Blue Smoke and Murder

36

SEPTEMBER 15

1:00 P.M.

Crawford residence, Caitlin speaking.”

“Caitlin, this is Ramsey Worthington. Is Tal around?”

Caitlin closed her eyes for a second, murmured a prayer that nothing had gone wrong with the auction, and said, “Hello, Ramsey. Let me check.” She hit the hold button, then the household intercom button. “Tal? If you can tear yourself away from the game, Ramsey would like to talk to you.”

“I’m taking a crap. I’ll call him back.”

She winced at the coarseness that was as much a part of her husband as his bolo tie. And his money.

Unfortunately, money could be lost. Tal had done a lot of that in his life.

He always comes back richer than ever, she reminded herself.

He was younger then.

That doesn’t matter.

She took a steadying breath.

Does it?

Fear crawled coldly through Caitlin’s stomach. At forty she was too old to find another trophy husband looking for a trophy wife. She let out her breath in a long exhalation. When she was certain her voice would be calm, she picked up Worthington’s call.

“Is it something I might help you with, Ramsey?”

There was a pause, then an impatient sound. “I just wanted to tell him that there are two scam artists peddling unsigned and almost certainly fraudulent Dunstans.”

“What?” Caitlin knew her voice was too sharp, but there was nothing she could do about it, any more than she could control her suddenly frantic heartbeat.

Worthington was talking about her worst nightmare come true.

“A man and a woman,” Worthington said, “I’d guess in their early thirties. I just wondered if they’d come to Tal with their dubious goods.”

“No. He would have told me.” Wouldn’t he?

“Well, if anyone comes to Tal peddling previously unknown Dunstans, please ask him to contact me before he buys anything.”

“He always does.”

Worthington laughed. “Caitlin, you’re beautiful and the soul of discretion, but we both know how single-minded Tal can be, especially when it comes to Thomas Dunstan’s art.”

Caitlin forced a light laugh. “You know my husband so well. But seriously, he hasn’t said a word about any Dunstans except those coming up at auction in Las Vegas. We’re so excited, the only reason we aren’t in Las Vegas is the press announcement of the new museum in a few hours.”

“Just what an auctioneer likes to hear. It’s going to be an exciting time for everyone, especially once word of Tal’s generosity hits the headlines.”

An agreeable sound was all Caitlin could manage.

“I have a lot to do before the auction myself,” Worthington said. “But if Tal hears anything, I’m never too busy to talk to him. Right now, I have to speak to Lee Dunstan.”

Caitlin made polite good-byes, hung up, and stared at her clenched, bloodless hands.