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“True” Rich continued to closely scrutinize the paintings “I recognize several of these les at the recent museum heists in Spain and Ger to the Museo de Arte Moderno And the portrait of the little girl in a field of wildflowers is a Renoir that was displayed at the Kunsthalle in Munich”

“What I recognize is that we have ourto separate eht stolen paintings, knowing full well that it was a crime On the other hand, she understood why he’d done it She could only begin to i him up inside

“This gallery is a father’s ultihter,” she determined aloud “A five-year-old innocent child whose murder was ordered by the very s to Wallace Liu was using Xiao Long as a conduit to prolong Wallace’s agony and to keep alive the paralyzing pain of Sophie’s death—probably in the hopes of driving Wallace over the edge”

“And having the perfect ammunition to blackoing to jail, more terrified of what Xiao would do to hi his link to the paintings that were his obsession”

“Noe knohy Johnson flipped out when I ” Rich dropped another puzzle piece into place “He was learning that the sas from was the killer who Burbank, Fox, and Leary had seen in Kowloon and was now threatening their lives That realization must have blown his mind”

With a shudder, Sloane turned away “This whole plot makes me sick”

“Liu’s a bastard That doesn’t change the fact that Wallace is guilty of buying and harboring stolen property,” Derek replied quietly “We have no choice but to arrest him”

“I’,” Sloane returned

“And we’d better move fast,” Rich inforured out t

hat Liu was behind the sale of the paintings and that hehim down at all costs If Johnson is as set this merchandise out of here as soon as possible”

“And hide it where?” Sloane asked, spreading her hands wide “There s here”

“I have no idea what his plan is I only knoe’ve got to get him into custody before he or the evidence disappears” Rich’s brows drew together, and he glanced quizzically at Sloane “Didn’t you say he was at a ht?”

“Yes” Sloane nodded “At the Jaspar Museum of Art—on Crosby Street in Soho”

“We can grab him there,” Derek concluded “Rich, call the Major Theft Squad from your car Work out whatever details you have to I’ll call C-6 and have the and take the stolen pieces into evidence When I talk to my squad, I’ll also check on the status of the warrant to search Cindy Liu’s place”

Rich nodded “Agreed”