Chapter Two
Inside the security room, Donovan was watching Phoebe and Jane on a monitor. Seeing Phoebe’s subtle signal he broke into a grin. She always knew if someone was lying, and gesturing with her left hand was the signal.
“I’m completely baffled,” Peter exclaimed. “They didn’t steal anything else, and there are so many valuable pieces about the place much easier to handle than the portrait. I don’t mean to repeat myself, but I just don’t understand.”
“They probably already have a buyer for the portrait. It may even have been requested,” Donovan remarked. “But I suspect it’s still in the house.”
“What makes you say that?”
“From what I understand there were no disturbances when this happened. It couldn’t have been loaded into a van or truck. Your gravel driveway would have woken someone up.”
“Ah, yes, you’re probably right,” Peter murmured with a nod.
“The first thing I have to do is speak with Jane and the rest of the household. Is there somewhere private Phoebe and I can conduct our interviews?”
“I have a place already set up, and forgive me, I neglected to ask if you’d care for tea or coffee. I’m just so distraught about all this.”
“Of course you are, and thanks, coffee would be great. I’ll start the interviews with Jane since she’s nearby.”
“You don’t want to freshen up or unpack?”
“That can wait. I don’t want to give you false hope, but I think I can wrap this up fairly quickly.”
“But…how?”
“No promises, but whoever did this had help from inside the house. That makes things easier.”
“Do you think it’s related to the string of recent art thefts I’ve been reading about?”
“Most likely, but you’ll have answers soon. I’ll fetch Phoebe and we’ll get ready. Please ask Jane to stop by in about ten minutes. One last thing, where will you be if I need you?”
“In my study. It’s the third door on the left when you leave here.”
* * *
A short time later, enjoying freshly brewed Italian coffee and chocolate croissants. Phoebe and Donovan planned their strategy, then settled back and waited for Jane. When she walked in, even though he’d seen her theatrical makeup and wild hair on camera, Donovan was still alarmed by her appearance.
“Have a seat, Jane,” he said, gesturing to the chair in front of the desk. “Where’s the Halloween party? Will you be trick or treating?”
“Excuse me?”
“I assume that’s why you made yourself look like the Wicked Witch of the West.”
“How dare you!”
“I’ll get straight to the point,” he continued, ignoring her righteous indignation and glaring at her. “I know you were involved in the theft of the painting. You’re going to prison. So is your boyfriend and anyone else involved.”
The first thing he saw in her eyes was complete disbelief, then abject fear.
“You’re crazy!” she suddenly shouted. “If you try to implicate me you’ll be sorry.”
“Were you in the room when it was taken?” he asked pointedly.
“Of course not.”
He glanced at Phoebe, who immediately scratched her cheek with her left hand.
“Jane, you’re on video. You and—”
“That’s impossible. The cameras were turned off—at least--that’s what the security people said,” she added hastily.
“I’m very familiar with this particular system. It has features others do not. For example, when all the cameras are disabled, after thirty-seconds one camera automatically turns itself back on. Apparently the technician who gave you the information didn’t know that.”
“But there were no recordings. We checked.”
“It can’t be accessed in the normal way. I’m calling in your father so we can all watch it together,” he added, picking up his cellphone. “Then I’ll contact the local police who will—”
“No! Don’t! Wait.”
“For what? My work is finished here. The playback will speak for itself, and I’m not interested in—”
“Please—just wait. I know where the painting is. We can put it back like it never happened.”
“But, Jane it did happen. You committed a crime and your father must be informed…unless…” he murmured thoughtfully.
“What? Anything, just tell me.”
“First, is the portrait nearby and unharmed?”
“It’s in the basement beneath the library. I even covered it with a cloth.”
“Second, you’ll give me the name of the person who convinced you to help him. After all, it was his idea…and his friends,” Donovan said, hoping he was right. “I assume it was one of the young men I saw on the playback. What’s his name? I didn’t catch it, but I can always let your father and staff see it. Maybe someone will be able to identify him—or the local police might know him.”
“Jimmy Pike,” she exclaimed, “and you must have seen me try to stop him at the last minute. That must count for something.”
“It might lessen your sentence, but you’ll still be looking at time behind bars. This is grand theft, not stealing lipstick from a cosmetics counter.”
“But I can’t go to jail, I can’t. Isn’t there some way you can help me?”
“Perhaps. Tell me about Jimmy and his friends and I’ll see what I can do, but I must have everything. Their names, where they live, absolutely everything.”
“Oh, dear God, Jimmy will kill me…” she whimpered.
“No, he won’t, and would you like me to tell you why?”
“Uh…okay.”
“Besides the additional security I’ll recommend to your father I’ll be bringing in a bodyguard to watch over you for a while.”
“How long is a while?”
“Until any danger has passed. But there are two more conditions.”
“Now what?” she grunted impatiently.
“Don’t take that tone with me! I’m giving you a break.”
“Sorry, but this is a nightmare.”
“A nightmare is being locked up,” he warned. “The first is, I won’t tell your father, you will.”
“What?”
“But before you do that, you’ll wash your hair and get all that ridiculous crap off your face.”
“But—”
“After you’ve spoken to him, you’ll tell me everything you know about Jimmy and his friends. That’s the deal. Take it, or I call the police.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll do it.”
“If you’re not speaking with your father in the next thirty-minutes the deal’s off.”
“You’re a beast.”
“Jimmy and his friends are the beasts. I’m the guy saving your ass. and you’d better get out of here before I change my mind. Phoebe, go with her. Make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.”
* * *
As Phoebe and Jane left the room, Donovan waited a few minutes to gather his thoughts, then stepped into the hall, walked down to Peter’s study and tapped on the door.
“Come in.”
“Hello, Peter.”
“Ah, Donovan, how can I help?”
“I’ve located your painting.”
“But…but..how?” he sputtered, abruptly rising to his feet. “Where is it?”
“In your basement covered with a cloth. I’m sorry to tell you this, but Jane was involved, though I suspect she was coerced.”
“It’s that Jimmy Pike! No question! He’s a bad apple!” Peter said angrily. “I don’t know why she chose to become friends with him. I won’t allow him in the house, though looking back perhaps that was a mistake,” he added with a frown. “What’s that saying…? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer?”
“You’re correct. It was Jimmy Pike. That’s the name she gave me. Unfortunately good girls are usually attracted to bad boys at some point, but she’s promised to give me full details on him and anyone else involved.”
“You’re a marvel, Donovan. I’m in your debt.”
“Not at all, this is what I do. One thing though, I’d recommend tighter security and a bodyguard for Jane. Not permanently, just until things settle down.”
“Do you think my daughter’s in danger?”
“When this is over they’ll be furious, and they’ll have friends.”
“I see. Please, make whatever arrangements you deem necessary.”
“Thank you. I have someone in mind for a bodyguard. I’ll contact him right away. And having actual guards around is an excellent deterrent. Not an army, just a couple would be helpful. Speak to your security company. See what they can offer.”
“Ah, yes, I will, immediately.”
“There’s one last thing. I promised Jane I wouldn’t tell you about her involvement on the condition she fill you in herself. She’ll be down here very soon. I may need her help at some point, so in order to keep her trust—”
“I understand. You can count on my discretion.”
“Thank you, Peter. Now I’d better leave before she gets here.”
“Yes, of course, and thank you again. I’m so very grateful.”
Hastily striding from Peter’s study, Donovan returned to the room from where the painting was stolen and texted Phoebe with the update. Finally settling into a chair, he began to think…