Collection by T.K. Lasser Page A

meetings on Monday, and deal with the monstrous Mr. Alvarado, and meet with the curator of The Met regarding the Davies landscape?”
    Cicero talked with his mouth full, “Yes. I can do that.”
    Laurel narrowed her eyes and continued.
    â€œWe need Mr. Alvarado to transfer the funds required to procure his latest request. The Davies is something we simply must have access to. Jenny is almost done, but she needs the exemplar to make sure it's perfect. You're not really a people person, Cicero. You steal things. It would be better to have Lucien available to speak to Mr. Alvarado and the curator. He is far more convincing and we don't need unnecessary suspicion thrown our way due to your ham-handed acting skills.”
    â€œLaurel, I am wounded. I had no idea you considered my sparkling personality anything other than intoxicating.” He frowned as he finished the last of the chicken and rummaged on the counter for something else to eat. “I'm still not talking about where Lucien is, or when he'll come back.”
    Laurel stepped a little closer to see what he was doing. “You confuse my interest with the personal concern Dani has for Lucien. Iknow Lucien will be fine. He'll be fine no matter what happens to him. That's the problem, isn't it? You feel free to play your games while the rest of us deal with the consequences. Whatever happens, you need to do your job on Monday. Meet with these people, get what we need, then let me do my job.”
    â€œLaurel, we have been doing this for a long time. It is our lives, not a game. Lucien would never neglect his responsibilities and you know it. If he's taking some time, I'm sure it's for a compelling reason. He can't take a piss without serving the greater good. Some time alone will be good for him. You need him in the right mindset, or he'll be no good to you, right? Besides, I can be a very convincing guy if I need to be.”
    â€œTruly? Maybe you can convince the unjust world to return my leftover Chinese food to me. But then, you'd probably have to admit that you were the one who ate it.”
    Cicero handed her the almost empty carton; there were a few morsels of rice and chicken left. She picked at them with his chopsticks and then threw it away. Cicero could tell that she was over it. For all of Laurel's bluster, this was her home, her family. She was just acting to protect it. So was Cicero, and she knew it. On her way out, she spoke to Cicero over her shoulder, “Wear a suit next week. Lucien would.”
    In his haste, Cicero hadn't packed a suit. He never intended to stand in for the more banal requirements of their business. All that had changed.
    â€œWell, he does owe me a leather jacket.” Cicero left the dirty dishes in the sink and headed up to Lucien's closet.

11
    ONCE THE PAINTING WAS OUT, Jane instantly recognized the artist as Vermeer. At least, it was supposed to be Vermeer. It may have been a flawless copy, but Jane knew it was a copy. She looked over at Lucien. This would be easy. The painting was a fake! All he had to do was point this out to Raleigh, and they would be out of there.
    â€œYou'll recognize this, I think. We searched high and low for it, didn't we? It was one of the happiest days of my life when I brought it home, Lucky.” Despite his suspicions, Raleigh was doting on the painting.
    Lucien nodded. “Of course, Raleigh. You shouldn't let the offer of a fake painting ruin the enjoyment of a real one.”
    Jane groaned silently. This wasn't the new painting, but the old one. Lucien had sold Raleigh a fake. They were screwed. Stupid Lucien seemed as unflappable as before. He was sitting next to her as they waited for the action to start. The other painting was due to arrive at any moment. She looked at him to try to get an idea of why he was so calm. Whatever angle he had on the situation, he wasn't giving up on it yet. Jane hoped his confidence wasn't unfounded. She also hoped her confidence in