Page 88 of The Chase
“Hi.” I smiled.
“Hi.” He gave a coy smile and turned away, his gaze finding the Jaeger file. “Are you part of this investigation?”
“Yes, that’s why I was at Christie’s yesterday. To check on the provenance.” Dread swept over me that in the hours ahead I’d have to face my work colleagues and go over everything and try to make sense of this mystery.
Tobias beamed my way when he saw the Sleeping Beauty travel cup I was holding.
It was impossible not to admire his stature. He had a commanding presence and I took advantage of drawing on his strength.
“Do you take sugar?” I asked.
“No, thank you, though.” He took the mug from me. Tobias’s focus returned to the file and his frown deepened.
“They had an Edvard Munch stolen,” I said. “Isn’t it terrible?”
“May I?”
I gestured he could.
Tobias opened the file. “Everything is here?”
I gave a nod. “The family is all set to submit their insurance claim.”
“Any lead on the heist?”
“No evidence left. That’s not been officially released yet. It was a professional job apparently.”
“You found no discrepancy in their provenance?”
“No.” I joined him by the table and stared down at the file. “Neither did Christie’s. Why?”
Tobias frowned. “Jaeger’s a German name?”
“Yes, but the Edvard Munch’s provenance was tracked through Norway.”
“Interesting.” He peered down at the photo of Bill Jaeger’s grandfather standing before a marble fireplace. The man stared directly at the camera. A few paintings hung on the walls behind him including that Edvard Munch.
Tobias turned the photo over and examined the paper. “Kodak?”
“Kodak was making this photo paper back in 1888.”
“You’ve thought of everything, then?” He gave a thin smile.
“The police believe all those art thefts are connected in some way.”
“Interesting.” His grin widened as he checked the lid on the Sleepy Beauty mug. “This won’t eviscerate my manhood at all.”
“I make great coffee.”
“Then it’s worth it.”
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you for everything.” Resting my head against his chest, I swooned when I felt his right arm wrap around me, and he kissed the top of my head as he held me.
Reluctantly, I let go, not wanting to make him late.
He shrugged on his coat and then reached for his scarf, wrapping it around his neck and giving the knot a European flair.
“Last night...” I began.
