by Dana Stone
Tristan gave Durant a glance and Erin saw them both smirk. Whether they found it humorous that she didn’t make her own bed, or that she apologized for not doing so, she couldn’t tell. The room was neat and orderly when Erin led the way in. Mrs. Hardy had managed to make it so before she left for the market.
Giorgio’s gorgeous creation lay neatly draped in its travel bag, ready for return. Her nightwear was gone as were her undergarments from the night before. Erin smiled, turned toward the closet and flung the doors wide.
“This section holds Cam’s wardrobe. The rest of the closet holds mine.” Erin left them to look it over and flung open the next set of doors that held shoes, hats, and three wigs. “These shoes,” Erin said, as she motioned to a small string of shoes and wigs on stands that were laid out neatly on a shelf, “belong to Cam. The rest belong to me.”
“I take it Cam shopped in discount stores while you shop in New York City?” Tristan asked with a grin.
“She did. I wouldn’t be caught dead, or alive, in those fashions. Cam, however, shopped there all the time. It was a defining factor for me. Occasionally, I’d find a jacket or slacks, at a yard sale that fit her personality.”
“Amazing,” Durant breathed. “You thought it out well, didn’t you? Being Cam and yourself must have been quite a juggling act.” He turned to Tristan and asked, “Were you aware of this double duo?”
“Not at first. My interest was in the acquisition of Cameron Gallery. Ms. Boucher piqued my interest when she kept diverting me from meeting with Erin. I had her investigated by a man who works for me. He found Cam didn’t exist.” Tristan chuckled. “From there I made the connection and faced off with Erin over the deception.”
Durant moved toward the hallway. “Let’s talk about this problem you have, Ms. Cameron.”
They’d returned to the kitchen when Erin said, “The problem I have is that you undoubtedly think I’m nuts for having played the part of owner and worker in my own business. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I’ve explained my reason for doing so.” Erin glanced at Tristan and then turned her attention back to Durant who still appeared disbelieving.
“You say that you were about to bring your deception to light. Would that mean telling the world or just your staff? Why now? Why not keep the charade going?”
Alarm stirred Erin’s already upset stomach, quickened her pulse and did nothing to calm her at all. “I told you, I wanted to leave that part of my life behind and truly be the owner and manager of my gallery. Surely you understand why I did it and continued to use Cam for so long. Haven’t you ever suffered from loss or had to deal with stress?”
He looked away when she asked, leaving Erin aware that she was on the right track. “I can see you have, so you should understand why I behaved the way I did.” She waved her hands when Durant leaned forward and opened his mouth. “I know, I know, I should have come clean early on in your investigation. I apologize for wasting police time. You have to believe me, I didn’t steal Mr. Pimskin’s art, nor was I anywhere near the gallery when it was stolen. I was here.”
Durant shook his head and snorted. “Say I believe you, what about the information I got from Meredith?”
Her eyes wide, Erin stared at Durant. “What information?”
He produced a couple scraps of paper from his jacket pocket and laid them on the table. Remove the paintings. Pack them in crates after removal.
“Is this your hand writing?” Durant asked.
Peering at the scribbled words Erin glanced up. “Yes, it is. Those are reminders to remove the work in the watercolor room. Jeff Godrick’s art will be set up in there. The paintings will be stored until Jeff’s exhibit is over.”
“You’re sure that’s the story you want to go with?”
“It’s the truth. I wouldn’t steal from myself or anyone else. I have no need to. I can’t imagine why Meredith would do so either, but I believe she has taken the paintings and Jesse North helped her,” Erin answered heatedly.
“Don’t get upset. I have a job to do, Ms. Cameron. This isn’t personal. I don’t want to arrest you or your staff, but somebody stole two paintings worth more money than I make in a year and that somebody has to pay the price for that theft.”
Tristan, who’d been silent for far too long, intervened as Erin was ready to blast Durant once again.
“Lass, getting angry solves nothing. Meredith has said a few things to me that would point to your guilt as well. Why would she do that, I wonder, if not to throw a red herring in the coy pond? You may have an enemy in her that you’re unaware of.”
Erin gave Tristan a sideway glance. “What would motivate her to do so? I’ve always been good to her and the others. Bonuses, Christmas parties, plenty of vacation time, those are just a minimum of the perks my help has had given to them without asking anything in return other than for them to do their job.”
His eyes cool and calculating, Durant gazed at Erin, making her nervous. “What are you thinking?” she asked him.
“I think we should put your theory to the test,” Durant said. “Let me say this, if you’re wrong, I will arrest you on suspicion of art theft with intent to sell. This note alone makes you look guilty, never mind your masquerade. Make no mistake about it, Ms. Cameron, I mean business. Now let’s come up with a plan that could smoke Meredith and Jesse North out if they are truly guilty.”
Chapter 12
OUTSIDE CAMERON’S GALLERY, Tristan walked alongside Erin, his arm around her shoulders. He kept saying Durant’s plan was sound. She nodded, agitated over the upcoming act that could restore the paintings to their owner and bring justice to Meredith and her cohort – if, as she suspected, they were the guilty pair. Tristan left her at the door with a promise that he’d be nearby if things went awry.
The security team had taken their leave earlier in the day. Guy Blakely stood at his post, watching Erin’s approach.
“Guy, has Jesse North returned to work yet?” Erin asked innocently.
“Cam gave him some time off to recover after he was attacked. He should be returning to work any day now. Meredith might be aware of when he’ll return.”
Erin nodded. “I think I’ll give Jesse a call and to see how he’s doing. You don’t happen to know what kind of car he drives, do you?”
Guy rubbed his jaw for a moment before he said, “A blue Chevy sedan, I think. An older model.”
“Thanks, Guy. I’ll be back to see you later.” On her way to reception, Erin dialed Durant’s cellphone number and whispered, “Jesse drives a blue Chevrolet sedan.”
“I know” Durant murmured. “We have detained him. Get ready for the performance of your life.”
Erin turned into the entrance foyer. Durant and his fellow officers sauntered toward the reception desk. A sense of excitement cloaked her as the drama began to unfold. Shrugging her shoulders as if she didn’t know why the police were there, Erin stared at Meredith and walked toward the group.
Meredith motioned to her with a brisk wave of her hand. Plainly, the woman was a wreck.
“These officers are here to see you, Erin,” Meredith said in an agitated voice.
Erin couldn’t help notice the usual flush in Meredith’s cheeks had paled to a sickly white. Erin’s glance went from the receptionist to the group of officers.
“Officer Durant, how nice to see you again,” Erin said with a smile. She extended her hand.
“My pleasure,” he said with a smirk and took her hand, which he turned behind her back. “Erin Cameron, you’re under arrest for the theft of stolen artworks from this museum. You have the right to remain silent...” Her Miranda rights went on while an officer snapped handcuffs on Erin and held her arm firmly.
“W-what is this about? I’ve never stolen a thing in my life,” Erin’s voice rang out as she tried to shake free of the cop who held her in a viselike grip.
“You can come quietly or we can haul you to the station, it’s your choice,” Durant remarked coldly.
Yeah, he wa
s enjoying this altogether too much. As she dropped her head down, she glanced at the other cops. They, too, were having a great time. The gleam in their eyes told it all.
Officers flanked Erin to escort her out.
Panicked, Meredith yelled, “You can’t take her, you can’t. She didn’t take the paintings.”
Steps halted. All eyes turned to Meredith and Durant asked, “How would you know that?”
“I-I j-just know Erin isn’t a thief.” Meredith’s face creased with worry, she raced from behind the reception center and grabbed Durant’s arm. Instantly, Durant had a cop at each of his elbows.
Tension ripped through the room. Erin waited breathlessly for Meredith’s response to the armed men.
Meredith froze in place, her hand dropped from Durant’s arm and she cried, “I knew this was a bad idea. Jesse and I thought if we took the art, and made Erin and the gallery look bad, then Mr. Forsyth wouldn’t want to buy the gallery. Nobody would want it because of the bad publicity and security risks. I’m so sorry, Erin.”
Erin stood silent as Meredith turned to her with a sob. “The artwork is safe and sound. I took it out of here the other day after the new guards found the frames. I was worried they’d find the paintings. I’d rolled them up in cloth and stuffed them under my coat. I brought them back this morning. They’re in the closet down the hall.” Meredith pointed. “Everything was so great here that we didn’t want to change things. And Erin made it really clear she didn’t want to sell the gallery. We just tried to help her and Cam keep it.”
An officer strode from the foyer and returned moments later with a rolled bundle. While Erin wasn’t happy about the way the art had been treated, she was relieved the pieces were back.
Meredith blubbered a bit, gave a mighty sniff and dashed tears from her face. She held out her wrists. “Let Erin go.”
The handcuffs fell away from Erin’s wrists as they were unlocked. She let out a gasp when those same cuffs were clamped onto Meredith’s wrists.
“Durant, you can’t arrest her. She didn’t mean any harm, she was trying to save my gallery from Tristan Forsyth.”
A hefty sigh met her plea for leniency. Durant turned to Meredith, now being held by both her arms. Officers stood at each of her elbows, instead of at his.
“You’ve wasted hours upon hours of police time... You know that, don’t you?” he asked Meredith.
When she nodded, her chin quivered.
Durant let out a small grunt. “You’ll be required to reimburse the department for those hours if the chief allows me to drop your arrest. I’m not sure what else will happen to you. Community service maybe. That’s not my responsibility, it’s up to a judge to decide, if it goes to court.”
Meredith was quick to reply. “I will pay for the time I wasted. I have savings. I’ll pay whatever it costs. Jesse will help, too.”
Erin held her breath as Durant lifted his chin toward the two policemen. They abruptly released the woman and put the cuffs away. “I’ll still have to bring you in, you know,” he said to Meredith. Durant tapped the bundle. “If the paintings are in here, and undamaged, I’m sure you and Jesse will be free by tomorrow. And you,” Durant said to Erin. “I guess you won’t be pressing charges?”
Erin shook her head and gave Durant a hug. “Thanks, Durant. I appreciate what you’ve done for us.”
His cheeks turned a deep shade of red as he disengaged himself from Erin’s grasp. “Yeah, yeah, don’t let this sort of thing happen again, please. The chief will be all over my ass about it.”
He turned to the officers holding Meredith. “Take her to the station.”
With a nod, they left with Meredith in tow. Durant gave Erin an unhappy look.
Erin chuckled. “Remind the chief how much money the taxpayers will save if this doesn’t go to trial. And Meredith will pay for repairs to the frames and have the work reset in them. Also, she’ll be stuck with other costs incurred like added security at the gallery... That ought to work. Besides, I’m backing the next Policeman’s Ball. All expenses paid, tell him that. He should be completely mollified by that news if he doesn’t already know about it. By the way, Durant, I decided to back the Policeman’s Ball earlier this year, not just because this situation popped up.”
Tristan chose that moment to make his presence known. Smiling, he joined the group and tucked Erin’s hand in his own. They observed the remaining policemen give one another an elbow, followed by jeers, when they crossed the wide expanse in front of the gallery on the way to their cars.
“Are you really hosting the ball?” Tristan murmured.
“Sure am. Couldn’t get out of it now if I wanted to.”
“You know what else you can’t get out of, don’t you?” Tristan said while he wrapped her in his arms and held her close against his chest.
“What?” came her muffled response.
“This.” Tristan kissed her soundly, swept her through the corridor into her office where he locked the office door behind them. The next few hours were spent making passionate love.
Against her lips, Tristan murmured, “I guess you’ve caught a billionaire.”
“It seems I have,” Erin responded as she kissed him deeply.
ABOUT AUTHOR DANA STONE
Best known for her Vinnie Esposito series, written under the pseudonym of J.M. Griffin, J.M. has stepped out of her mystery genre into the romance scene as author Dana Stone. This romance is the first novella in the billionaire series. The next novella, A Billionaire’s Wish, will be released in December 2013.
With her husband, and two mysterious cats, Dana resides in a countryside village in western Rhode Island, where life is anything but mundane, but definitely romantic.
