Page 49 of Burning Caine

I stepped back, genuinely impressed. “This is fantastic work! The colors are right, the fill in the voids is invisible, and the texture matches the original.”

“Grazie.”

“Did you really do all this Saturday? And you still had time to go out for dinner?”

“I did. I’m pleased with it.” He smiled at the painting but flicked his eyes at me with a smirk. “To be honest, I started Friday after you left.”

“Even still, amazing work.” The curator from Mason’s was wrong about him being talentless hack who had to get by on charm alone. Granted, there was a lot of charm. “Alright, let’s sign the paperwork and get on to the Chagall.”

Chapter 19

Antonio

“Suchashame,”Isaid as Samantha opened the case with the burned painting on my desk to withdraw the paperwork. While she found the correct pages for my signature, I slid the painting over to inspect it again. Stupid burned painting. She had done well to spot the signature at the bottom right. I knew the best place to start was with one of the strips along the middle, but perhaps I would take her recommendation. It should make her proud of her investigative skills.

“The loss of a Chagall? No kidding.” She pulled out the correct sheet and handed me a pen.

“It’s a good thing they have insurance.” Time to begin the charade. “Many people don’t properly insure their art. Who owned it? Are they local?”

“Yes, local.”

“Bobby and Olivia Scott.”

“Lucy—not necessary information.”

“Oh, sorry.” Lucy covered her mouth, embarrassed, but I was grateful for the slip. Papa had bought it from Bobby, and the fire at their house fit with the timing of this claim.

Samantha sighed and looked to me. “Now that that information is out there, I should ask if there’s any conflict about this contract, given that you knew him?”

“No conflict. I only spoke with him a few times.” I hesitated before signing. “However, we are very busy. I’ll do my best, but we may have a problem with the thirty days.”

“No.” Samantha was sharp. To the point. “I’m holding you to your thirty-day contractual obligation.”

“Mr. Scott died in the fire. The police are investigating, sì? Surely you won’t close the claim before they finish?”

“Except the police are already done.” She clamped her lips shut a moment, shaking her head. “They closed their case. Now all the insurance will pay out, except for mine.”

So much for the police rescuing me. “This is upsetting you?”

“I’m behind the eight ball here, Antonio. Not a comfortable position. We need to get this done as fast as possible. I don’t want to take it to Detroit or anywhere else. Your work onNumber Veewas amazing and fast.” She tapped on the paperwork, where I had not yet signed. “Can you pull off the same magic for me on this?”

Magic was not causing the knot in my stomach, but it was what I wanted to give her. I could tell her—right then and there—and still have a chance. But no. I had a duty to my father, to my family. “I’ll do my best, Samantha.” I signed quickly, handing the pen back to her.

“That’s what I need.”

Lucy grabbed the signed sheet and managed all the paperwork. “We all done?”

Samantha smiled at her and nodded.

“Thanks for everything!” Lucy squeezed in between us, shook my hand yet again with her energetic smile, and took the case for Mason’s. She headed off with it, and Samantha turned with her, but I touched her arm, and she shied away from it.

As she turned, the knot in my stomach grew tighter. I lowered my voice. “I wanted to apologize about Saturday.”

“No need.”

“There is. I had worked for two days solid onNumber Veeand was not quite myself.”

“It’s fine, really.” She began to turn, but I held her arm again to stop her. This time, she faced me without breaking free.