Page 12 of Forging Caine

“Yes!” Dom grabbed me by the forearms, shaking me slightly. “When you understand how a gallerist thinks or how acquisitions and auctions work, it’s easier to spot the lies!”

Antonio had once told me that his father was passionate about art crimes—that he was almost as passionate as I was. This was the first time I’d seen that, and it made me like him even more.

It also tore the little hole in my heart wider. “Investigative skills will help.”

Antonio sat on the desk next to me, placing an arm around my waist.

Dom let go of me. “I said to Antonio that I should use you to help with the hiring process. Maybe you know some people? You have friends in the police, and in other investigations, right?”

Did he know about my past with the FBI? I hazarded a glance at Antonio, which caused my stomach to tighten further, but he gave a slight shake of his head. Did he know what I was thinking about the FBI?

Or was that a sign he didn’t want me involved in providing any advice? But why?

“Yeah, I can help you with that. I have some contacts who might be suitable candidates, if you can convince them to move here.” I inclined my head toward the back of the office space. “You should have a separate lock on that room for secure case files. Otherwise, anyone in the Ferraro’s office downstairs could just wander up here and gain access to sensitive information.”

Dom swatted Antonio’s shoulder. “I knew she could help!”

Help.

Sure.

The sound of stilettos clicking against the staircase caused us all to turn to the top of the stairs.

Sofia appeared, holding an envelope. She glowered at Dominico. “Who have you been talking to?”

Their father stifled a laugh. “Everyone, as usual. But what’s this about specifically?”

“I was finishing dealing with today’s mail and found this.” She held the envelope out. “It’s addressed to ‘Ferraro’s FAI’ with the wrong street number.”

“FAI?” said Antonio. “Fine Art Investigations?”

“We haven’t hired anyone yet, Papa. How are we supposed to investigate anything without investigators?”

“This is fantastic!” Dom snatched the envelope from her. “It’s proof of what a great idea this is. People trust our family with their art, so of course they trust us with their art investigations.”

I had to fight tooth and nail with the FBI to get onto a single case, and here they were, just throwing the idea of starting an investigative branch into the wind, and they had work coming in.

Antonio shifted on the desk, eliminating the space I hadn’t realized I’d made between us. “How does anyone know to send you mail about this?”

“Alright, I’ve talked to a few people.” Dom’s eyes lit up. His ever-present smile grew and he swatted at Antonio with the envelope. “Or possibly many people. I was so excited, I wanted lots of input!”

“Except from me,” muttered Antonio. Maybe he really didn’t know about it.

Sofia took the envelope and pulled out a sheaf of papers. “I don’t know how amazing it is. I looked at it downstairs and it doesn’t make any sense.”

She handed the sheets to Dominico. They were thin, allowing some light to pass through and show at the edges when he leafed through them. Not quite white, more of a very pale cream color.

Antonio took one from his father. It sported a random series of lines and swirls, reminding me of the incoherence of my father’s original letter. He held it up to the light. “Onionskin paper?”

Sofia nodded. “No words, no letter, no investigation. Just lines and scribbles and dots that mean nothing.”

I stood, leaving Antonio’s grasp, and approached Dom. “Can I see them?”

He handed me the stack and I took the one Antonio held, holding all of them up to the light. They were thin enough to see from one layer to the next, but the layers at the back became too faint to make out.

“I imagine you have to line them up just right to make something out of it,” I said, shifting the first sheet to the right, rotating it, flipping it over.

Dominico stood next to me, looking up at the sheets as I manipulated one. “But why send this? If someone wanted us to investigate something, why not send us a letter with the details?”

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