Page 169 of The Chase
“Zara.” He let out a long sigh.
“Hold on.” I clutched my phone to my chest and rewatched the film Brandon had on replay.
“And you’re sure about that guard’s time card?” Abby pointed to him.
“Yes.” Brandon looked up at her. “Officer Fields told the police he was on his break from two forty-five to three thirty. And that’s what’s on his time card that he used with an electronic thumbprint stamp. He clocked in and out and is seen doing just that.”
“But he’s right there,” she said. “In the same room as theJoan of Arc.”
And I hated the idea of watching someone manhandle her.
“How do you explain it?” Brandon pressed his finger to the screen.
“Where did he go for his break?” I asked.
“Staff coffee room.” Brandon clicked through the other files.
Five more clicks and he had the coffee room footage up for that same night. Brandon sped up the time frame to match the same timeSt. Joanwas stolen.
Officer Fields was sitting at a table and enjoying his soup and sandwich and watching a football game on a walled TV. The time unraveled on the right lower clock, proving he didn’t move from that spot.
“Fuck me.” Brandon pressed a fingertip to the screen’s time stamp. “How is Fields in two places at the same time?”
We stared at the image, all of us aghast.
“Does he have a twin working there?” asked Abby.
“First thing I asked,” said Brandon. “And no, he doesn’t.”
“Play the footage again,” I said. “No, the one of Fields in the gallery withSt. Joan.”
Brandon got right on it.
We watched Officer Fields walk in, look around and then head for the door again. A split-second later, with Fields almost out the door,St. Joanvanished midframe.
That same feeling arose in my gut as my gaze lingered on the face of Officer Fields. A well of uneasiness rising as I watched his image flicker and waver before he stepped out of view.
My chest tightened with this flash of panic as I recognized what I was seeing...and feeling...
The uncanny valley.
I stared at my phone and with a trembling hand I hung up on Tobias.
* * *
Half an hour ago, I’d flown past the sign welcoming me to Oxford. Heavy traffic along the M40 had slowed me down. It had taken two hours to get here.
My thoughts raced as I ran through each interaction I’d had with Tobias, recalling that night when we’d first slept together, the same oneSt. Joanhad been stolen. I’d woken up to find him half-dressed and perched on the end of my bed.
Had that given him enough time to sneak out and stealSt. Joan?Bloody ridiculous.
Or was it?
What Brandon had shown me today in that Christie’s security footage looked uncannily like a holographic projection of a security guard. What other explanation could be given of seeing him in two places at the same time. And there had been no evidence of the footage being tampered with.
The theft of those paintings Huntly Pierre had been tasked with reviewing spanned all continents. All professional jobs, and all connected by the fact each portrait had a provenance that had been broken at some point.
And stolen again.
