Page 79 of The Stipulation
“I did not ask.”
“Yes, you did,” I say calmly. “You always ask.”
His jaw tightens slightly. “I was told it came from a private European collection that had recently dissolved.”
“Convenient,” Jo murmurs.
“And you believed that?” I ask.
“I believed it was profitable.”
Fair enough. “And the intermediary?” I press again.
He shakes his head slowly. “You are pursuing something that will not end cleanly.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It is the only one you will receive.”
I slide the folder closer to him. The number inside would buy most people’s loyalty.
“For a name,” I say quietly.
He looks at it. Really looks at it this time. Temptation flickers across his face, then calculation overtakes it.
“You assume I fear poverty more than I fear consequence,” he says softly.
“And do you?”
He holds my gaze. “No.”
The refusal is final. Jo exhales slowly.
“You’re protecting someone,” she says.
“I am protecting myself.” He walks to the door and opens it, a clear sign that this meeting, this discussion, is over.
“Your money is generous,” he says. “But not generous enough. If it gets out that I have given out the kind of information you require, my reputation will be ruined.”
Jo rises gracefully, and I do the same.
“Should the piece resurface,” she says calmly. “You have my husband’s details. Please contact us.”
He inclines his head slightly. “If it does, I will be sure to.”
It won’t. Not through him. Likely not through anyone if it was bought by a private collector. We walk down the short hallway again and step back into the gallery space; the warm lighting suddenly feels artificial. Hollow.
We leave the gallery without looking back. We walk half a block before either of us speaks.
“You were very good in there,” I say.
“He was afraid,” Jo says quietly.
“Yes.”
“Of the intermediary.”
“Yes. He said he’s worried about his reputation, but I think he’s more worried about what might happen to him if his clients find out he is less than one hundred percent discreet. People deal with the likes of him because they want to remainunderground. And people who have the sort of money to do deals with him are people who can make someone disappear.”
