Page 22 of The One-Night Heist

Ol’ Bradley grimaced. “While we welcome visitors from all walks of life to our establishment, much of the clientele are the very patrons who have graciously funded this collection…” He paused and glanced at someone standing out of sight in the adjacent gallery. “And I would not wish for them to feel as if we were… profiling them as criminals.”

We can’t have that.

“I’m certain we can find a solution to keep the patrons happy.” The familiar voice from our mystery guest had me tensing before Giancarlo Luxford even stepped into view. “After all, preserving these beautiful objects is our shared priority.”

So much for keeping our connection on the down-low…

Director Westcott sighed but nodded solemnly. “Indeed. Giancarlo Luxford, I would like you to meet Agent John Markel from the FBI Art Crime Team, and their… security consultant, Rowen Quincy.”

Sure.

Giano smiled politely. “I’ve recently had the pleasure of meeting both Agent Markel and Mr. Quincy.”

Oh.

This incredibly wealthy man calling me mister did terrifying things to my insides, but I was determined not to show it. Unfortunately, with the way Giano’s gaze heated, he knew damn well the effect he was having on me.

The way I want to put him on his knees…

Markel loudly cleared his throat. “It’s good to see you again, Mr. Luxford, but I must remind everyone this is a crime scene under active investigation, and we should not have parties present who are not directly involved⁠—”

The director straightened, looking down his nose at Markel in a way that was usually reserved for someone like me. “The piece in question, Heracles Defeating the Hydra, was originally given to The Andervelt’s collection on extended loan by Thomas Luxford—Giancarlo’s father—in remembrance of his mother, who was one of our founding patrons. While we’ve never experienced a theft before, it is our policy to alert the donor.” He turned to smile tightly at Giano. “Although, it was unnecessary for Mr. Luxford to take time out of his schedule to meet in person—at least, this early in the investigation.”

“It was no trouble at all,” Giano replied with a lofty air that was fascinating to witness as someone who’d seen him vulnerable behind closed doors. “I had a meeting at my family’s hotel nearby, and I presumed it might lessen the blow to inform you in person that my family has never believed in insuring our art.”

Of course not.

While it was rare for the wealthy not to insure every inch of everything they owned, it wasn’t unheard of. Isabella Stewart Gardner infamously skipped that step, because she had so carefully curated her collection, she couldn’t imagine replacing a single piece.

So now they have a bunch of empty frames on display at the Gardner Museum instead.

Whomp.

I had the feeling the reasoning wasn’t the same with the Luxford family. Insurance costs money, and with the increase of art robberies over the years, that premium went up along with it. The uber rich thrived on conspicuous waste, and if a work of art could just as easily be replaced with something newer and better, why bother investing in its protection?

The wealthy don’t stay that way by spending more than they invest.

Markel sighed, yanking off his latex gloves as he joined us. “So who’s paying up if a ransom demand comes in?”

Bradley Westcott paled—no doubt imagining the scandal to his institution—but Giano smoothly cut in.

“The Andervelt was included in the trust left by my late mother, so allocating funds to the museum for any reason should be no problem at all.”

His mask slipped for half a moment as he delivered the news, and realized I’d just been given another piece of the Giano puzzle.

Only a piece, though…

I want it all.

Feeling some weird need to flex my knowledge, I addressed the museum director. “Have you received a ransom demand yet?” When he furiously shook his head, I shrugged. “Well, then, you probably won’t. This job was either done for an existing buyer or by the kind of thief who’s just collecting for himself.”

The most famous example of the latter was Frenchman Stéphane Breitwieser, who stole 239 artworks from 172 museums between 1995 and 2001—all for the aesthetics and a love of the game.

What an icon.

As the others absorbed the info, I plastered on my sweetest smile and blasted it in Giano’s direction. “Why don’t you take that allocated trust fund money and put it toward hiring a guard for every room of The Andervelt? It might seem excessive to some visitors, but it will discourage anyone from attempting another robbery. There’s a reason The Frick Collection has never been hit…”

Trust me, I cased the joint.