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"Have the Carabinieri told you anything about suspects?"Isabella asked."Do you have any idea why those three paintings were targeted?"
"I do not.It was quite shocking.There are many more valuable pieces in the museum; it's puzzling."
"Who came up with the idea for the exhibition?"Nick asked.
"Several of us were discussing how we could do more to feature lesser-known Italian artists and thought perhaps we would start with older generations whose work the public might not know about but would appreciate.We started with the sixties and seventies.We had many visitors the first two days.It was more successful than we imagined."
"How did you come up with the list of artists to invite?"she asked.
"We had input from people in the art community.Many of our local artists went to the school that Frederico Germain created in the fifties.He was a local legend," Catherine replied."I was thrilled to get his painting.Your grandmothers brought the work of Lucinda Rossi and Tomas Caruso to my attention, and I was happy to display them as well.Now, I feel terrible they're gone.Anna was beside herself with guilt when I spoke to her after the robbery.I understand the painting has great sentimental value to your family, Signor Caruso."
"My grandmother would definitely like to get it back," Nick replied."Do you have any idea how the security systems and cameras were turned off?"
"I don't believe I can speak about that.You should talk to Captain Lavezzo.I'm sure he'd appreciate your help.Please tell your grandmothers I'm thinking of them and while I'd love to have them back whenever they want to return, I will understand if they'd prefer not to do so for a while.I just need to know, as I will have to get additional volunteers.They are my most dedicated docents.They are always willing to show visitors around the museum and everyone loves them."
"We'll let them know," she said.
"Grazie," Catherine said.Then she walked down to the sidewalk and got into a silver Mercedes before driving away.
"Do you want to hold this basket while I pull the car into the garage?"Nick asked.
"Sure."She took the basket from his hands and waited as he got into the car, opened the garage with the remote and pulled inside.Then she followed the car into the garage so they could enter the house from the backyard.The lock showed signs of someone trying to break in, but she believed those marks had come from the day before, because the lock was still intact.
Nick opened the door, and they walked into the kitchen.Everything was quiet, still.
She set the basket on the table and followed Nick down the hall.They didn't speak as they made their way through the house, checking for problems.Her body tensed with each closed door, each unexpected creak of a board beneath their feet.When she finally realized everything was as they'd left it, she let out a breath of relief.
"No one was here," she said as they returned to the kitchen, which seemed to be their happy place."That's a small win."
"Yes," he agreed, taking a seat at the table.
She looked through the basket, which was filled with fruits, a bottle of wine, and assorted cookies and pastries."This is very generous.Do you want something?"
"I'm still full from the pizza."
"Me, too."She sat down across from him."What did you think of Catherine?"
"Not sure.I thought she tripped herself up when she said she came to check on our grandmothers but then mentioned she knew about the burglary and that they weren't here at the time of the break-in.Why come by today with this offering?"
"Maybe she believed they were back now."
"If she knew they weren't here last night, then she talked to the police, and the police knew they left the country because I told both Stefano and Lavezzo that."
"True," she said slowly."But it's possible they didn't tell her they were out of the country.Let's say she knew they weren't here.Why would she come by?"
"To see if it was true that they were gone.Perhaps to check whether we were still in town, if the house was occupied."
"You're suggesting that the curator of the museum that was robbed was in on the robbery there and the break-in here, Nick?Do you really believe that?"
Nick frowned and ran a hand through his hair."I don't know."
"But your gut is setting off alarm bells."
"That seems to happen a lot these days.Maybe it's Italy.This country is throwing me off."
"It doesn't hurt to look at everything through suspicious eyes.We don't want to be surprised."
"So far, we've been nothing but surprised.We have to find a way to get out in front instead of playing catch up."
