Page 90 of The Chase
Tobias:Chat later?
I texted back:I would love that!
Tobias:Looking forward to it. Call me if you need anything!
Examining further, the phone was fully loaded with songs, but more thrilling still was seeing Tobias’s phone number.
He was quite possibly one of the most thoughtful men I’d ever met. And he’d bought me a phone. A nice new shiny high-tech gadget that connected me right to him.
My gaze drifted over to Canary Wharf, and I wondered which one of those towering office buildings belonged to him.
That Blakeon the wall drew my attention.
I let out a sigh of admiration for a piece of art that seemed to change before my eyes, those vivid greens morphing into brilliant blues depending on the way it caught the light. Liza’s genius was an understated creation.
Settling into the morning, I grabbed a tea from the staff coffee room and returned to my office, needing one final read-through of the Jaeger file. Keeping my door closed for now may have been construed as a little standoffish but I needed to concentrate.
Working methodically from form to form, I couldn’t find a flaw in the Jaeger case.
Taking one last look at the photo, I double-checked the date of the Kodak paper manufacturer just to be safe.
My heart went out to Bill and Patricia Jaeger and their ten-year-old twins. The photo of them had been taken by the press the day after the theft. Printed off and placed in their file to add a personal touch. They looked devastated, and I wondered what kind of an impression this would make on their children long-term.
Using my magnifier, I peered down at Bill Jaeger’s grandfather. He was an elegant-looking man and you could see where Bill had inherited that strong nose, those kind German eyes and that dashing socialite demeanor that tangled with arrogance.
Looking closer at Hulbert Jaeger’s clothes, there was nothing unusual about his suit, which was a clear reflection of the 1920s and inching downward his shoes checked out, nothing unusual there. Raising the lens, I studied his cuff links and then his wristwatch, slightly covered by a cuff.
Using the magnifier to again study the photo, I saw Hulbert Jaeger was wearing a Seiko Astron, the world’s first quartz watch. A quick computer check showed that the company had first started selling watches in 1917. Visiting their website I admired Seiko’s sleek designs and read up a little on them.
I sat back, stunned.
Needing a few more minutes to recheck the photo and gather my thoughts.
Quickly, I shot off an email to Abby, asking if we could all meet in the staff room. I wanted to share my new findings ASAP.
Her email replied briskly.Ten minutes?
I replied,Perfect.
A knock at the door startled me.
Instinctively, I flicked my screensaver up. “Come in.”
Logan was already in the room. She shut the door behind her and rested her back against it.
I pushed myself to my feet.
“No need.” She gestured.
But I was already on my feet and rounding my desk. “Can you thank Mr. Wilder for the phone?”
Logan’s eyes widened as she looked at it and her frown deepened when she found the discarded box and its bow.
She was wearing a tight black Chanel suit and she looked stunning, wearing her usual sophisticated style with pure perfection, her makeup flawless, with not a hair out of place on her perfectly coiffed platinum chignon.
She came in farther. “Tobias filled me in on the incident at Christie’s.”
“Yes, we’re waiting to see if it’s authentic.” I swallowed my fear but it wouldn’t budge. I reached over for my leftover tea. “It’s a little unsettling.” It tasted cold. “Can I get you one?”
