Page 28 of Lawbreaker

“Get two guys, split shifts.”

“Sure.”

Tony sighed. “Connie likes her.”

Ben’s eyes widened as they started back into the house. “Connie doesn’t like other women.”

“Yeah.” Tony smiled to himself. “I know.”

5

Stasia was much better in the morning. She sat at the big dining room table picking at eggs and toast and smiling as she and Odalie talked about Maddie Brannt’s little fairy figures. Maddie had just finished the one she did for Tony and had sent her a photo of it in a text message. They were both enthusing over it at their end of the table.

Tony was sitting across from the Mannings while the owner of the Renoir was smiling from ear to ear.

“I’m happy that you’ll have the paintings,” Tom told Tony. “My son has no appreciation for art history. I hate to give up the paintings, but I’m not likely to be around for too many more years, even with chemo and radiation. And besides that, you never know at my age what tomorrow might bring. Even a light stroke would give my boy the opportunity to get rid of my collection. He’s got so much money that their value doesn’t even enter into his attitude.”

“It’s a shame,” Tony said, sipping coffee. “You raised him better than that.”

“Yes, I did. Burt, please stop glaring at Tony’s other guests,” he added with a curt glance at his driver.

Burt let out a huffy breath and stopped glaring in Odalie’s direction.

“You’re not Mr. America, and at any rate, she’s obviously not interested,” the older man said firmly. “Besides all that, you’re married!”

“God help your wife,” Tony added, and the look he gave Donalson was molten.

“She’s a snob,” Donalson muttered. “I wouldn’t touch her with a pole.”

Both of the other men knew that was sour grapes. Tony was fuming, but he tried not to make a scene. “When are you going?” he asked the Renoir’s owner.

The older man wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Right now, in fact,” he replied surprisingly, and with a smile. “Burt, go get our bags and bring them out, please. I’d like to get home before dark.”

Donalson looked disappointed but he shrugged. “Okay.” He got up and went after the luggage.

“I’m sorry for the way he’s behaved,” the older man told Tony sincerely. “If I could have found another driver, I would have.”

“It’s all right. I kept him honest.”

“That poor young woman,” he said, glancing at Odalie down the long table. “So beautiful. I imagine looks like that can be a curse from time to time.”

Tony frowned. “A curse?”

He nodded. “Unwanted attention. I’m sure she’s had her share of it.”

“I suppose she has,” Tony replied thoughtfully.

The old man got to his feet as Donalson came out with two suitcases. Tom shook hands with Tony. “I’ll have the paintings boxed up and shipped directly to the gallery first thing Monday morning, overnight express and insured,” he promised.

“I’ll wire the other half of the money as soon as they arrive.”

“Take care of them. They were my most prized possessions.”

“They’ll be mine now, and I’ll make sure they have the best of homes.”

He nodded. “Take care.”

“You do the same.”

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