Page 57 of Caper Crush
He shakes his head. “I’ve been training in karate for many years.”
“Excellent,” I say. “You’ll be a challenge. But I think the guy just had a tantrum after I tackled him. I don’t think violence was intended, especially because that would have put Edmund on the spot to join me in fighting or look like a wimp. And as demonstrated, Edmund is not the physical type.”
“You think it’s Edmund over Vinnie?” he asks.
“If it’s personal, I think it’s Edmund and he paid an actor to act as an informant so I’d be out a thousand dollars. And maybe he paid Vinnie to take the paintings out. And then Vinnie was going to give him the paintings when Edmund came up, but we were there. The tracking app shows those paintings going to Vinnie’s galleries. If those two packages were his personal paintings, they should have gone to his home, not his gallery. I think Vinnie took them to his gallery so he can give them to Edmund without suspicion, as if it’s another art sale. Edmund could have paid Vinnie more than the commission from selling the Kimimoto. Vinnie has two houses. A lot of upkeep. And an image to maintain to compete in the New York City art world. If he gets cash for the paintings, he can pay his contractors in cash, laundering the money.”
“Did you tell Officer Johnson about a Staten Island art ring?” he asks.
“Yeah, he’s never heard of anything like that. He said he’d check into it, but he also agreed the fake mustache was a no-go. Not to mention even meeting in person. He said people don’t need to meet in person anymore. It’s all texts and wired money. We should check Vinnie’s gallery and see if those wrapped packages are our paintings.”
“You mean break into his gallery?”
“You’re going all legal on me.” I take a bite of my food. “We should go during business hours and accidentally go into the storage room instead of the bathroom. The doors are next to each other.”
“You’re not doing that without me.”
“Are you willing to do it?” I ask, eyebrows raised.
“Yes, because otherwise, you’ll do it anyway without me. And there’s something off there.”
“But not enough for Officer Johnson to get a warrant.”
“When?”
“Saturday morning? I’m singing tomorrow night, and I’m working tomorrow,” I say. “You should come to the concert and talk to Rex’s girlfriend. She might reveal something if she’s had a bit to drink.” I don’t think it’s Rex, but I’m not entirely neutral. Plus, William can see me singing. I’m not above using my rock-star vibe to attract him.
“Why is she going to want to talk to me?” He picks up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks.
“Why not?”
“Well, she’s got a boyfriend.”
“I’m not saying you should seduce her. I’m saying you should talk to her,” I say. “Anyway, you’re better-looking than Rex …”
William darts a glance at me and blushes.
“You are. It’s just that Rex can sing, and when he sings a love ballad directed straight at you, it’s hard to resist.”
“Is she going to talk to me when Rex is on stage singing?”
“Approach her when I’m singing. She’ll be flattered that an attractive guy is hitting on her. She’ll probably want to make Rex jealous. It’s tough being the girlfriend of the lead guitarist of a band, what with all those girls throwing themselves at him.”
“Was it tough for you?”
“Yes. I don’t like sharing.” I describe what she looks like to him. “He usually dedicates the first song to her and spotlights her.”
“I’m going to feel like a slime hitting on her after that.”
“You’renothitting on her,” I say. “There’s no need to go that far. Just ask her some questions. You can pretend you’re a fan of the band. She’s our inside key to Rex. And then you should meet me backstage in my dressing room. I’m the only one who uses the women’s dressing room after a performance. Ling and Ayanna meet friends in the crowd and don’t have to change. We can debrief there where Rex can’t see us. Rex always joins the crowd to be with his adoring fans.” I wear vintage dresses to perform, spoils of my expertise at shopping in secondhand shops.
His glance meets mine and he nods. “Okay.” He takes a sip of his water. “If you’re only painting dark and depressing subjects, are the band’s songs dark or depressing?”
“Usually, the melody is kind of upbeat and poppy. But the lyrics can be raw. Or so we hope.”
“Will you be able to perform?”
“I have to.” I text him a backstage pass.
