Page 130 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

“Not exactly. Two of them escaped with the painting. The other was shot by the homeowner.”

“Please tell us it wasn’t fatal and the police were able to question him?”

“I wish I could. The house was on fire when the homeowner caught them in the act. He shot the one guy and tried to follow the other two. By the time he got back to the house, the fire had spread, and he couldn’t get inside to pull the guy out.”

“I’m guessing it’s too soon for the police to have IDed the body,” Dino said.

She nodded. “The good thing is, since the owner saw the other two run off with the painting, the higher-ups at Vitale are starting to wonder if the other fires might have been distractions as well. My friend showed them the reports I’d been giving to Dalton. Turns out he hadn’t passed any of them on.”

“Maybe they’ll give you your job back.”

“I don’t want my job back. If I return, I want Dalton’s.”

“Tell them that,” Stone said.

“I will.”

They ordered food, and it arrived with an unexpected visitor.

“Morning, Billy,” Stone said. “If I’d known you were coming by, I would have ordered something for you, too.”

Billy waved him off. “Ate before I left the house this morning.”

Dino motioned to an empty seat. “Take a load off.”

Billy did so. “Where’s Viv?”

“One guess,” Dino said.

“Ah. At least one of your family actually works for their salary.”

“Not true,” Stone said. “Ben and Tessa also work for theirs.”

“I sit corrected,” Billy said.

“I’ll have you know I earn every penny I make,” Dino said.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

“I take it this visit means your contact has learned something,” Stone said.

Billy nodded. “Last night, my friend happened to overhear Simon Duchamp on a phone call, during which he arranged for the delivery of a painting this morning.”

“Astolenpainting?” Monica asked.

“He didn’t come right out and say that, but that’s what it sounded like. He also said that the painting had been obtained last night, and that there was some sort of problem with the job.”

“Monica, I think you should tell Billy what your friend told you,” Stone said.

She did so.

“Do you know the dimensions of the stolen painting?”

“I can find out.” She sent Patricia a text and received an immediate reply. “She says it’s two and a half feet by three and a half.”

“Something like this?” Billy turned his phone so everyonecould see the screen. On it was a photo of a sedan in a parking lot. One man was climbing out of the front passenger seat, while a second was next to the open trunk, holding a rectangular package.

“Looks like the right size to me,” Stone said. “Do we know who the men are?”

---