Page 34 of The Picasso Heist
I’m really making Pierre laugh tonight. “Bergamo being with his wife is hardly a deterrent for him,” he says. “As for her whereabouts, I’ll bet you a hundred and forty-nine million dollars she’s off getting another drink.”
That’s fine by me. I’ve been listening to Pierre but my eyes are scanning the room. I don’t want to see anyone who was at the Bergamo party I crashed. Or, more important, I don’t want any of them seeing me. This level of wealth isn’t exactly the party-in-the-Hamptons crowd, but better safe than sorry. That’s why I opted for a sedate pantsuit and minimal makeup tonight.
“Pierre Dejarnette, are you worried that I might think Enzio Bergamo is more witty, charming, and handsome than you are?” I ask.
“Of course not,” he says, playing along.
I nudge his rib cage. “Then prove it.”
“Fine. I’ll introduce you,” he says.
The crowd finally begins to thin around the man of the moment,not that it matters. Bergamo knows I’m coming. He knows what to do.
“Pierre!” Bergamo exclaims as he sees us walking toward him. “Can I borrow some money?”
The joke gets a laugh from the few people still within earshot. Pierre and Bergamo shake hands, and Pierre wastes no time offering his congratulations. After some brief chitchat about the excitement of the auction, Bergamo notices the young woman standing next to Pierre, otherwise known as me.
“And who’s this?” asks Bergamo.
“This,” answers Pierre, “is someone who would like to meet you.”
“Hi,” I say, extending my hand. “I’m Halston Graham.”
“Nice to meet you, Halston. Very nice indeed.” He turns to Pierre. “Where have you been hiding her?”
Pierre shoots me a quick, knowing glance:I told you. World-class womanizer.“In the basement. That’s where we’ve been hiding her,” he tells Bergamo. “She works with me in valuations.”
“I just started,” I say. “Tonight’s my first auction.”
“And what a night for it to be your first,” says Bergamo. “For a while there, I wasn’t sure who would prevail.”
“Me neither,” I say, matching his poker face. “Congratulations.”
“I have to tell you, Enzio, I was surprised to see you here,” says Pierre. “You normally don’t—”
“Do paintings? You’re right.” Bergamo points up at the auction block. “But that’s not your normal painting, now, is it?”
“No, you’re quite right about that. It’s very special,” says Pierre. “And now it’s yours.”
“I definitely like the sound of that,” says Bergamo.
“As you should. Are you ready to make it official?”
“Ah, yes. The requisite paperwork.” Bergamo points again up at the auction block. “Let me go take one more look before you put it away for the night.”
“Actually,” says Pierre, “we’re not vaulting the painting just yet. There’s something new we’re doing, a new security measure.”
“There is?” asks Bergamo. There goes his poker face. I can see him trying to think quick. I’m doing the same.
“Yes,” says Pierre. He motions to the doors. “You know Terrance Willinghoff, right? The head of valuations? He’s waiting for us downstairs. Don’t worry, it won’t take long.”
And just like that, in an instant, we’re screwed.
CHAPTER30
MY JOB WASmisdirection. Make Echelon and everyone else zig while I’m busy zagging.
I needed to place myself at the scene of the crime without later being seen as an accessory to the crime. That meant making sure everyone at Echelon thought I had no connection to Enzio Bergamo. How could I? I only just met him the night of the auction—right, Pierre?
