Page 109 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

She shot a glance toward the front of the room. Red and blue lights reflected off the door and walls.

She focused back on her phone, but instead of calling 911, she called Stone.

From the parking lot, an amplified voice said, “Come out of the room with your hands on your head.”

The call connected. “Hi, we were just about to—”

“Stone, I think I’m in trouble.”

Chapter 33

Fifteen minutes earlier, Simon paced the gallery’s office, waiting for a call from Phillip.

When his cell finally rang, he snatched it up and said, “Is it set?”

“Mr. Duchamp?” said a voice that did not belong to Phillip.

“Who is this?”

“Nico Savage.”

“My apologies, Mr. Savage. I thought you were someone else.”

“Mr. Petry would like an update.”

“You can tell him the second Matilda Stone will be in my possession within the hour.”

“And the third?”

“By Friday, as promised,” Simon said, more confident than he felt.

Simon heard muffled voices on the other end, then Savagecame back on and said, “Mr. Petry asked me to express his appreciation for your efforts.”

“Pleasing my clients is always a priority. Now, if there’s nothing else, I have a rather busy afternoon.”

“We understand you’re in Los Angeles.”

“Well, um, yes.” Simon hadn’t told them that, but it wasn’t like his presence in the city was a secret.

“So, today’s delivery will be happening in L.A.”

“It will.”

“Excellent. Mr. Petry and I arrived a few hours ago and would like to be there when the painting arrives.”

“Well…that…um…I don’t think—”

“Didn’t you just say pleasing your clients is a priority?”

“Yes, of course, but—”

“Mr. Petry insists we be there.”

“That was never part of our agreement.”

“It is now.”

“You can’t simply change the terms on the fly.”

---