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For the first time, William understood what the commander had meant when he said to wait until you meet the man

‘Perhaps you’d be wise to remember what happened the last time you raided one of my properties,’ said Faulkner ‘I was able to supply you with receipts for every one of ht you’d got the Rembrandt that time too’

William hesitated, as his eyes circled the hold, but he was none the wiser

‘So which one do you want opened, detective constable?’ said Hawksby defiantly

‘This one,’ said Willia it firmly

‘Are you absolutely convinced that’s the right one?’ said Faulkner

‘Yes,’ said William, more out of bravado than conviction

‘I see, co your department,’ said Faulkner

‘Open it,’ said Hawksby

The harbour an to extract the nails one by one until they were finally able to prise the crate open Once they’d rereeted by six Syndics from Amsterdam, who peered back at them

‘I’ve wanted to do this for years,’ said Hawksby The commander stepped forward and told Faulkner he was under arrest, then read hihts Lamont thrust Faulkner’s hands behind his back, handcuffed himarched him off the yacht as four constables carried the second crate slowly down the gangway before placing it carefully in the back of the Black Maria next to its unidentified companion

‘How could you possibly have knohich case the Rembrandt was in?’ Lamont asked William once they were back on shore

‘I wasn’t absolutely sure,’ ade circular iinal label must have been Faulkner obviously switched the labels, but he didn’t notice that the crate he chose was considerably larger than the one that contains the Rembrandt, or that a circular inal label must have been ripped off’

‘You ht make a detective after all,’ said Hawksby

‘So what’s in the other crate?’ demanded Lamont