Page 126 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

Knowing it would be easier to deliver this news with Phillip behind him, Simon rang his bodyguard, but was immediately sent to voicemail. That was odd. Phillip always took his calls.

After the beep, Simon left a message for him to be at the gallery by eight-forty-five.

When Simon pulled into the gallery’s lot, he was annoyed to find no sign of Phillip, and worse, Nico and Petry were already there. As Simon exited his sedan, Petry and Nico climbed out of their vehicle.

Simon forced on a smile. “Good morning. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.”

“Morning,” Nico said.

Petry only nodded, and neither said anything else.

Simon unlocked the back door and led them inside.

“Would either of you like a coffee?”

“Please,” Nico said.

Since Petry was still playing the silent game, Simon took Nico’s answer to apply to both. He started up the Keurig and went to his office to send his brother and Phillip identical texts.

Get your ass here now!!

—

Teddy watched Simon escort the two men from the BMW into the gallery. Neither of Simon’s visitors carried anything, reinforcing Teddy’s sense that the men weren’t the thieves. They might be the buyers, however.

At twenty past nine, a Ford Taurus pulled into the lot. Like the BMW, it had two passengers. Teddy shot pictures of both.

The driver hopped out and went into the gallery for less than a minute before stepping back out and returning to his car.

Instead of getting in, he said something to his buddy in the passenger seat, then circled back to the trunk and opened it. As his friend climbed out, the driver removed a rectangular package from the back.

Now,thatcould be a painting,Teddy thought.

The driver carried the package to the back door, his buddy trailing behind. After they disappeared inside, Teddy waited a few moments to make sure they didn’t come straight back out, then walked into the parking lot and attached tracking bugs to all three vehicles.

—

Simon motioned to the package in Benji’s hands. “Mr. Petry, I’m honored to present you with your final painting, a day ahead of schedule. Would you like me to unwrap it?”

Petry shrugged. “Sure. Why not?”

Benji put the Stone on an easel, and Simon removed the paper and Bubble Wrap.

“As you can see, it’s a spectacular piece.”

Petry shrugged. “Yeah, it’s great.”

Ignoring the man’s indifference, Simon said, “Since delivery wasn’t supposed to be until tomorrow, I had stored the other two at my secure off-site location. I’m not sure how quickly I—”

“We won’t be taking any of them with us.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Mr. Martin will be accepting delivery for us.”

“Mr. Martin? I’m afraid I don’t know who that is.”

“That seems unlikely.” Petry’s gaze shifted to where Benji and Sticks were standing.

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