Read The Flinck Connection (Book 4) (Genevieve Lenard) for Free Online Page B

there are very few things in life that can manage to shock me these days. But I surely was not prepared to find Vermeer’s The Concert in that house. Nor was I ready for the revelation of whose house it is.”
    “The Concert of Vermeer?” Phillip had half-risen out of his chair, his eyes wide and his mouth slightly open. “Are you sure? Is it the original? Oh, dear lord.”
    “What the hell is this Concert and why is this so shocking?” Manny asked, his head swivelling from Phillip to Colin and back.
    Phillip sat back down, but looked shaken. “It is one of thirteen works of art that were stolen from a museum in Boston in 1990. It is one of the biggest art heist mysteries in recent history.”
    “And the value of those paintings together is over five hundred million dollars,” Colin said quietly.
    There were gasps and shocked exclamations around the table. Though I worked daily with articles insured for incredible amounts, this amount was staggering, even for me.
    “Let me give you the complete picture.” Colin leaned back in his chair. “It was our lucky day. No one was home and the security system is really below par. It was no fun breaking in. Imagine my surprise when I saw egotistical photos of René Motte all over the house. His walls are covered in photos of his exploits around the world. Whatever wall space is not covered with his face has a few pricey paintings, but not the kind of stuff that would make it worthwhile for an art thief to break in. The street value of all of it on the black market might, and I’m emphasising might, get you one million euro.”
    “That sounds like it is worthwhile to me,” Manny said. “One million euro can get one quite far.”
    “Nope.” Colin shook his head. “It would mean you have to carry out at least fifty paintings, nine statues and other little ornaments to reach that amount. This is not a stealthy operation, and would require time and the unwanted risk of being noticed by the neighbours. It is for small-time crooks and they almost never steal art.”
    “So the Vermeer wasn’t on the walls.” I wanted to know more about the painting that was causing Colin’s hands to have slight tremors of excitement. “Where did you find it?”
    “In a preservation room on the ground floor.”
    “Wait.” Manny scowled. “What is a preservation room?”
    Phillip looked at Colin, and nodded when Colin gestured with an open hand for Phillip to continue. “True art collectors understand the delicate nature of the pieces they own. A preservation room is set up to control the temperature, humidity and light to a level that will preserve the artwork in the best possible environment. Some people turn this into an elaborate office or library. Others purely set it up as a store room with rows and rows of shelves, holding the most valuable pieces they have collected.”
    “I would rather do the library-office thing,” Nikki said. “At least I can sit and look at all the beautiful stuff I spent so much money on.”
    “I’m with you on that one, punk. Why bother buying all these crazy expensive stuff if you’re never going to appreciate having it?”
    “For investment,” Phillip said.
    “Oh, don’t even try, Phillip.” Colin looked at Vinnie with disapproval. “Vin and I have had this argument many times. He understands that art gives an even better return on investment than property and playing on the stock market, but he doesn’t think that pretty pictures is the same as having cold hard cash—”
    “—hidden in a safe place.” Vinnie glared at Colin.
    “Can we return to the topic?” I hated when conversations got derailed. “What did you find in the preservation room?”
    “A lock that was easy to pick, and security worthy of a few minor artworks, not the pieces I found in there. René Motte should be arrested simply for having inferior security. Okay, okay.” Colin patted the air with his palms down to placate me. I was shifting in my chair. “Motte had