Page 109 of Caper Crush
William emerges onto the street. He puts up his umbrella and hastens over to me. Our glances meet, and it’s as if he asks me if I’m okay. Even from a distance of six feet, I know he’s worried.
“Did you get a photo?” he asks.
“I did.” I show it to him.
He pulls me into a hug. “I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s good. This is another clue. We may actually find my painting.”
A police car pulls up, and Officer Johnson gets out. William and I separate.
“How’d you get invited to this opening?” he asks. His partner joins him on the sidewalk.
“Vinnie. But he just texted that Edmund recommended the show. Vinnie told me the dealer might be interested in showing my paintings—that the dealer showcased paintings similar in style.”
“That’s one way of putting it.” Johnson’s partner rests her hand on her waist.
“Have you talked to the dealer?” Officer Johnson asks.
“No. I thought I should look at the paintings before talking to the dealer so I’d have something to talk about.”
Officer Johnson nods. “All right. We’ll seize the painting as a forgery. Do you want to wait out here?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s see who’s behind this.” Officer Johnson turns to walk into the art gallery. William and I follow, stopping to watch through the windows. The crowd looks shocked to see the two policemen enter. A purple-haired woman in a tux comes up to them.
Officer Johnson stands, feet hip-distance apart, rocking back on his heels. His chin is up as if he doesn’t believe what he’s hearing. He nods to his partner and heads to the back where the painting is. His partner and the purple-haired woman follow.
My phone buzzes.
Miju:Hope art opening is fun. Are we still on for meeting at 9:30?
I show William the text. “I should go, right?” I buzz with adrenaline.
“I think so. I still think the paintings went out of Tony and Takashi’s apartment via them. You saw the carts they used to bring the food into my apartment. You could easily fit paintings in there.”
“They’re both really good actors then.” I text Miju back to confirm I will be there.
Officer Johnson comes out of the gallery, the painting tucked under his arm, his partner holding the umbrella over it. “She gave us a name of Howard Holbrooke as the guy who paid for the showing and who insisted that this painting be displayed. Recognize that name? She never met Holbrooke in person. He rented the space and asked that certain paintings be shown from his collection. The paintings were delivered by courier.”
“No,” I say. “I don’t recognize the name, but I’ll think about it.” I tell Officer Johnson and William about my forgery remark at John’s party.
The other officer puts the painting in the trunk.
I say to Officer Johnson, “We’re going to meet the catering waitstaff, Miju and Lena, for drinks.”
“Lena was nervous when we talked to her,” Officer Johnson says. “But she said that this police interrogation was great practice for her role in theTo Catch a Thiefplay. She didn’t seem to be telling the complete truth. We drilled down on the movement of the carts, and I felt like she’d memorized that. She didn’t even pause to think about it.”
“What did she say?”
“That Kimberly took back the first cart. Lena took out the second cart and wheeled it to where the car was parked, which was several blocks away. Maybe you’ll get more out of her over drinks.”
He gets into the passenger seat of the police sedan. The car pulls away, its red taillights shining brightly in the dark. My phone beeps.
Jade:They found a replacement for you in the Vertex Art Exhibit. I’m sorry.
I crumple. We ran out of time.
