Page 68 of The Chase
Shane Hannah sat beside her and offered me a welcoming smile. I imagined nothing shocked either of these two ex-police officers. Next to Shane sat Brandon Forbes, his laptop open in front of him, proving his tech skills were poised if needed.
Danny Kenner was busying himself for his presentation at the front of the room, setting up the audiovisual display system and deftly working the cables into the high-tech equipment. He’d just returned from Scotland Yard and was excited to share what he’d learned from the team directing the investigation.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee and sugary doughnuts permeated the air. Adley hurried on in and took the seat beside mine.
He leaned toward me. “Heard you authenticated a Lowry?”
I braced myself for his annoyance.
“You talked the couple through the process?” he clarified.
I turned to face him. “They really did seem financially challenged.”
“They’re going through Sotheby’s?”
“I believe so.” Warily, I held his gaze.
“Harriet Fairweather’s requested an official report and paid her deposit. Good work, Leighton.”
A wave of relief washed over me. “Thank you, sir.”
“We’ll get your 10 percent commission deposited into your account.” His smile reached his eyes. “Let’s have our clients’ payment go through first, next time.”
“Got a bit carried away.”
“You’re art obsessed.” His grin widened. “Which makes you perfect for us.” He swiveled in his chair to face the others. “Okay, where are we on this?”
There was something comforting about hearing Danny’s accent, his voice booming with the confidence Americans always seemed to have. Even his mannerisms reminded me of Wilder—the way Danny beamed a smile when asked a question, his patience when interrupted by Adley or Shane, or even when Abby asked him to clarify an issue.
“We’ve been invited to participate in an Interpol investigation.” Danny’s gaze stayed on Adley. “Sir, we’d benefit from the insurance commission so it’s financially viable.”
“I’m listening,” said Adley.
“Interpol has tracked a series of thefts across Europe,” Danny began. “The heists all have the same modus operandi, with there being a series of two to three robberies in each country. All from private homes. Then the spate ceases abruptly. Paris seemingly being the last city hit so far. Right before London. They believe it’s connected to the other cases we’ve been tracking. Which means the ones in London are part of a bigger picture.”
“Same power cuts?” asked Abby.
“Lights out building-wide on either side of the theft,” confirmed Danny. “Power outages every time, sometimes entire streets out for hours. But more important, the CCTV cameras are dead during the theft.”
“In case a street camera catches him going in,” I realized.
“Not one scrap of forensic evidence left?” asked Shane.
“Have they matched the fingerprint?” I asked.
“Belonged to their housekeeper,” Danny confirmed with a nod. “Our man is in and out and there’s nothing to prove he was even there. Except one heist where he made a mess of their ceiling when he used it as his entry point—”
“So we know we’re looking for a man,” Adley confirmed.
“The strength alone needed for these thefts points to a man,” said Danny. “Interpol believes he scaled a castle wall for one of them. Château de Falaise, in Normandy.”
“The thrill of the chase?” Brandon mused.
“And back in France during a heist, our culprit once left with the painting still inside the frame,” Danny said incredulously. “Interpol is putting it down to a man due to the size and weight of the frame.”
“He couldn’t get the canvas out?” I muttered.
“Must have really wanted it,” agreed Abby.
