Chapter Twenty
When Donovan, Phoebe and Peter walked into the dining room they found Trevor and Jane already seated. Donovan immediately noticed the glint in Trevor’s eye. He also saw the familiar pink blush on Jane’s face. It never failed to appear when a woman was with a man who understood her needs…sometimes better than she understood them herself. But Trevor had only just arrived, and Dominic was surprised he and Jane had connected so quickly.
“John, good to see you,” Peter exclaimed, walking over and shaking Trevor’s hand.
“Dad, he goes by Trevor now,” Jane interjected.
“Hello, sir,” Trevor replied, standing up. “It’s very good to see you too, and if you’re more comfortable with John it makes no difference to me.”
“Since everyone else will be calling you Trevor I’ll stick with that.”
“I’m glad you and Jane are here,” Donovan said as he settled into his chair. “I was going to ask one of the staff to find you. We have a great deal to discuss.”
“Is this about the portrait?” Jane asked excitedly. “Please tell us. What’s the latest?”
“Yes, it’s about the portrait, but I can’t go into details, not yet. We’ll have our lunch, then go into the library and I’ll bring you all up to speed.”
“Why can’t you do that now?” she pressed as two maids entered, one carrying a salad bowl and another a basket of bread rolls.
“Jane, if Donovan needs to wait until after lunch I’m sure he has his reasons,” Trevor said firmly. “Have patience.”
“Yes, of course, sorry, Donovan.”
“It’s perfectly all right, Jane. I understand why you’re anxious. We all are.”
She smiled back at him, but as she turned her attention to the bowls being placed on the table Donovan and Trevor shared a look. The unspoken message was clear. Trevor had already exerted his authority. Delighted things were working out with Trevor and Jane as he’d hoped they would, Donovan flashed back to the moment in the car when Phoebe had her hand on his leg. She’d been testing him. His smile widened as he imagined her bent over and waiting to feel the sting of the cane for the first time. But his phone chimed, breaking into his salacious thoughts. Lifting it from his pocket and seeing Sam’s name on the screen he immediately excused himself and hurried into the hall.
“What has you calling so early?” Donovan asked. “It’s early morning there.”
“Our British counterparts picked up Ari. His fingerprints were all over your car and that kill switch, and he’s also connected to a couple of open cases so it was all above board.”
“Fingerprints?” Donovan repeated.
“I was surprised as well. He got careless.”
“That’s what happens when you’re overly confident,” Donovan remarked. “What have you learned about him?”
“His full name is Ario Baptiste. Believe it not, his name means fearsome force.”
“Wow, that’s weird. What else?”
“He’s Spanish, and he was a Taekwondo world champion.”
“Yes, I know. Alexi made it a point to tell me.”
“He’s not being very cooperative, but we have learned he’s been with Kozlov for about two years. He’s an enforcer and a bodyguard, but he also does other jobs, like following you for example. But Donovan, I’m going to play a short clip from his interrogation and I want your assessment. Are you ready?”
“Sure, just let me go somewhere more private,” Donovan replied, striding down the hall and into the library. “Okay, go ahead.”
As Donovan watched the two minute replay and studied Ari’s facial expressions and body language, all he could sense was how uncomfortable the man was.
“Sam, how long is the full interview?”
“Only about thirty-minutes. It was their initial meeting but he was asked questions about the portrait.”
“I want Phoebe to watch the whole thing. She can read people like no-one I’ve ever met.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Sam, really. We just sat down to lunch, but as soon as we finish I’ll call you back, although…” he murmured thoughtfully, “she should watch it on a bigger screen.”
“I’ll upload it and email you the link.”
“Yes, that would be great. Speaking of videos, has anything been picked up from the mini-cam in the picture frame?”
“Not a thing. No-one has been in that room since you left. It must only be used for specific meetings.”
“That’s annoying.”
“Early, days, Donovan. Is there anything to report from there?”
“The security team I arranged has arrived, and so has Jane’s bodyguard.”
“And the package?”
“Peter said it will arrive tomorrow.”
“Excellent. Everything’s moving along, and we have one of Alexi’s most trusted enforcers.”
“Any word on Jimmy Pike and the thug who overdosed? What’s his name?”
“Oleg, nothing yet, he’s still recovering, but Jimmy will be transported to London today so we should start getting information out of him fairly soon.
“Sam…do you think we’ll get him? Alexi, I mean.”
“He’s a snake,” Sam replied solemnly. “Snakes can slither from sight in a heartbeat, and with his money and connections it won’t be easy to pin him down. But he’s arrogant, and arrogant people make mistakes.”
“Just like Ari did.”
“Exactly. My other phone’s beeping I have to go. Keep me updated and I’ll send you that link.”
“Thanks, Sam.”
Ending the call, Donovan returned to the dining room and sat down. Peter and Trevor were discussing cricket while Jane was telling Phoebe about a trendy new boutique that had an online store with all sorts of tech wizardry. It seemed so pleasant and normal, yet just a short time before he and Phoebe were in the presence of an evil villain, a man who had threatened to destroy Phoebe’s life if he didn’t get what he wanted.
“Is everything okay?” she asked, turning to face him.
“They caught Ari,” he whispered. “That’s all I know. We’ll be getting more details later, but we want you to watch his interview. You’ll be able to tell us when he lied.”
“It would be my pleasure. I just hope I can. I’ve only ever done it in person.”
“Phoebe, I’m beginning to think you’ll be a powerful new weapon in the fight against these bad actors. But you have to tell me if things get too much for you, like they did today.”
“Sure, but when can I see the video?” she asked excitedly.
“One step at a time,” he replied shaking his head. “Right now we’re having lunch, then a meeting.”