Page 24 of Caper Crush
“No, I went in disguise with William,” I say. “And we didn’t mention that we were there in connection with the painting. We pretended to be catering clients and taste-tested food. We were going to hire her for another party and interview the staff.”
“That’s one approach,” Officer Johnson says wryly.
“I can’t say we learned much except that she likes her work.” I shift in my chair. Officer Johnson has the view of my wall of art. I face the closed door of our walk-in storage closet.
“Look, why don’t you give me another day and let me talk to everybody first, and then you can go in and talk to them?” Officer Johnson says. “But let’s not mess up my case here—and your case. Give me a chance to do it my way.”
“Okay.” I’m not exactly succeeding with my current investigation. “Do you think they’ll destroy my painting?”
“No. The painting still has some value. Unless it’s really personal and someone does hate you.”
Oh great.
He consults his notepad. “You said you and your sister are not close. Why? Was there an obvious rift?”
“No. We just drifted apart. But we’re not enemies. I mean, we’re just very different.”
“Is that the family narrative?”
Who knew police officers were psychologists? But I guess detectives have to be. Between the free food from taste testing and free therapy from police detectives, I had not realized all the benefits of getting my painting stolen.
“That’s the family narrative,” I say. “I’m the emotional artist, and she’s the logical lawyer.”
“So maybe if you had your big break, you’d be the successful artist …”
“She’s still the successful lawyer. And as a lawyer, she’s not going to lose her license by committing a crime. She just made partner. But yes, if my art opening were to be successful, my gamble would have paid off, and I hope there’d be a little more family support of my career. But it’s not like Annabelle has ever been disapproving. She’s always taken my side. But then she can afford to be generous.” That sounded more bitter than I meant it to be.
He glances at my easel with my unfinished painting. The way my life is going, the pink and yellow stripes will probably get psychoanalyzed as too happy. I should have gone with black.
“And Rex is your ex-boyfriend?” he asks. “Would he have any reason to steal the painting as revenge?”
“No. We’re good friends, and we’re in a band together.”
“You’re sure?” He writes some notes in his pad.
“Rex knows the Kimimoto is worth money, and he would prefer I concentrated on the band rather than my art career.” My chest feels hollow and heavy. “But I don’t think he’d actually steal my painting or my uncle’s painting.”
“You didn’t include Edmund as someone you’re close to. Yet your uncle said he was a childhood friend of yours. What’s your relationship with him?”
I sigh. “Complicated. We met when we were ten when his father hosted a fundraiser for my stepdad, John. His father was some wealthy hedge fund investor. His mother died before I met him, and his father died a few years ago. As children, I think we both competed for Annabelle’s attention, so I can’t say we’re close. We’re not really friends. We’re more like family who don’t like each other but tolerate each other because we’re family. He’s one of Annabelle’s closest friends, so I have to see him a lot.”
“Does he have a motive then?”
“I don’t know. Even if we don’t particularly get along, we pretend we do, for Annabelle’s sake. He likes Annabelle, so stealing those two paintings would not help him win her. Edmund is a passionate art collector, but he doesn’t like modern art, so he wouldn’t want either for his collection. Plus, he’s wealthy. He inherited his father’s money. And he’s got these olive oil farms in Italy that he’s very proud of.”
He asks me about the rest of Uncle Tony and Takashi’s friends. There were about twenty of them in total. They’re all fun—with impressive karaoke abilities. They’ve been coming for years. It’s unlikely. Not that I thought before today that anyone in my inner circle would want to torpedo my dreams.
He says, “And then there’s the dog walker and the cleaner. They both have keys to the apartment.”
“Penelope is one of my best friends. She’s not going to steal it. And Maria has been cleaning for years. She’s completely trustworthy.”
“It seems like there are no clear-cut suspects. Still, try to think of who dislikes you enough to sabotage your career.” And on that note, he leaves. My phone buzzes.
William:We have the security camera footage. You should come back over.
Chapter six
Atmyuncle’sapartment,the security footage replays images of guests entering and leaving the apartment during the party. Kimberly leaves with a shopping cart, as Takashi remembered. Vinnie arrives with a large art portfolio and leaves with one, as Takashi told us. None of us can tell from the video if the bag looks heavier when he leaves. And then my stepsister Annabelle leaves with two painting-size packages.
