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"They're all dead now.It won't be easy to find information."
"Someone isn't dead.Someone who knows the value of their work.Someone who was willing to steal it."
"And perhaps kill a guard in the process," he murmured."That's the part that worries me the most, that my grandmother and her friend were hiding in the building when it happened.If someone figures out they were there, it may not matter that they can't identify the thieves."
"Maybe you should get your grandmother to go on vacation with you."
"I already suggested she leave town, but she's digging her heels in."
"Sounds like a family trait," Flynn said lightly.
"Probably," he admitted.
"I'll make a few calls for you, see if I can get someone who's up to speed on Italian art crimes.They might be able to help you figure out why the paintings were targeted."Flynn paused."One thing I've learned about art crimes is that both the artists and the thieves who steal from them don't always act out of logic.Art is about passion, sometimes about obsession.You can't expect to add two plus two and get four.It's never that simple."
"Got it.Any help you can give me would be appreciated.I'm less interested in getting the painting back than protecting my grandmother, but I'm not sure I can do one without the other."
"I doubt you can.After you make sure your grandmother is all right, why don't you take a real vacation?I'm serious, Nick.You've done great work for me, but I think you're burned out, even if you don't want to admit it."
"I'll think about it."He blew out a breath as he ended the call.Flynn wasn't wrong.He was burned out.It wasn't just working for Flynn's team that had brought on the feeling of intense exhaustion, it was the five years before, the endless jobs, one after another.
But he couldn't take a break now, not until he was certain his grandmother and Gloria were safe.
As the smell of garlic and onions drifted down the hall, his stomach rumbled, and he followed that delicious fragrance to the kitchen.He found his grandmother at the stove, wearing her favorite apron while three different pots were bubbling on the stove.The scene evoked many wonderful memories in his mind and brought forth a feeling being at home.
"It's almost ready," his grandmother said as she stirred the sauce."Gloria went upstairs to help Isabella get settled.They'll both be on the third floor.You can have your old room down the hall from mine."
"Sounds good."He grabbed an olive off an antipasto tray she'd put together on the table."Do you enjoy living with Gloria?"
"Oh, yes.We each have an entire floor to ourselves, not that we need the space.We eat our meals and watch television together, and we always enjoy each other's company.We're so close, we're like sisters."
"You two have known each other for a long time."
"Sixty-one years.I can hardly believe it's been that long since we met as twenty-one-year-old women who came to Rome to study art for the summer.We had no idea what we were getting into, but we wanted an adventure."
"Did you get it?"
"A thousand times over.I only wish your grandfather was still here to share in that adventure.I miss him, Nick."
He nodded, her words touching a part of his heart that he rarely used."I miss him, too."
"It's hard to be without him.But it has been better since Gloria moved in.It's nice not to be alone, especially at night."She paused."I'm glad you came.I know I interrupted your very busy life, but it is good to see you.I wasn't sure when that would happen again."
"It's good to see you, too.But were you thinking we might see each other again at my parents' vow renewal next week?"he asked pointedly."You should have given me a heads-up, Nonna."
She sent him a guilty look."I know.But Danielle told me that your father would call you about it, and I didn't think I should get in the middle."
"He didn't call me.I just got an invitation like everyone else.Not even a personal note."
"Since you're already here in Rome, you could stay until next weekend and then go to Milan to be there for them."
"No," he said flatly.
"You should think about it.Your parents love you.I'm sure they want you to be there."
"I can't watch them act like they're living out some great love story.I've had a front-row seat to their marriage, and it hasn't been awesome."
"They've had their problems, but they love each other.They wouldn't have stayed together all these years if they didn't."
