Blue Smoke and Murder

68

SEPTEMBER 16

5:19 P.M.

Very lightly Zack ran his fingertips along the bottom edge of the painting. Jill took a deep breath, let it out, then took another breath, sniffing the bottom corner of the second painting.

“Black light,” she said.

Zach gave her the light. She held it at an oblique angle to the edge of the stretcher.

“See it?” she asked.

“Looks like it was added after the paint dried,” Zach said.

“Well after,” she said. “It still smells faintly of oil. The modern, quick-dry kind, complete with modern, quick-dry sealant.”

Once discovered, the over-painting leaped out like a scab on otherwise smooth skin.

Jase crowded in on the painting and stared. “You’re right, the repair seems new. But it has no significance.”

“Really?” Jill said skeptically.

“Probably the original frame was put on before the canvas had completely dried,” Jase explained. “When the frame was recently removed for the canvas to be re-stretched, some paint came with it. Thus the repair. It certainly doesn’t matter to the value of the painting as a whole. I doubt if you would even notice it without the black light. Once the canvas is back in its frame, the over-painting will be invisible.”

“Looks like the canvas might have been damaged,” Zach said. “That would affect the price.”

“If it was true, yes. The documents from Lee Dunstan didn’t indicate any such damage,” Jase said.

Zach shrugged. “Then you won’t mind if I record this for my client?”

“Record?”

Zach produced the little digital camera.

“No images,” Jase said immediately. “All reprographic rights remain with the artist’s estate.”

“I’m not going for the front of the painting,” Zach said. “Just the part that will be hidden by the frame at the auction.”

Jase hesitated, glanced at his watch, and said, “Please be quick about it. I have another appointment in two minutes.”

Zach bent over the canvas and recorded the over-painting under various lighting conditions.

The pager on Jase’s belt went off. He looked at the code and frowned.

“We can find our way out,” Jill said. “Don’t be late on account of us.”

“If you need to shift a canvas, one of my helpers will do it,” Jase said. “Insurance, you understand. We can’t have anyone touching the art.”

“Of course,” Jill said. “Thank you for your time. I assure you that our client will be very interested in these paintings. Nothing like a new, extremely wealthy collector to spice up an auction, is there?”

It was every auctioneer’s wet dream, and Jase knew it. “All qualified bidders are welcome.” He smiled. “If you’ll excuse me…”

While Jase hurried out of the room, Zach went to the other canvas. The black light flashed over his face. His grin looked demonic in the purple glow.

When Jill would have said something, he bent and kissed her swiftly, then breathed in her ear, “Not one word about thumbprints.”

Like the other canvas, this one must have been put into the frame before it fully dried, because there was more over-painting near the bottom corner.

Jill leaned in, breathed deep, and said, “Same as the other.”

“Yeah. What do you want to bet it has the same cause?” Zach asked mildly.

“I wouldn’t bet against it,” she said, flinching when the camera’s built-in flash went off.

“Not even in Vegas?”

“Especially not in Vegas.”

“Smart woman.”

“Keep it in mind,” she said.

“Always,” he promised.

As soon as Zach was finished, they thanked the helpers and headed out of the room. When Jill was certain no one could overhear, she turned to Zach.

“How did someone know to-”

He stopped her words with a hard kiss.

“But when-” she began as soon as he lifted his head.

“Not until we’re in the shower. Naked.”