you here. There is no one else who will believe me. I am Rinaldi, Carlo Rinaldi. I found the lady. I held her. I know she is real. You know this is true. The papers, they said you believed in her. No one will listen to me. No one pays attention to a man like me. But you, you are important. You are a scientist. They will listen to you. Please, you will call me. We will talk. We know what we know. It must be proven. No one listens. Your mother, she tosses me out of her office. Tosses me out like a beggar or a thief. The government, they think I help make a fraud. This is a lie. A terrible lie. You know this is a lie. Please, we will tell everyone the truth.

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