Page 58 of Dawn Caravan
He ended the video call and tried to contemplate a world where he didn’t get to see Sadia grow up. Where he wasn’t able to watch over her.
“I didn’t want to die yet.”
“You won’t.”
16
The flight to Budapest took a little over two hours, so Ben, Tenzin, Gavin, and Chloe used their time the next night to go over Ben’s notes about the Hungarian collector.
Ben put the man’s picture in the center of the table. “Gergo Farkas is pretty notorious with human authorities.Collectoris a generous term. He does collect and he does deal on the legitimate market now, but he started out as a thief. Probably retired now.”
“This guy?” Chloe held up the picture. “He looks like a bookkeeper.”
The nondescript man in the photo looked like he was in his early seventies and was wearing a dull brown suit and a tweed cap.
“Don’t be fooled by his appearance. He’s successful because he skates under most radars. He wants to be forgettable.”
“Farkas is more than successful. He’s brilliant.” Tenzin was glowing. “Such a beautiful thief. Some of the best work I’ve seen from a human. He stole the Caravaggio Nativity, and it was not ruined like they said. That part was fiction.”
Gavin said, “Really? I thought that was two men?”
“No, it was Farkas and a partner. A woman. No one ever found it.”
“I thought the mob had that one,” Ben said.
Tenzin waved her hand. “Not even close.”
Ben glanced at the photo. “Farkas’s residence has been a mystery for years, even among his close associates. The only reason we have this location is because apparently, someone very private and very mysterious owed my aunt a favor.”
Gavin looked at the map spread on the table. “How far outside of Budapest is this?”
“No more than an hour by air,” Ben said. “I think it’s best if Tenzin and I go in by ourselves.”
“Agreed,” Tenzin said. “Chloe, we’ll keep in touch with you via Cara.”
“Sounds good to me.” She leaned into Gavin’s shoulder. “I bet there’s a safe, comfy place I can hang out.”
“Of course, dove.” Gavin was still looking at the map. “So you’re breaking into Farkas’s house.”
“Yes. It’s near Lake Balaton.” Ben put more pictures on the table. “An old baroque mansion with a winery attached. Farkas runs the winery now. Claims to be totally legitimate of course, but access to the house is limited. As far as I can tell, there are no pictures of the interior. No plans of any kind on file at city or county offices. He doesn’t get visitors. He entertains a little, but it’s all at the winery, not the house.”
“Big old house like that,” Chloe said. “Lots of walls. So many possibilities.” She nudged Gavin. “If you want to go…”
“No, it’s fine.” Gavin stared at the pictures. “Totally fine. I don’t need to go.”
Tenzin said, “You can come if you want.”
Gavin looked at Tenzin, then at Chloe. “No. It’s fine.”
Chloe broke into peals of laughter. “Oh, yousowant to go break into the old art thief’s house!”
“No.” Gavin straightened his tie. “I’m a legitimate businessman now. Not some thieving rake.”
“Well, we’re not thieving rakes.” Ben looked at Tenzin, then back to Gavin. “We’re going to break in the thieving rake’s house and then…recoveran icon that rightfully belongs to Radu.”
Chloe asked, “And we know it belongs to Radu how?”
“Because” —Ben cleared his throat— “he told us so.”
