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For me to just give you an address and name and sit here waiting for you? That connection is far more important than what we’re doing here. Ben, Tim and George are perfectly capable of taking photos and documenting everything we discover in the painting. I’m interested in this case—and involved now. It’s thrilling, finding secret codes hidden in a century-old painting, I won’t pretend otherwise, but neither am I going to let you just leave me back here while you go off and solve the puzzle without me. Besides, you won’t be able to speak to Vicky without me.”
    Rob looked from Sally to James. James shrugged.
    “I’m not fussed, mate. I needed prodding from Sally, but I, too, thought it was the work of Victoria Parker. She’s one of the best. Been semi-retired these last few years. Although she will take the occasional work when her curiosity is roused, or if it’s an exceptionally stunning piece, she’s not done a lot in recent times. I’m happy to stay with El, meet you both back here.”
    Rob and Sally looked at each other. Sally set her jaw firmly, not willing to yield on this unless Bobby had a bloody good reason behind him. So far, he’d shown her nothing that would convince her to stay behind, even though she loved the painting and could happily study it for weeks.
    That wasn’t the point.
    “Are you sure?” Rob said.
    She could already hear the resignation in his tone.
    “You were enjoying yourself so much,” he said.
    “I’m absolutely sure,” she insisted. “I’ll have far more fun riding shotgun with you. Besides, I want to know who commissioned Vicky to do the piece as much as you do. Not to mention I’m curious as to what it all means, though I think your colleagues in there will work it out one way or the other even without Vicky’s help.”
    Rob glanced at El. “When’s the briefing?” Rob asked.
    “It was supposed to be eight tomorrow morning, but we’ve all but wrapped up the critical aspect of finding the painting,” El replied.
    “Waldron might try and buy us some time to work out what the hell’s going on,” Rob added. “The Gallery has to be in an uproar after having most of its frontage and those landmark columns decimated. Last I heard, the street was still closed down, so they can’t expect us to hand over the Cezanne immediately.”
    Sally grinned and cast a laughing look to James.
    “I bet we can help with that,” she interjected. “Maybe if you pass along word some specialist contractors are doing routine study of it, that might buy you some time. I’d love to get a private viewing of that piece.”
    “We will all need some rest soon,” El continued as if she hadn’t heard Sally.
    Sally chuckled, knowing full well Rob’s partner was teasing, not wanting to spur them on any further into mischief.
    “I’m lagging on the tail end of my second wind,” El confessed. “With tea, I can write the report, but I’ll need to crash for an hour or two on the cots if we’re going to be here for too many more shifts without relief.”
    “I’ve…uh, managed an hour or so of shut eye,” Rob confessed.
    Sally looked at the floor to not giggle at this statement.
    “How about I start to write the reports when Sally and I get back,” Rob offered. “That way I can include whatever we glean from our interview with this Vicky Parker. I owe you that since it was you and James who recovered the painting and all.”
    “Don’t you dare send them out until I’ve proofed it,” El insisted. “I know you’ll lay all the glory at James’ and my feet and it’s no such thing. You worked just as hard with the background work.”
    “We can argue about it later,” Rob said.
    Sally stifled a laugh. She’d fallen into that trap too often to count. Rob would change the subject and still go along his merry way doing what he felt was best.
    “Just don’t leave it till the last minute,” Sally warned. “You know what you get like when you leave those mountains of