Read Online Icy Control by Elizabeth Lapthorne - Free Book Online

yellow, blue and so on. I have access to various sources of those single-rayed lights, if you need assistance. I know most microbiology and chemistry labs don’t usually deal in alternate light sources unless it’s on a small slide under a microscope. And since we’ve already agreed we can’t take samples from the painting, we need the lights to be in a torch. That’s where knowing some art technicians and restorers will come in handy.”
    “Do you have them nearby?” Ben asked. “We have most of the filters for the camera and could check the painting that way. But taking so many photos will eat up a lot of our time. If we can look first and only expend effort when we know there’s something to capture, that could speed the process up.”
    “I’ve got black light here, but I only brought those three with me—IR, UV and black,” Sally lamented, wishing she’d known they’d be needed. She hated the thought of time being wasted while James went off site to get what they required, particularly when she had them stored safely back at her studio.
    “I can have them within the hour.” James cast a quick glance to El.
    El nodded at James then turned to Rob.
    “I’m going to take you up on that offer to start the report, partner,” she said. “James and I will be back as quickly as we can manage.”
    “I can handle that, don’t worry about it. We can follow you out for a moment,” Rob said with a meaningful glance at El.
    Sally didn’t need to be a mind reader to know something else was happening in the background, something she’d evidently missed. But clearly Rob wanted to speak to El about something. Sally was about to turn back to the painting, her mind already sifting through the few things she’d held to herself, but Rob caught her eye. He tilted his head to indicate she follow him.
    “Oh,” she said and glanced wistfully at the painting. She hated to leave it, especially when she felt certain it held so many more secrets she longed to uncover, but she refused to let Rob down. She took a step toward him only to discover he’d crossed the room to her.
    He laid a hand gently on her arm and bent low to speak into her ear.
    “If you want to stay that’s fine, but I need to ask a favor. It can wait a short while, though,” he said softly.
    “No. No, I’ll come out with you. That’s fine,” she said.
    In a sense she was glad. Sally was fairly certain she knew the restorer personally, and while she didn’t want to make a big deal of it out there in the laboratory, she did think it was something Rob and she could follow up on. It was just that simultaneous to this, a part of her had hoped to ogle the delicious artwork some more, too.
    Ah well, Sal, can’t have everything, can you, girl?
    Feeling faintly guilty at her selfish thoughts—time was obviously of the essence here—Sal left the laboratory, following James and El and with Rob coming up behind her. The door locked behind them with a click. The corridor was empty. El scanned the surroundings and Rob leaned left and right to check none of the office doors were open.
    For a brief second, Sally felt like she was in some sort of thriller movie, or perhaps a horror. One where after they split the party up, the ax-wielding maniac started chopping the actors into bloody pieces. She shook her head, mentally berating herself to pay attention.
    “Okay, I think we’ve got some privacy,” El stated in a rushed manner as she turned to face Rob. “What’s up?”
    “Sal, you recognized the name of the restorer, or forger, I’m still not sure which yet. Vi, I think you said. Darling, I need you to give me that name. James, you seemed to know him too. I’m thinking if you can give El the details on how and where to recover those light sources, then you can come with me to speak to the restorer and—”
    “Hang on, Bobby,” Sally interjected, a small frisson of annoyance shaking through her. “That’s the favor you were thinking of a minute ago?