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"There is a party tomorrow afternoon," Sam continued."One you should attend.I have asked our mutual contact to get you an invitation."
Nick straightened at those words."Who's going to be at this party?"
"Artists, collectors, dealers, rich people, and celebrities.It's a charity event at a private villa hosted by Dario Micheli, a wealthy businessman, gallery owner, and avid art collector, and his American socialite wife, Jennifer Abrams Micheli.They will be sharing their private collection and also selling off select pieces.The cost of entrance is one thousand euros a ticket.The money from the tickets and the art will go to a children's health charity.All the important people in Rome connected to the art world will be there."
"Then so will we," he said.
At his words, the window slammed shut.
"Wait a second," Isabella said quickly, leaning over Nick to tap on the window."I have more questions."
"He's gone, Isabella.Let's get out of here."
She opened the door and moved outside.He quickly followed, and as he'd predicted, the door to the middle compartment was open and there was no one inside.There was also no one else in the church.
"How did he get out of here so fast?"Isabella asked in annoyance.
"I have no idea.But we got some information and an invitation."
"Yes.But he never actually said who he was, Nick.How do we even know that we met with Sam Beringer?"
"He knew I worked with Flynn."
"He could have been told to say that.He never actually mentioned Flynn's name."
He met her gaze."What are you getting at?"
"Should we believe anything he told us?"
"Are you asking because you don't want to believe that Lucinda was a forger?"he challenged.
She let out a sigh as his point hit home."Maybe.I think it would break my grandmother's heart if that were true.She admired Lucinda.My mother did, too."
"You don't need to tell either of them yet, not until we're sure, maybe not even then."
"I'll have to tell Grandma at some point."She paused."If Lucinda was a forger and maybe even working withLa Mano Nera, could finding the paintings actually destroy our families?If we want to protect our grandmothers, how far do we go?"
"I'm surprised you're asking me that question.I thought you wanted to go all the way to the truth, no matter what it was."
"I thought I did, too.But my goal has always been to protect my grandmother.Now I'm afraid I'm going to hurt her."
"What we don't know could be more dangerous to our grandmothers.Once we get the truth, we can decide what to do with it.But we're not there yet.We need to dig deeper into the Falconeri family.Maybe some distant relative reinstated the group."He paused."Or Sam did."
Surprise ran across her face."I thought you were trusting Sam."
"I would never trust a thief.I just said I believe the man we spoke to was Sam Beringer.The rest is a question mark."
"Okay.What about Francesca setting us up with Sam?How is she involved with him?Can we trust her?She didn't tell us about this big party of art people."
"No.But she told us aboutLa Mano Nera.She also hooked us up with Sam.That said, it could be misdirection," he conceded."If they wanted to send us down the wrong path."
"They're going to a lot of trouble to do that."
"Which is probably why they're not, but I consider all possibilities."
She gave him a thoughtful look, and there was a gleam of reluctant admiration in her gaze."You might be smarter than I first thought."
He couldn't help but smile."Wow, a compliment.I'm shocked."
