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His eyes lit up."That's very interesting.We should pass that on to Captain Lavezzo.What else did you learn about David Leoni?"
"Not much.I didn't have enough time before Victor and Joelle arrived.Then you and Anna came back, and we had to pack them up and get them out of the house.Anyway, I'll put him on the list to look into.Maybe the art historian will be familiar with him.My grandmother said she thought David had more success than Tomas or Lucinda."
"It feels like someone is collecting paintings from everyone that Tomas painted with or taught," Nick said."That can't be a coincidence."
"I agree.There is a mention of a group in the letters.That group may be the key to everything."
Nick grabbed his phone as it buzzed."It's Captain Lavezzo."
"Could you put it on speaker?"
He nodded, then answered the call."Captain Lavezzo?What have you learned?"
"We identified the man who attacked you.His name is Gio Carmine," Lavezzo said."He has a long record of assault, burglary, and other crimes.He was released from prison last month."
"Who's he working for?"
"He claims he doesn't know.He was hired on the internet, employer unknown.He was paid in cryptocurrency, and we are trying to trace the transaction."
Nick frowned at that piece of information."What about his partner?"
"He met the guy last night an hour before they went to your house.All he had was a first name—Sal."
"He has to know more than that."
"I don't believe he does.Everything he told us checked out.He's a gun for hire, and whoever hired him has hidden their tracks.He also said they were told to look for a painting signed by Tomas Caruso and that it could be hidden anywhere in the house.They should rip everything apart to find it."
"What about the gun that was left behind?"
"No prints.We're still trying to track it or match it to other crimes.I also have some information on the vehicle that tailed you and your grandmother.The car was rented at the airport by Jennifer Lawson, an American venture capitalist.She left her car with a valet at the Bellarmine Hotel in Trevi when she checked in.She attended a conference there yesterday, and we confirmed she was giving a talk when you were followed.She hadn't checked to see if her car was still parked somewhere on the property, because she wasn't using it today."
"Someone at the valet gave her keys away."
"That was my assumption, however one of my team members went to the hotel this morning and saw the parking attendants leaving keys in cars that were double-parked on the street a block away from the hotel entrance.Because there is a conference going on this weekend, there were more cars than usual."
"So, our thief helped himself to a car, and we have no way of tracking him."
Isabella heard the frustration in Nick's voice, which was completely understandable.Every time they got a lead, it evaporated.
"We will continue investigating," Captain Lavezzo said."How is Signorina Rossi?"
"She's right here," he said."Isabella?"
"I'm doing all right," she said."But I want to make sure this man is charged with trying to kill me."
"He will be.You don't have to worry.He will go back to prison for a long time.That said, I hope you two have reconsidered staying at the house.Without knowing the employer of the man in our custody, I can't promise you won't be in danger again.Clearly, he or she has money to hire whoever he needs to do whatever he wants."
"I understand.Nick and I are considering all our options.Is there anything else?"
"Not at this time."
"Thanks for the update," Nick said.
"That wasn't very helpful," she muttered as Nick ended the call.
"No.It wasn't, and I don't like when things are too perfect."
"What do you mean?"
