Art Theft 101

Chapter 1-3

“Good evening,” I said after opening the front door to the gallery to let Ian Croft in.

Croft smiled with apparent amusement. “How formal. A simple ‘Hello’ would have sufficed.”

“That’s just him,” Duff said from behind me. “I’m Duff Logan, he’s Philip Archer, and I’m presuming you’re Mr. Croft.”

“In the flesh. And please call me Ian.” His gaze went from us to the paintings on the gallery walls. As he walked over to sturdy one of them, I studied him. The pictures I’d seen of him did him justice. He was definitely handsome, with a lean, muscular body I thought, if the way his shirt fit him was any indication. And as advertised, he stood two inches taller than my five-eleven.

“Eyes right,” Liddy murmured, coming over to stand beside me.

“Can’t blame a guy for looking,” I retorted just as softly.

Ian turned to look at us and for a second I thought he might have overheard. Then he said, “Bryce was right. I’ll be more than willing to suggest that some of my clients consider buying one of Alpert’s paintings if they fit into the scheme of the room or rooms we’ve designed for them.”

I nodded, thanking him. “I did some research before getting in touch with you. You, or should I say your design group, do excellent work. The home on Bayou St. John is a masterpiece.”

“Thank you. I’m particularly proud of that one.”

“As well you should be.”

Ian chuckled. “Are you trying to flatter me to make certain I will recommend Mr. Alpert’s paintings?”

“Not at all. Truth is not flattery,” I replied seriously.

Ian tapped a finger against his lips, his gaze moving from me to Duff, to Liddy, to Rob and back again to me. “Are you the one in charge?” he asked me.

“Not really. We’re partners in the gallery.”

Ian glanced toward the window facing Saint Philip Street. I turned slightly to see what had caught his interest, noting as I did that it was beginning to get dark enough that anyone walking by could see us.

Obviously Ian realized that as well because he said, “Is there somewhere we can talk more privately? Bryce mentioned something that, shall we say, interested me.”

“I’d suggest,” Duff put in, “that you leave.” When Ian frowned, Duff amended his words. “Ostensibly you’re just here to look at Alpert’s work. If you were buying something we’d take care of that over there.” He nodded toward the counter at one side of the gallery.

“Ah. Understood,” Ian replied. “Where can we meet that would be private?”

Rob fielded that. “You know Lafitte’s, on Bourbon? There’s a private room on the second floor we can use. Meet me there and I’ll take you up to it.”

I knew which room Rob was talking about. It was indeed very private, as almost no one knows it of its existence other than the present owner of the bar. He had given Rob permission to use it after Rob had told him that he was a descendant of…himself, and that his father had told him about it. I found that amusing when Rob first mentioned to us why we could use it when necessary.

“All right. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Ian replied.

After I let him out, Duff sighed. “I guess this means we’re going to trust him.”

“Did you get any feeling that he’s not just what he seems?” I asked him. “I read him, very superficially, and I didn’t.”

“No. He came across as honest.” Duff chuckled. “Well, honest as a businessman. If he wants to talk about what we think he does, I’d say he’s lacking a bit in personal integrity.”

“Which is our bread-and-butter,” Liddy commented. “Give me a minute to change into something more comfortable. Okay?”

Since she was wearing a skirt and blouse, which is definitely not her normal attire, we agreed. She dashed off, returning five minutes later in jeans and a T-shirt.

“Now I feel over-dressed,” I said. I got a nod from Duff and we both took a couple of minutes to change as well. Faster for us, as we could get to our apartments in the blink of an eye and come back the same way. Rob, of course, just had to think it and he was in different clothes.

We locked up the building, setting the alarms, and strolled down to Lafitte’s. Duff, Liddy, and I waited outside long enough for Rob to gather up Ian and take him upstairs. Then, being careful that no one was watching us with anything but passing interest, we went up as well.