Page 148 of Stuart Woods' Smolder

“Simon probably wants the originals at hand, just in case Petry realizes he’s been stiffed,” Dino said.

“But why the midnight deadline?” Viv asked.

“Only one answer I can think of,” Stone said. “He wants to cut and run.”

They discussed options, then Stone called Simon back.

“You have a solution, I hope?” Simon said.

“I do, as long as you don’t mind meeting late.”

“What time do you have in mind?”

“How about eleven p.m., Saturday, at your gallery? I should be able to break free from my event by then.”

“I think that will work. And payment?”

“Once the paintings are authenticated, I’ll make the transfer.”

“Authenticated?” Simon sounded surprised, but then seemed to realize his mistake. “Of course, that’s perfectly reasonable. Whoever you bring in will have to agree to keep the transaction confidential.”

“Lucky for both of us, I don’t need to bring anyone as I’m the foremost authority on my mother’s work.”

Chapter 44

Early the next morning, Monica exited her bathroom and eyed Stone as he pulled on the jacket of his dark gray Armani suit.

“My, you do clean up nice. Just one little thing.” She walked over and adjusted his blue-patterned tie. “That’s better.”

“Thank you, dear.” He motioned to the door. “Shall we?”

Viv was already in the back of an Arrington golf cart when they stepped outside. They joined her and the driver took them to the front of the hotel, where an Audi A6 sedan with a driver awaited them.

“Good morning,” Teddy Fay said from the driver’s seat after they’d climbed in. He’d changed his appearance to that of a fit, middle-aged man, with dark brown hair going gray.

“You must be Billy’s friend,” Monica said.

“Call me John.”

“I’m Monica.”

“Pleasure,” Teddy said.

She narrowed her eyes, studying him. “You and Billy wouldn’t happen to be related, would you?”

“Not that I’m aware of. Why?”

“Something about your eyes.” She sat back. “Sorry. Hazard of working with fine art. I tend to pick out details that others don’t.”

“Maybe you and Billy should take DNA tests,” Stone suggested. “You might be long-lost brothers.”

“I’ll suggest it to him.”

They made it downtown before the morning rush hour kicked into high gear, and were at Rudy’s door a few minutes before six a.m.

The door was opened by a member of the Strategic Services security team. As Stone and the others entered, they could hear hammering coming from deeper inside the townhouse.

“I take it he’s awake,” Stone said.

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