Page 113 of Caper Crush
“He probably had his car parked near there with the two framed photos that he then gave Annabelle to carry out. We have to tell Officer Johnson, but I hate to get Miju in trouble.”
“They’re a bunch of nitwits who helped Edmund steal your painting and sabotage your career. I wouldn’t feel too sorry for them,” William says. “Especially since they didn’t come clean with the police when they had the chance.”
“That’s a bit harsh.” I agree with him, but it still worries me to find William so uncompromising about nitwit moves. “Should we tell her more forcefully that she and Lena should tell the police? It would be better for them if they volunteered it.”
“Then they’ll discuss it with Edmund, and he’ll know we know. Let’s tell Officer Johnson first.”
The bartender asks him his order and William says, “One white wine, four drafts, and one ginger ale.”
“Okay. After we drop off the drinks, why don’t you call Officer Johnson while I hang out with Miju? We don’t want her calling Lena.” I look back. “We probably shouldn’t have left her.”
Some guy is hitting on Miju, and she smiles up at him.
“You’re being very friendly to her, considering,” William says.
“Miju didn’t steal the paintings. And I do like her. And I want her to tell the truth to the police. If I rage or scream at her, she might back off. I have to pretend it’s not my painting—that it’s just a painting I’m investigating.” I stare down at the counter. My body is shaking again as the adrenaline departs. We’ve figured it out. Edmund did steal my painting.
William tilts my head up so he can look me in the eye. “You were brilliant.” He tucks my hair behind my ear.
“I’m surprised you didn’t cover my mouth.”
“I didn’t expect you to actually ask her if Lena stole the paintings. I wasn’t even sure where you were going. But I could tell you knew where you were going.”
I touch his face. “Thank you for that.”
The bartender places the drinks in front of William, and he hands over his credit card.
“I’m so happy that we know.” This immense relief that we proved it is Edmund floods my body. “And to be honest, I’m a bit wiped out emotionally. After last night and then seeing that forgery of my painting.”
William puts his arm around me, and I nestle into him for a moment, my chest expanding with warmth that this guy is mine. After picking up the drinks from the bar counter, we walk back and distribute them to the table. Then William says he has to take a call and leaves.
“How did you guys get together?” Miju asks.
We should have prepared for this question. If I hadn’t been thrown by seeing the forgery of my painting …
“I ran into him at an art exhibit, and we started talking. And I don’t know, we clicked and it progressed pretty quickly from there.” Maybe too quickly?
William comes back and slips his arm around me. He leans over to kiss my neck. I glance at him. He hasn’t been this publicly affectionate before.
He smiles at me and then turns to Miju. “We have to go home now. It was great seeing you again.”
“Go, go,” Miju says. “Just leave me to be jealous.”
We take off, and William says, “Officer Johnson said he’ll call them in for questioning again tomorrow. But he’s still not sure it’s enough to get a warrant. He’s worried about Miju telling Lena and Edmund tonight.”
“Shouldn’t we tell her not to tell them?”
“It doesn’t look like she’s about to call them,” he says.
“Let me ask Tessa.”
Tessa says we should tell Miju to call Officer Johnson immediately so she comes in before Lena and Edmund.
“If she was my client, that’s what I’d tell her to do,” Tessa says.
“Even though Lena is her friend?” I ask.
“With friends like those, who needs enemies?” Tessa says.
