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The front door was opened by a tall slim man dressed in a black tail coat and pinstriped trousers He looked at Williaerdown the steps and quickly made their way to the back of the van Time to consider Plan B

William opened the back door of the van, and picked up a clipboard, while the two youngup the steps and propped it against a wall in the hall The butler was closing the door, when William said in an authoritative voice that he hoped sounded like his father’s, ‘I need a signature before I can release the package’

He wouldn’t have been surprised if the door had been slammed in his face But the butler reluctantly took a pen from an inside pocket of his jacket Time for plan C

‘I’ned by Mr Faulkner,’ said Willia a foot inside the door like a door-to-door salesman If the butler had said take it or leave it, he would have had to take it and leave without another word

‘Will Mrs Faulkner do?’ asked a voice in the background

An elegant,a red silk dressing gown that eure Did the rich, as Fred Yates had often suggested, not get up before ten in the ? However, it was her raven-black hair, tanned skin and air of quiet authority that left him in no doubt she was the mistress of the house

She signed the form, and William was about to leave when she said, ‘Thank you, Mr—’

‘Warwick, Willia not to sound like a public schoolboy

‘I’m Christina Faulkner Do you have time to join me for a coffee, Mr Warwick?’

Williah it wasn’t part A, B or C of his plan ‘Thank you,’ he said

‘Coffee in the drawing roo has been unpacked, I’d like it re-hung’

‘Yes, of course, madam’

‘Miles will be so pleased to see the picture back in place when he eventually returns,’ said Mrs Faulkner, e the word ‘eventually’, as she led Willia room

Willias that adorned every wall Miles Faulkner may have been a crook, but he ithout question a crook with taste The Sisley, Sickert, Matisse and Pissarro would have graced any collection, but Williaes in a bowl, by an artist he hadn’t come across before

‘Fernando Botero,’ said Mrs Faulkner ‘A fellow countrye,’ she added as the butler appeared carrying a tray of coffee and a selection of biscuits