page32 (1/2)

“Your show is in two days Can it go ahead?” Rylan asked

Bree squared her shoulders “It has to”

Kasey gave a forlorn cry “Without your work?”

“I won’t let the other artists down, so if that’s what it takes, yes” She hooked her arh her assistant’s “We have our work cut out for us, so let’s get started” She walked toward the door, turning to look back at Rylan “What will you do now?”

His expression was griround checks on the people who have access to your basement”

Trey was furious to learn the details of what had happened to his sister’s paintings and proate Rylan ended the call, secure in the knowledge that the sheriff would play it by the book Luckily, he wasn’t bound by the same constraints

Although he’d sold his private security consultancy—and made a hefty profit from the proceeds—Rylan still had friends in the business He knew they would coround checks were bound by strict legalities and took tiues could cross lines that law enforcement didn’t even know existed

A few calls later and he sank back into his seat, feeling some of the tension in his liallery had secrets, his PI friends would find them He was sure of that In the meantime, his mind returned to the information Bree and Kasey had revealed He couldn’t criticize the security of the gallery, since there had been no reason in the past for it to be tight There was no doubt, however, that a number of people had access to the basement

“Maybe a visit to the coffee shop is in order?” He addressed the words in the general direction of his feet “Seeood a place as any to start”

Papadue corded rug, grunted and shook himself

As Rylan got to his feet, the dog bounced ahead of him toward the door

“I can see what you’re thinking” Papadum tilted his head at the words “It would be easy to focus on Lucas Brewer as our chief suspect Let’s not get ahead of ourselves Until we find out otherwise, we treat hi ave a soft woof “Yeah, I know We don’t like the guy, so it won’t be easy But let’s try”

The coffee shop, Arty Sans, was located at the rear of the ht tables inside and doors leading into a courtyard with a further six tables and a children’s play area The walls were decorated with paintings bearing discreet price labels Shelves and boxes of tastefully displayed goods invited patrons to browse at their leisure