She called Alistair.
“Alistair; I have the painting. Do you have the bond ready?”
“Certainly, Virginia; Forbes is going to be delighted if not astounded. Did you receive confirmation that the miniature was a fake?”
“Yes, I did. The original sale took place before Henry’s father died; he sold it to Jane Fotherington-”
“Did he?!”
“I have a letter from her confirming that she still has it.”
“Forbes is very unhappy about this as you can imagine.”
“I’m sure … Still; he has ‘The Medici Quartet’ now, and I’m sure that will make it all right.”
“When are you bringing it over?”
“Tomorrow at around eleven o’clock.”
“Perfect!”
“Oh, Alistair; if Forbes thinks he is going to play any games then remind him, gently, what I will do.”
“There will be no games I can assure you.”
“Good; see you tomorrow.”
Chapter Six – Incendiary Device
The following day at eleven o’clock, Hannah, as Virginia, in the rented Jaguar, went over to Forbes’, and as soon as the gate was opened, she sped up the driveway before either Alistair or Forbes had made it out of the house to greet her. She had the painting set upon an easel beside the car, next to which was a petrol can.
Forbes himself came out.
“Virginia; why the theatricals?”
“Oh; call it feminine intuition, Forbes. I want the bond and the miniature else I’m going to set this alight-”
“Please do not do anything rash or stupid; Alistair is fetching the miniature and your payment.”
“Good!”
Alistair came out with the case which housed the miniature and an envelope that contained the bond for half a million pounds.
“Place them on the ground right there,” said Hannah, pointing to patch on the driveway, “then retreat …”
“There really is no need for this, Virginia; we’re delighted that you have delivered the painting.”
“It matters not - back off!”
They did, and she checked the bond and then opened the case to find the miniature inside.
“Excellent! Here is your copy of the letter from Jane Fotherington, confirming that she still has the miniature.”
“How did you get James to relinquish ‘The Quartet’,”asked Forbes.
“Oh; that was easy once I had established that he didn’t have title to it in the first place; he couldn’t hand it over quickly enough to avoid any embarrassment.”
“So who did?”
“Jane.”
“Why did she part with it?”
“She wanted you to have the collection, Forbes; she’s hoping that you decide to show the paintings - maybe even just a one-off show?”
“Well, perhaps I will, by way of a celebration … and what of James?”
“I expect he’ll sell Fotherington now and quietly disappear.”
“This has worked out far better than I hoped; notwithstanding the miniature, but then I’ll get my money back eventually and I’ll buy the Greshing.”
“Goodbye, Forbes … Alistair …”
Hannah got back into the car and drove down the driveway towards the gates, which did not open immediately; she waited. Eventually, they did open and she waved as she drove out; it had been touch and go all along. Her relief in not having to ram the gates and pay out for the damages to the car was palpable.
She drove to the airport and handed over the keys to the car to the chap from the garage. After loading her two smart cases onto a trolley, she headed into departures for the short flight to Paris and a long-awaited reunion with Boheme. Not only did he welcome her with open arms but in exchange for the return of certain documents, he found a buyer for the miniature and a new client.
“The Veronese?”
“Something worthy of your talents at last …”
“All roads lead to Rome …”
About the Author
I'm English by birth from the Isle of Wight, living in Newport, spending part of the year in France in the stunningly beautiful department of Haute-Saône in the Franche Comté region. It is heavily forested and very tranquil but the winters are pretty harsh and my home is 820 metres above sea level so I get plenty of snow.
I am also spending increasing amounts of time in the USA, co-managing The Carter Seagrove Project LLC - an independent publishing house, incorporated in the State of Indiana.
I will be 50 years old in 2015. I only started writing in 2009, proving, I suppose, that it is never too late. I didn't think about self-publishing until late 2012, now, more than two years later, I'm even more energized by the process than ever before.
I'm a qualified English teacher, specializing in teaching English as a second language (TEFL), though I don't do much of that now. In the distant past, I taught software skills. In the very distant past, I was a project manager on big IT projects and at the very beginning of my career, I was an Internal Auditor. I have degrees in Internal Auditing, Computer Auditing and Project Management. I'm studying for my degree in Sustainable Development at the moment. Renewable energy is what really interests me and I generate my own power at home via a solar panel.
I'm a member of The Society of Authors, The Society for Editors and Proofreaders and The Independent Author Network.
I grow some of my own food and from Easter to the end of October, I'm outside for the largest part of the day, tending the garden. I write in the evening and during the winter when there is very little else to do. I have no great philosophy except "energy follows intention" and "honour your gifts". These two principles keep me sane, very happy and exceedingly busy!
I am always very happy to receive your feedback. If you wish to contact me directly, please email me at:
[email protected].
Visit the website, alpmortal.weebly.com, for updates on the next gay romantic story or crime thriller which I am working on.
Together with Chambers Mars, I am half of Carter Seagrove, author of Dust Jacket and The Inspector Fenchurch Mysteries.
Alp Mortal, Chambers Mars and Shannon M. Kirkland are The Carter Seagrove Project LLC - an independent book publisher. Find us at www.carterseagrove.weebly.com, on Twitter @carterseagrove and on Facebook www.facebook.com/thecarterseagroveproject.
Also by this Author
Thank you for choosing to read this story. You may be interested in reading other stories which I have written.
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Some of the titles written with Chambers Mars:
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