Page 71 of Ruthless Cross

"Yes," Flynn answered, motioning them inside. "Callie, you know Savannah. And this is Wyatt Tanner. He's on my team as well."

"Is everyone on your team extremely good-looking?" she asked.

"It's a requirement," he joked, adding to Wyatt and Savannah, "Callie is enjoying her painkillers."

"Good for you," Savannah said. "I heard you took a rough hit on the head."

"Yes. It was the most pain I've ever felt."

"Sorry about that." Savannah gave her a sympathetic smile and then turned to Flynn. "How are you feeling, Flynn?"

"I'm fine. Just wishing I hadn't let him get away."

"We'll find him," Wyatt said firmly. "Do you have the painting?"

Flynn took the painting out of the bag once more. "It's right here."

"That's it?" Savannah asked, a note of disappointment in her voice. "That's the deadly calling card? It looks like something I'd hang in my kitchen."

Callie laughed at her words, and Savannah sent her a smile.

"I'm not much of an art critic," Savannah said.

"Me, either," she replied. "But the story about that painting is crazy. Are you sure you want to take it? I think it's cursed."

"I'm not worried about curses," she said. "The painting is our best clue to the murderer so far."

"I spoke to Gil in Art Crime," Wyatt put in. "He's sending over all the files on the Belladonna murders, so Savannah and I can get up to speed. I know you've reviewed them before, so I'm guessing there's no clue to the identity of the artist or the owner of the painting?"

Flynn shook his head. "No. There are a lot of rumors, speculation about who could be the mad artist serial killer, but no factual evidence. But someone knows something, and we have to figure out who."

"We'll get on it," Wyatt said. "Are you returning to LA tonight?"

"As soon as Callie is cleared. Thanks for driving down here. I didn't want to put Callie's life at risk again by keeping the painting in my possession."

"Understandable," Wyatt said with a nod.

"The police have sealed off Arthur's house here in Palm Springs, and they're packing up the stolen paintings. They'll be logged into evidence here and then the Art Crime Team will take over the task of getting them back to their rightful owners," Savannah said. "I will also look into Layana Vazquez, find out more about their affair."

"You told them about Layana?" Callie asked.

"I texted them everything we know so far while you were having your head scanned," he replied.

"Lucas is checking security footage around the Palm Springs house," Wyatt put in. "As soon as he picks up the car, we should have a lead on your assailant. We're also tracing the gun to see what comes back on that."

"Thanks for doing all that. I know I've taken over both your Sundays."

"It's what we do," Savannah said with a shrug. She turned back to Callie. "I hope you feel better."

"Thanks. I just want this to all be over. I want Arthur's killer caught and my mom to get back to normal." Although, even as she said all that, she couldn't help thinking that when this was over, she would probably never see Flynn again, and that did not make her happy.

"We'll take off now," Wyatt said.

"I'll talk to you later tonight," Flynn said.

As they left, Flynn moved back to the bed.

"You have good people working for you," she commented.

---