Page 70 (1/1)

"I'lasswork appraisals for the to do with the sales and client side I wouldn't even have known the bust belonged to your father except that I reviewed the other appraiser's report after I finished my examination, and that report included the chain of custody"

"Is that why you came here?" Hope asked

"No Not directly" I took another deep breath to steady le the threads of the story in my head Too many people were involved and there was tooto Thatcher about the thief heading to Sawyers Bend I think—I don't know, but I think—that Elliot knoho took the statue And whoever it is, they were headed here"

"Here to Sawyers Bend?" Hawk asked

"No," I corrected, "here to Heartstone Manor"

Everyone sat back, not expecting that bit of information

"But you don't knoho? Or why they'd be co here?" Tenn's eyes searched ive him than a shake of my head

"All I really know is that Elliot stole the statue for the Learys, then soing it to Sawyers Bend And so Elliott saidto the town, they were co here, to Heartstone Manor I have no idea who took it or why they'd want the sculpture But if Elliot doesn't get it back to the Learys, they're going to kill him Which would be his problem except he has my son"

Hawk set his phone down on the coffee table and pinned oal here, Scarlett? Get the statue? Find the thief? Help your ex with the Learys? Find Thatcher?"

"Thatcher," I said without a moment of hesitation "I don't care about the rest of it I' up after Elliott's messes He'sbad to happen to him, but this is his probleed our son into the line of fire All I want is Thatcher"

Tenn shared a glance with Griffen Griffen nodded "I'll call Cooper, get hi on this"

I wasn't sure who Cooper was, but I knehat Griffen's job used to be "I want your help," I said, hatinghonest if it meant they'd withdraw their offer, "but I can't afford to call anyone in on this"

"Don't worry about it," Griffen said "I've had their forensic accountant looking for theart and where thefor a needle in a haystack Finding your son is the priority, but if this leads to uncoveringwith the art collection, I think we can make a case that the Manor trust should cover the cost of the investigation"

My shoulders slumped with relief Tenn had said Griffen used to ith the best private security company in the country If anyone could find Thatcher, it would be theive hi my face to unlock the screen, Hawk pulled up Thatcher's call and started texting on his own phone Muttering as he worked, he said, "Sending this over to Coop now so he can getthe phone"

"They turned it off," I said

The side of Hawk's mouth lifted in what I think was a s, he lifted his head and shifted on the couch to face Griffen "They need to go in soft e find the with the kid"

"You think the ex is working with another buyer?" Griffen asked That thought hadn't even occurred to me Griffen focused his attention my way "I know you said he wouldn't double-cross the Learys, but how sure are you about that?"

I wished I had a different answer "Not sure enough Elliott isn't stupid so ift for electronics If it weren't for the laziness proble with his life I want to think he's too smart to double-cross the Learys, but if he was really that smart, he wouldn't have taken the job in the first place The last time I talked to Thatcher, about twenty-four hours after the statue went , Thatcher said he was sure the statue was on its way here"

"And as that?" Hawk asked

"Right before I loaded August in the car and headed down here" Thinking back, I added, "Last Thursday night" Less than a week It felt like a lifetime