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“Consider it done” Mentally, Derek was already running through the best scenario to get Rich what he needed ASAP “As soon as I have so, I’ll let you know”

“Thanks” Rich was clearly relieved that Derek understood they were racing the clock “And if the Black Eagles get word they’re on our radar, all the better It h to reconsider whatever they’ve planned next, giving us more time to find them”

“I hear you” Derek cleared his throat “Youinformation for me?”

“Yeah, sorry” Abruptly, Rich changed focus “With regard to the Rothberg, some additional facts have surfaced on the Dutch collector whose faned it to Sotheby’s Evidently, he wasn’t as squeaky clean as we thought Seems he did business with some shady art dealers and collectors I should have specific details after the weekend”

“That’s good news,” Derek replied “Every step we take in retracing the sale of Dead or Alive is a step closer to filling in the blanks on Burbank’s art investuys”

“You got round info?”

“Yeah And none of it’s good” Derek shuffled a bunch of papers around on his desk “Ben Martino’s an alcoholic whose business is in the toilet Phil Leary is a coambler es his bookie a alleries and, before that, in high-priced PIs, trying to find out who the hit-and-run driver ho killed his daughter The rest of his hefty bank account went to his ex-wife in their divorce So he’s in rocky financial shape, too Leo Fox is a different story He had a fiancée who dumped hi He has dozens of rich clients, and puts in twelve-hour days tohow he had the ti on a diet started on our redecoration project”

“He was itching to dig around and see what you knew”

“Oh, yeah He couldn’t wait to start asking questions as we toured the cottage for itsat the bit to continue the ot called away Then, she blew a hole in his plan, since she figured out that you and I had set her up so you could talk to her father without her being there She assu me alone with Fox so I could pump him after she took off So she warned me not to—in earshot of Fox After that, he didn’t dare arouse enda”

“Sorry about that” Rich gri so out of Fox, I pushed Sloane’s buttons She must have ripped your head off”

“That’s par for the course” Derek gave a faint sht hard—that’s Sloane’s and et more out of him than I would have Especially now”

“You mean because of what happened to Rosalyn Burbank?”

“I’m sure that scared the hell out of hi the techniques But that’s not what I was referring to Get this You know that hefty inco?

??

“I give up”