Page 42 of Caper Crush
“That’s very perceptive.”
“Not particularly. I read it somewhere when I was studying what makes people collect art. I thought it was something I should know as an artist.” I shrug.
“It’s still weird. Especially since they were together on Friday before the party. It makes me think that they might be working together.”
“I thought the same thing. But Vinnie admitted he has financial problems. And he values his reputation. But I got the feeling he still resents that I rejected him.” I clasp my hands in my lap.
“He was certainly nasty about your paintings, and that remark about his advice was not cool. But it doesn’t make sense. He’d make more money on commission without the risk of jail.”
“The whole thing doesn’t make sense,” I say, frustrated. “You know, the window was open in the living room. You drive down to that parking lot by the ski rental place, and I’ll just sneak back and listen under the window. I didn’t know that Vinnie and Edmund were so close.”
“Do you really expect them to be sitting there, discussing this? ‘Hey Vinnie, so where are you hiding the Kimimoto? Do we have any buyers yet?’”
“I didn’t expect to see Edmund here at all. They’re full of surprises. Anyway, it’s a half hour tops, and I won’t feel as bad about the fact that the two wrapped paintings in the closet could be the ones we’re looking for.”
“Okay.” He pats my arm.
“Okay?”
“Okay.” He waves his hand in agomotion.
I unlock my door and run to hide behind a tree. He starts the car and drives away. Mosquitoes buzz around my head. Maybe this wasn’t my most brilliant idea.
Chapter ten
Ishrug.It’sdonenow. I keep to the trees until I reach the side of the house with no windows in view. The coast is clear. One. Two. Three. I run to the house, flattening against the outside wall, and then tiptoe around to the corner. On my hands and knees, I crawl to crouch under the open window of the living room and then shift to sit in a cross-legged position.
“It’s too hot to handle right now.”
I still upon hearing Vinnie’s voice.
“Wait until it cools off.”
I knew it!I sit up straight to get as close as I can.
“Do you want milk and sugar with it?” Vinnie asks.
Tea. They’re discussing tea.
The ground is hard and damp. Bits of their conversation float through the open window. Vinnie recently bought a crab shell fountain pen holder on Etsy. The claws of the crab hold the fountain pen. He’s very pleased that it matches the rest of his decor.
That pat on my arm when William said I could go back and listen under the window was sweet. I feel like he understood my need to listen in on Edmund and Vinnie’s conversation.
The pine tree I’m stuck behind is prickling me. I swat at a mosquito. The air smells fresher here than in New York City.
“I’m so happy to meet another aficionado of fountain pens,” Vinnie says.
“Have you tried Graf von Faber-Castell?” Edmund asks. “That’s my new favorite.”
“I will try it,” Vinnie says.
They don’t sound like they are in cahoots stealing art. Unless maybefountain pensis code for the Kimimoto orPlaying Around 1:30. If I substitute Kimimoto for fountain pen, it doesn’t make sense: “I’m happy to meet another aficionado of the Kimimoto” or “That’s my new favorite Kimimoto.”
Unless the names of the fountain pen brands are potential purchasers. But I pull out my phone, and Google confirms that the companies mentioned are real. I should probably give up and text William. I sigh and check my phone for his location. He’s at the parking lot.
“You’ve had the Versal for a year already, and you haven’t been able to sell it,” Edmund says.
“But you want it. And when you want something, Edmund, youreallywant something. As far as I’ve seen, you become obsessed. Your collection proves that.”
