The Gauguin Connection Read online

  “And this is from Crenshaw’s safe?” I stared at the computer screen. “Five flash drives with this on it?”

  “Yup.”

  “It looks like those 3D pictures that were popular when I was a teenager,” Vinnie said over my shoulder.

  “Yup.”

  “And you tried to open this?”

  “Yup.” Colin shrugged. “This is far above what I can do. It’s not any kind of encryption I’ve ever seen.”

  Silence fell between us. I stared at the computer screen, at the dots forming an optical illusion. It looked like they were moving around the screen. Colin had given me two of the five flash drives he had taken from Crenshaw’s safe. Each one looked the same when I inserted it into my computer. A screen of dots appeared. When I clicked on the external drive, a password request popped up. I was not a hacker. Apparently Colin was, but not a good one.

  That brought me to the other issue. I inhaled deeply, trying to find rational calm. “Who exactly is Francine?”

  “A very trustworthy friend.”

  “If she’s so trustworthy, why does your face and body tell me that you are worried about her?”

  Colin sighed a laugh. “I’m not worried about her. I’m worried about your reaction to her helping us.”

  “What did you tell her?” Vinnie asked.

  “That this is a government cover-up and if she is able to get into those files a huge conspiracy will be revealed.” Colin’s answer caused Vinnie to laugh. I didn’t understand why it was funny. Colin turned to me. “Francine believes that there is a conspiracy behind every government decision, action. Aw hell, I’m sure she believes her birth was a conspiracy.”

  “And you trusted this crazy person with something that might potentially solve this case? With something that was stolen from a murdered Eurocorps Brigadier General’s private safe?” I shoved my chair back and glared at him. “How, please tell me how, am I supposed to explain that to Manny?”

  “Why would you explain anything to him?”

  “Because I told him that I would give him full disclosure from now on. I’m not keeping any more secrets. It’s exhausting.”

  “Well, that certainly takes the fun out of this.”

  “The fun?” My shocked exclamation echoed through my apartment. I inhaled deeply and modulated my tone. “What fun? Oh. You enjoyed keeping Manny in the dark about these things. My god. You must really carry an enormous grudge against him. Whatever did he do to you?”

  “Oh dear,” Vinnie said and quickly walked to the kitchen. Colin’s jaws were clamped so tight, I feared for his teeth. In the kitchen Vinnie was making coffee again. I did not give in to the temptation to look when I heard a cup clang against something. I was not looking anywhere but at Colin’s face.

  “Stop reading me.”

  “What else am I supposed to do when you’re not telling me everything?”

  He swallowed. “Manny and I have had a few run-ins. I’m not a big fan of his, and I’m sure he feels the same way about me.”

  “And you’re not going to tell me what happened,” I stated.

  “I would prefer not to.”

  I narrowed my eyes when I heard Vinnie expel air loudly. As if he had been holding his breath. Why was Vinnie worried about Colin telling me about his history with Manny? It was most inconvenient to have yet another mystery added to this already complicated day.

  “Well, then tell me about Francine. Please tell me why I should not kick you out of my apartment for bringing another criminal into this mess.”

  “Firstly, you can’t kick me out. Vinnie will protect me.” He smiled when Vinnie chuckled. “Secondly, Francine is not a criminal.”

  “But...” For once I was able to stop my runaway mouth in time.

  “But what? She’s my friend, therefore she must be a criminal? Or is it her distrust of the government that makes you jump to these conclusions?”

  “Okay, okay. I’m sorry. But you can’t blame me for thinking that.”

  “Forget it.” He shifted in his chair.

  “Colin, please.” Asking plainly didn’t work. Maybe begging would. “I really need to know who this Francine is. It will make me feel safer. Please?”

  His face softened. “I’ve known Francine for fifteen years. She is a computer genius. One of those people governments fear. And employ. Francine has very strong objections against anything to do with government. According to her, they’re all just puppets being controlled by some unseen force, playing geopolitical games with the world. She also believes that the only way she can keep herself safe from all government conspiracies is to work for them. She is formally contracted by the EC to keep their online systems safe. Informally she works for the British and American governments as well. All of them think that she is working exclusively for them.”

  “She is just like you.” This amused me so much, I almost missed the annoyance on Colin’s face. Oh, dear. I was insulting everyone today with my comparisons. “What I mean is that she likes to beat the system. She likes to play with the authorities. Just like you.”

  Colin took a few seconds to think this over. “I suppose you’re right. Anyway. Now you know something about her that could destroy her. She gave me permission to trust you with this, so that you will feel more comfortable trusting her with breaking this encryption.”

  “Do you trust her?”

  “With this? Implicitly.” He showed every marker that he was telling the truth. I had come to trust Colin and his intuition. It would seem that Francine was another individual moving on the fringes of society to be included in this case. Colin shifted in his seat. His expression changed.

  “What?” Suspicion was heavy in my voice.

  “You’re running out of places to look for the registration details of these subcontracted companies. Let me help.”

  “How?”

  “Francine–”

  “No.” I knew it. His face had told me he was going to say something annoying. “I can find this. I just need time.”

  “But Francine can find it much faster.” He must have seen my revulsion at the outright lack of faith in my skills. “I don’t mean it like that. She is really good at finding information that is hidden.”

  “Illegally.” I turned away from him.

  “Not necessarily. Okay, maybe, but at least you’ll get it. How else are you going to find anything on a small catering company that doesn’t even have a website?” He squeezed my forearm lightly until I looked at him. “Come on. What can you lose? When we have all the data, we can put it into chronological order. Like you said, we need all the facts. She will look into this for us and maybe even find more companies.”

  “She doesn’t know what to look for.”

  “You can tell her.”

  “No,” I almost shouted. With a frown I cleared my throat. “I don’t want to speak to anyone else.”

  “Then I’ll tell her.” He took out his smartphone and silently waited for my permission.

  The moment I closed my eyes in resignation, I heard him tapping on the phone’s screen. I listened to the one sided conversation. Colin was telling Francine just enough to give her clear parameters for finding the necessary information. There was no conceivable way she would be able to draw any conclusions from this little information alone. I was impressed, but still worried.

  “Now I’ll have to tell Manny about this too,” I groused as soon as Colin ended the call. No sooner had I spoken than the doorbell rang.

  “Expecting anyone?” Colin straightened, his body coiled, ready for fight or flight.

  “No.” I glanced at the door, not knowing what kind of trouble was waiting there. Vinnie came from the kitchen, laced his fingers, reversed his hands and stretched them far enough to pop his knuckles. With this non-verbal announcement of battle readiness, he walked to the door, looked through the peephole. Every muscle in his body tightened.

  The doorbell rang again, followed by a loud banging on the door. “Open this door!”

&
nbsp; Vinnie’s fists tightened and he looked over his shoulder at Colin. “This dude is cruising for a bruising.”

  I had no idea what that meant, but I knew what his body language indicated. With a sigh I got up and walked to the door. It took an insistent tug to get Vinnie to move away from the door so that I could open it. Manny was standing with his fist raised for another pounding when the door swung open.

  “Manny.”

  “Doctor Face-reader.” He nodded to me and then to Vinnie. “Criminal.”

  “Asshole,” Vinnie returned the greeting without missing a heartbeat. I laughed.

  “You two are the most wonderful subjects to study. Textbook territorial displays, verbal abuse to show superiority, and the lowered tone used to intimidate.” It didn’t seem like either man appreciated my observations. “Manny, please come in.”

  I stepped aside to allow Manny entrance to my apartment. He walked past me and the moment his body tensed, I realised that he had just noticed Colin. I swung around wondering if I should have given Colin the chance to first leave my apartment before I opened the door to Manny. Now it was too late. Colin had moved and was sitting on the sofa facing the bookshelves.

  “Colin Frey, as I live and breathe.”

  “Colonel Millard.” Colin remained seated, lounging on the sofa. His legs crossed at the ankles and his left arm rested on the back of the sofa. All signs of not feeling threatened in his territory. An obvious ploy not allowing Manny the upper hand. “You missed dinner with us. Would you like a glass of wine?”

  Oh, this was better than sneaking video footage of people in cafés. I wished I had had the foresight to set up recording equipment. It would have given me hours of joy replaying this. Analysing the dynamics between three alpha males. Heaven.

  “Oh, so this is your apartment where you offer the guests wine, is it?”

  “Just being hospitable, Millard.”

  An interesting bit of information entered my mind. “Did you know that the Saccopteryx bilineata, or more commonly known sac-winged bats, adjust the frequency of their territorial songs? When another male enters their territory they sing lower and more often to scare off the intruder. It has also been shown that the more often and the lower the male sings, the more offspring he produces.” All three men stared at me with slack jaws. “What? They do. That is how they prove their male superiority to an opponent. And make more babies.”

  Colin got up from the sofa. “I don’t think we’re going to start singing, do you, Millard?”

  Manny stared at Colin with great animosity.

  “Come on, Millard, surely we can be civilized.”

  “Like in Prague?” Manny looked doubtful.

  “Ah, Prague.” Colin crooned. His posture belied his tone though. He was ready for an altercation. “If I didn’t know any better, I would say our colonel was suffering from a case of sour grapes.”

  “What happened in Prague?” I asked.

  “Nothing.” Both men answered simultaneously without looking at me, still staring at each other in challenge. Often men did this, waiting for the weaker to lower his gaze in submission. I did not think either of them would submit to the other soon.

  “Well, if none of you are going to sing, can we try to solve this case?”

  A smile tugged at Colin’s lips and he turned to me. He did not break the stare in submission; he did it out of respect for me. It won him a few points.

  “Jenny tells me that you should now be told everything,” he said still looking at me.

  “That must really gall you.” Manny looked happy at that prospect. “The only way I can protect Doctor Lenard is if I know who is involved in this case. Unfortunately, that includes you and the gorilla over there.”

  Not for the first time, Manny insisted that I was Doctor Lenard. Knowingly or unknowingly, he had revealed his opinion of me. This behaviour could often be observed with siblings. Within their own relationship they could tease each other, insult, banter and call each other names. Outside of that dynamic, they would declare war on anyone abusing their siblings. Such behaviour was exclusive to and only acceptable within that circle of trust. Manny had just shown me that I was included in his circle of trust. Interesting.

  “Let’s sit by the computers. I have something to show you, Manny.” I walked to the dining room table, knowing the men would follow. Not doing so would give the others reason to beat him down for disrespecting me. This situation was a first for me. The level of civility and co-operation depended entirely on me. All three men felt responsible for me and would do anything to keep me safe. Even co-operate. It was a position of power I had not held before.

  We settled around the table. Colin sat to my right, Manny to my left. Vinnie brought a tray with coffee and settled across from us. I brought Manny up to date with my discoveries about the Foundation’s extraordinary income in the last fiscal year. He looked disappointed at the lack of irregularities in their income and expenditures. But he did pale slightly when I showed him the list with all the companies registered at the same office. We spent about twenty minutes in a relatively amicable discussion. I postponed telling him about the registration dates. Or to be more precise, Francine’s involvement in finding the dates.

  “I understand the eighteen shipping companies registered at this office. Where did the other twenty companies come from?” Manny frowned at my list.

  “The Foundation receives funding from the EU for projects. These projects are part of a programme that has the EU working in partnership with Russia. That means that the EU doesn’t solely pump money into this programme; Russia puts in an equal amount. This programme focuses on specific needs that were determined by the EU to be met. Entities can apply for funding to enable them to run projects that will meet these needs. Somehow the Foundation had been extremely successful at receiving funding for eleven separate projects.

  “Each project needed to subcontract companies to complete the work. These companies included carpenters, caterers, engineering companies and the like. I have not had time to analyse the projects, but it seems that they are varied. Which makes it great for the bad guys. They could register many different companies. Each company gets paid for their services. I don’t know how yet, but all the signs are here that the Foundation used this to launder money.”

  “What money? From the art auctions?” Manny asked.

  “Most likely. I have no way to determine how much money had come from the art auctions. Which means that I don’t know what money comes from where.”

  “Would you be able to find out how they did this?”

  “I’m good at spotting patterns. I usually get to this point and then hand it over to the forensic accountants.”

  “Is there any way that we, anyone, can determine what money came from where?” Manny asked.

  “We would need to look at each company’s finances individually. Who knows what condition their books are in. Or whether we would be able to get access to their books. You have to keep in mind, some are small companies.” I pursed my lips. “Frankly, I don’t think it will be possible.”

  “Bugger,” Manny grunted. “Okay, what else do you have?”

  “This.” I changed screens with a click and we were all looking at dots. Colin sat back and folded his arms. Classical blocking behaviour. I did not care that he wasn’t pleased with me telling Manny everything. He just had to accept it.

  “What’s this?” Manny frowned at the screen.

  “We don’t know. Colin got this from Crenshaw’s safe. There are five flash drives that open to this screen when you insert it in the computer.” I lifted my hand to stop Manny. “Don’t start shouting yet. Let me tell you everything first. Then you can yell.”

  Despite Colin and Vinnie’s disapproving glares, I told Manny everything about the flash drives. To his credit, he did not arrest Colin. He did, however, exhibit increasing degrees of fury. I swallowed my nerves and continued. “Colin couldn’t open the files, so he gave them to a trusted friend. She has three and
we have two.”

  Manny surprised me. He sat quietly for a long time processing what I had told him. His glare moved between Colin, Vinnie and myself while a myriad of emotions moved across his face. He went from shock to anger to fury to an internal struggle. Finally he nodded his head and looked at Colin.

  “How long before your friend,” he spat out the word, “will have results?”

  “Hours? Days? I really don’t know. She owes me one, so she’s making this a priority. As soon as she’s in, we’ll know.”

  “She’s ... um, also helping with something else.” My voice cracked under the strain. Manny lifted an angry eyebrow. I forged on. “We have a theory that if we put all the companies’ registration dates in chronological order, we might be able to determine where it all started. Who started it all. I have not been able to find the registration dates for six companies and Colin’s friend is going to find this for us. She might also be able to find more companies connected to the Foundation and the ships.”

  I sat back and looked at Manny. He just grunted and was quiet for a while. I took the time to observe. Even lacking the context of the history between Manny and Colin, I came to some interesting conclusions. These two men disliked each other intensely, but respected each other too. It was an interesting contradiction. They seemed to value the other’s knowledge, experience and input. Yet every sentence was tinged with sarcasm. Unlike Manny’s sarcasm towards me indicating his anger, this was defensive. It was a protection mechanism people used to not allow their opponent the insight into their begrudging respect.

  “I want her name and contact information.” Manny straightened himself. “You three have been working behind my back and I don’t like it. Frey, I don’t care who you have by the short and curlies in which agencies, you will not manipulate me. If either you or the gorilla step out of line, I’ll arrest Doctor Lenard.”

  “Hey. I will not accept responsibility for their criminal actions.”

  “No, Doc. You’re the one who lied to my face.”

  “I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell you everything.”

  “Same difference. I can get you arrested for breach of security. From the beginning you knew how sensitive this information was and that it was not to be shared with any outsiders. And now you’ve included yet another person. You’re going to carry the burden.” When no one spoke, he nodded. “Good. Glad we understand each other. And while you’re giving me the name of your gal, you might as well tell me your full name, gorilla.”

  “Why don’t you suck my– ”

  “Vinnie, please. We’re all working together here to prevent more artists from being murdered with guns stolen from Eurocorps. This is so much bigger than Colin’s ego, your fear of being labelled or my dislike of social niceties.” In one sentence I had just summarised each one of us. And all of a sudden my obsessions and neuroses seemed petty. I must have been saying something right, because all three men were still listening. “Let’s put our own issues aside and be totally open with each other until this thing is over. Then you can get back to your grudges and distrust.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned, Doc.” Manny smiled wryly.

  “Damned?” I waved the silly expression away with a flick of my wrist. “Let’s get back to the case. What don’t we know?”

  “Have you looked at the weapons’ theft reports?” Thankfully, Manny was all business again.

  “Yes. I couldn’t find anything out of the ordinary, so Vinnie offered his help.”

  “I’m not giving you my name.” Vinnie stated. “I will help. I will protect Jen-girl, but you will not have my name.”

  Fortunately the stare-down between Vinnie and Manny didn’t last long. Manny closed his eyes and sighed. “Fine. What do you have on the guns?”

  “Nothing yet. I hope to hear something by tomorrow.”

  “I suppose I don’t want to know who you’ll be hearing from.”

  “You suppose right.” Vinnie folded his arms across his muscular chest, effectively ending the topic.

  We were waiting for Francine to break the encryption. We were waiting for registration dates. We were waiting for Vinnie’s gunrunners to share information about stolen guns. I hated waiting. So I started thinking of any other loose ends.

  “Oh, Colin.” I spoke so quickly that he started next to me. I smiled. “Sorry. I was wondering if you could look at something for me.”

  “What?”

  I moved to my personal computer and looked for a specific email. “Manny and I were looking at footage of a gala event and I saw something familiar. Ah, here it is. Do you recognise this?”

  Colin moved closer to the screen to look at the blurred image of the Gauguin painting I had noticed in the ball room. His eyes widened. “It’s Gauguin’s Still Life, The White Bowl.”

  “This is his Still Life, The White Bowl?”

  “Yes. Why?” Colin sounded worried.

  “The canvas strip found on the dead girl came from this painting.” Manny said absently.

  “This is the Gauguin painting that was found on Danielle?” Colin asked.

  “Yes. I’m familiar with Gauguin’s work, but I’m not an expert,” I said. “I knew that Rousseau & Rousseau insured that painting, but I’ve never actually seen it. This painting was hanging in Danielle’s room. It was the second painting from the left next to her bed.”

  Colin closed his eyes, seemingly accessing his visual memory. His eyes shot open. “You’re right. It was there. Which I suppose we can assume was a forgery. It didn’t have any piece missing, no strip taken off it.”

  Manny pointed at the computer screen. “Does that mean this one is real?”

  “There is no way to tell,” Colin answered. “I would have to see it. Even then I might need more than just a look. Danielle was really good with her forgeries. The one hanging here might be the painting that strip was torn from, it might be a forgery, it might be the original.”

  “Can’t you tell if this painting is missing the strip?” Vinnie asked from behind the screens. I was secretly glad he wasn’t curious enough to come around to our side to look at the screens. As it was, there were too many men sitting close to me.

  “I tried to get a better view, but there is a man’s head is in the way throughout the short view. And it is possible that the frame might hide the missing strip.”

  “Only one way to tell and that is to see it,” Colin said again. He lifted an eyebrow. “This photo was taken at an event at La Maison Russie, right?”

  Manny’s eyes widened. Then they narrowed and he glared at Colin. “No, Frey. You are not going to break in anywhere. I will see what I can arrange for us to see this. I’ll get you more information about the place.”

  “I wasn’t planning on breaking in, you ass. I was simply asking to find out if it was a public or private place. I thought if it were public we could go on an excursion.” Colin was exhibiting cues of deception. I didn’t say anything.

  Manny inhaled angrily. I put my hands out towards the men sitting next to me. “Focus. Common goal.”

  Both men grunted and slumped back in their chairs. I rolled my eyes and snarled at Vinnie’s grin. God, I hated working with people. Especially alpha males. It was so much easier observing them.

  “Is there anything else you need to know?” I asked Manny.

  He thought for a minute. “Not for now.”

  “Then this meeting is over.”

  “Yes. Go to your cave. Jen-girl will let you know when we get anything else.” Vinnie got up, ready to escort Manny to the door. A few more threats were grunted between the three men. I chose to ignore them. I had done enough mediating for one evening. It was not part of my job description.

  By the time Vinnie closed the door behind Manny, it was close to eleven o’clock and I was ready for bed. It seemed that I had not caught up enough sleep during the day. And playing the referee was exhausting. My respect for Phillip’s natural ability to mediate rocketed. I turned off all the computers, turned to my bedroom
and stopped. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

  “She cussed.” Vinnie sounded breathless from shock.

  “Colin?” I glared at him, waiting for his answer.

  “What does it look like?” He shook the overnight bag in his hand towards the study. “I’m going to sleep.”

  “Not in my apartment.”

  “Jenny.” He softened his tone. It was too soft. The criminal was trying to manipulate me with smooth words. “I’m tired. I’m also worried about you. After what happened yesterday, I would sleep so much better knowing that you’re safe.”

  “Vinnie is here.” And one overbearing criminal in my apartment was more than enough.

  “Now there will be two of us to protect you.”

  I breathed past my fury, past my rebellion against another presence in my apartment. It didn’t take me long to read the two men in front of me. I briefly closed my eyes in resignation. “You are not being fair to me. There are two of you and only one of me. And I don’t have the energy to fight you.”

  “I won’t be in the way.” He waited until I looked at him. Honesty and concern lined his features. “Only until this is resolved. Together we will be a much stronger force.”

  “Fine.” I sounded petulant. I felt petulant. God, I really hated working with people. And now I had to live with them. With a huff I walked to my room. Tomorrow I would fight these men again. Now I was too tired.

 

  Chapter TWENTY-THREE