Page 11 of Caper Crush
The guest list is mostly friends of Uncle Tony and Takashi, including their theater and cybersecurity friends, my stepsister Annabelle, our childhood friend Edmund, my ex-boyfriend Rex—and the catering company.
“But you’ve used the catering company before, right?” I ask.
“For years.”
“Off the top of your head, is there anyone you suspect?” I ask.
“No.” Both of them shake their heads.
“We have to interview everyone, I guess.” That’s what detectives do. They interview people. I’ve done interviews before, when I researched art provenance for Christie’s. But my heart is beating too fast, as if I’ve just run a mile.What happens if we don’t find my painting?
“We should let the police interview them first,” William says. “Otherwise, we’re giving any suspects a practice session since it’s not like we know what we’re doing.”
I’m not sure there is a “we.” I’m not planning on interviewing them with William. I nod. It’s best to look accommodating and then do my own thing.
Uncle Tony stands. “I have to go to work now. Saturday matinee.” His shoulders slump. “Maybe I should take a sick day.”
“You never take sick days,” Takashi says.
Uncle Tony always says he’d work at the theater even if they didn’t pay him. And he’s usually a firecracker. It’s hard to see his light dimmed.
“I don’t have any creative fire today.” He glances at Takashi, and it’s a look of such sorrow. Takashi reaches out and holds Tony’s hand with both of his. My eyes water.
“The show must go on,” Takashi says. “And it will cheer you up.”
“Plus, you should talk to Diane, Dan, and Donald and see if they saw anything suspicious,” I suggest.
“I will.” Uncle Tony hugs me.
“I can’t see them stealing our Kimimoto. They’re all close friends,” Takashi says. I nod, and tears well up.
“I’m so sorry. I hope you can still be in the Vertex show. It never occurred to me that anyone would steal the paintings.” Uncle Tony releases me.
My painting … stolen. So much work. All my paintings are like little pieces of my heart. It’s okay if they go to good homes where they will be loved and cherished, but not this. And not this one. This one I had given to Uncle Tony to keep forever. It is irreplaceable. If it has been destroyed … I let out a little sob.
Uncle Tony’s face crumples up.
“Why? Why would anyone steal these two paintings?” I ask.
We need to research these people and look for motives.
“I’m going to do some Internet research on the guest list.” Takashi has a determined look on his face, like when he’s white-hat hacking a company. Usually that look means disturb at your own peril.
“I’ll help,” William says. “Let’s make a spreadsheet of motive and opportunity.”
“That would be great. With your accounting background, maybe you can see who has a financial motive,” I say.
“That’s not usually out on the Internet,” William says.
“Well, whatever you can help with,” I say.
“What are you going to do?” William asks.
“I’ll go with Uncle Tony and talk to Diane, Dan, and Donald. But I won’t bring up that the painting has been stolen. It’s not like I want that out.” I also have to call Jade. I’m not looking forward to that conversation. But maybe she’ll have a solution.
“I’ll come too,” William says.
“But you should do research with Takashi,” I say.
