Read Online Lost & found by Jayne Ann Krentz - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jayne Ann Krentz
Tags: Contemporary Romance
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"It's certainly a creative way to ensure repeat business."
Mack flexed the fingers of one hand, remembering the feel of the old sword in his palm.
"Like you said, collectors are paying sky-high prices for armor at the moment. Whenever one area of the art market gets hot, there's a rise in art theft in that area. The old law of supply and demand."
"Yeah, I know all about that law." Ambrose studied the helmet for a long moment. Then he raised earnest, remorseful eyes to Cady. "I'm really sorry about all this."
"I figure it's sort of like a plane crash," Cady said. "Could have been worse. We got lucky and walked away from it, thanks to Mack."
She smiled at him with serious, intent eyes. He realized that she considered him a hero for the moment. He wondered how long that would last.
"She's right," Ambrose said. "Man, I really owe you. If there's ever anything I can do to repay you—"
"I'll let you know," Mack said.
"I mean it," Ambrose insisted.
Mack raised a brow. "So do I."
Ambrose got to his feet. "What's this program you use? The one you said allows you to follow private art auctions on-line?"
"A friend designed it for me a couple of years ago." Mack turned back to the fire. "It allows me to retrieve information related to the movement of art and antiquities in the underground markets. Sales, thefts, private auctions. I'm building a specialized database that tracks a lot of the regular players who do business in those markets, good guys and bad guys. It stores the names of known forgers, dealer habits, methods of operation. Trends and patterns."
Ambrose frowned with professional concern. "Must take constant updating."
"Yes." Mack moved his shoulders slightly to loosen the prowling tension. "Unfortunately, the friend who designed it for me has set up his own on-line business and no longer has time to work on my program. There are still a lot of holes in my database."
"What kind of holes?"
Mack regarded him thoughtfully. "Do you really want to talk about this or are you just curious?"
"Are you kidding? I've got a very personal interest here. I am now officially the victim of
ABC Amber Text Converter Trial vers ion, http://www.processtext.com/abctxt.html
attempted art theft. Tell me about the holes in your program, Mack."
Mack glanced at Cady. The strain of the evening showed in her eyes. "It's a little late to go into detail, but maybe we can discuss it some other time."
"Anytime, man. Anytime. After what you did for me, I am like totally at your service. Besides, this art tracing stuff sounds kind of intriguing."
"I'll call you." He made a mental note to give the idea some serious consideration. It wasn't often that he got the opportunity to pick up a freelance consultant with Ambrose Vandyke's unique skills. He glanced at his watch. "Cady, we'd better get out of here. We need to find a motel. Neither one of us is in any shape to drive far tonight."
"You're welcome to stay here," Ambrose said quickly. "I know it's a little grotty, but I think I can find some clean towels."
"Thanks," Cady said. "But I think a motel would simplify everyone's life. Where's the nearest one? Santa Cruz?"
"Nah, you don't have to go that far. There's a little lodge less than a mile from here. Dude who runs it is a friend of mine." Ambrose reached for the phone. "I'll give him a call and set things up for you."
"That sounds great." Cady picked up the helmet and got to her feet. "By the way—"
Ambrose slanted her speculative gaze as he held the phone to his ear. "Yeah?"
"I know you've already paid once for this piece and there's a good chance you'll never recover the money. But if you decide that you really do want it, I believe Mack's clients would be interested in talking to you. Right, Mack?"
He smiled wryly. "I don't think there's much doubt about it. My clients view that helmet as the equivalent of a winning lottery ticket. They can't wait to cash in on it."
"It's a deal," Ambrose said immediately.
"You haven't
Mack flexed the fingers of one hand, remembering the feel of the old sword in his palm.
"Like you said, collectors are paying sky-high prices for armor at the moment. Whenever one area of the art market gets hot, there's a rise in art theft in that area. The old law of supply and demand."
"Yeah, I know all about that law." Ambrose studied the helmet for a long moment. Then he raised earnest, remorseful eyes to Cady. "I'm really sorry about all this."
"I figure it's sort of like a plane crash," Cady said. "Could have been worse. We got lucky and walked away from it, thanks to Mack."
She smiled at him with serious, intent eyes. He realized that she considered him a hero for the moment. He wondered how long that would last.
"She's right," Ambrose said. "Man, I really owe you. If there's ever anything I can do to repay you—"
"I'll let you know," Mack said.
"I mean it," Ambrose insisted.
Mack raised a brow. "So do I."
Ambrose got to his feet. "What's this program you use? The one you said allows you to follow private art auctions on-line?"
"A friend designed it for me a couple of years ago." Mack turned back to the fire. "It allows me to retrieve information related to the movement of art and antiquities in the underground markets. Sales, thefts, private auctions. I'm building a specialized database that tracks a lot of the regular players who do business in those markets, good guys and bad guys. It stores the names of known forgers, dealer habits, methods of operation. Trends and patterns."
Ambrose frowned with professional concern. "Must take constant updating."
"Yes." Mack moved his shoulders slightly to loosen the prowling tension. "Unfortunately, the friend who designed it for me has set up his own on-line business and no longer has time to work on my program. There are still a lot of holes in my database."
"What kind of holes?"
Mack regarded him thoughtfully. "Do you really want to talk about this or are you just curious?"
"Are you kidding? I've got a very personal interest here. I am now officially the victim of
ABC Amber Text Converter Trial vers ion, http://www.processtext.com/abctxt.html
attempted art theft. Tell me about the holes in your program, Mack."
Mack glanced at Cady. The strain of the evening showed in her eyes. "It's a little late to go into detail, but maybe we can discuss it some other time."
"Anytime, man. Anytime. After what you did for me, I am like totally at your service. Besides, this art tracing stuff sounds kind of intriguing."
"I'll call you." He made a mental note to give the idea some serious consideration. It wasn't often that he got the opportunity to pick up a freelance consultant with Ambrose Vandyke's unique skills. He glanced at his watch. "Cady, we'd better get out of here. We need to find a motel. Neither one of us is in any shape to drive far tonight."
"You're welcome to stay here," Ambrose said quickly. "I know it's a little grotty, but I think I can find some clean towels."
"Thanks," Cady said. "But I think a motel would simplify everyone's life. Where's the nearest one? Santa Cruz?"
"Nah, you don't have to go that far. There's a little lodge less than a mile from here. Dude who runs it is a friend of mine." Ambrose reached for the phone. "I'll give him a call and set things up for you."
"That sounds great." Cady picked up the helmet and got to her feet. "By the way—"
Ambrose slanted her speculative gaze as he held the phone to his ear. "Yeah?"
"I know you've already paid once for this piece and there's a good chance you'll never recover the money. But if you decide that you really do want it, I believe Mack's clients would be interested in talking to you. Right, Mack?"
He smiled wryly. "I don't think there's much doubt about it. My clients view that helmet as the equivalent of a winning lottery ticket. They can't wait to cash in on it."
"It's a deal," Ambrose said immediately.
"You haven't
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