Daniel Silva - 10 - The Rembrandt Affair

8/7/2019 Daniel Silva - 10 - The Rembrandt Affair

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ALSO BY DANIEL SIL VAThe Defector

Moscow RulesThe Secret Servant

T h e M es sen g er Prince of Fire

A Death in ViennaThe Confessor

T he E ng li s h A s sa s si nT he K il l A rt is t

T h e M ar c hi n g S e as o nThe Mark of the Assassin

T he U nl i ke ly S py

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A B C A m be r e P ub C o nv e rt er T ri a l v e rsi o n, http://www.processtext.com/abcepub.html
http://www.processtext.com/abcepub.htmlhttp://www.processtext.com/abcepub.html


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T HE R EMB RA ND T A FF AIR D AN IE L S IL VA

G. P . P U TN AM S S ON SNew York

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G . P . P UT NA M S S O N S

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Publishers Since 1838

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Published by the Penguin GroupP en gu in G ro up ( US A) I nc ., 3 75 H ud so n S tr ee t, N ew Y or k, N ew Y or k 1 00 14 , U SA Penguin

G ro up (Ca na da ), 9 0 E gl i nt on A ve nu e E as t, S ui t e 7 00 , T oron to , O nt ari o M 4P 2 Y3 , C an ad a (a d iv is io no f P ea rs on P en gu in C an ad a I nc .) P en gu in B oo ks L td , 8 0 S tr an d, L on do n W C2 R 0 RL , E ng la nd

P en gu in Ire la nd , 2 5 S t S te ph en s G re en , D ub li n 2 , I re la nd ( a d iv is io n o f P en gu in B oo ks L td ) Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of

P ea rs on A us tral i a G ro up P ty L td ) P en gu in B oo ks Ind ia P vt L td , 1 1 C om mu ni ty C en tre, P an ch sh ee lP ark, N ew D el hi 1 10 0 17, I nd ia P en gu in G ro up ( NZ ), 6 7 A po ll o D ri ve , R os ed al e, N or th S ho re

0 63 2, N ew Z ea la nd ( a d iv is io n o f P ea rs on N ew Z ea la nd L td ) P en gu in B oo ks (So ut h A fric a) (Pt y)L td , 2 4 S tu rde e A ve nu e, R os eb an k, J oh an ne sb urg 2 19 6, S ou th A fri ca

P en gu in B oo ks L td , R eg is te re d O ffic es : 8 0 S tran d, L on do n W C2 R 0 RL , E ng la ndC op yrig ht 2 01 0 b y D an ie l S il va

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A ll r ig ht s r es er ve d. N o p ar t o f t hi s b oo k m ay b e r ep ro du ce d, s ca nn ed , o r d is tr ib ut ed i n a ny p ri nt ed o r electronic form without permission.

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P le as e d o n ot p arti ci pa te i n o r e nc ou ra ge p irac y o f c op yrig ht ed m at eria ls i n v io la ti on o f t he a ut ho r srights. Purchase only authorized editions.

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Published simultaneously in CanadaLibrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Silva, Daniel, date.

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The Rembrandt affair / Daniel Silva.

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p. cm.

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ISBN: 1-101-18878-2

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1. Allon, Gabriel (Fictitious character) Fiction. 2. Intelligence officers Fiction. I. Title.PS3619.I5443R46 2010 2010017388

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813 6 dc22T hi s i s a w or k o f f ic ti on . N am es , c ha ra ct er s, p la ce s, a nd i nc id en ts e it he r a re t he p ro du ct o f t he a ut ho r simagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses,companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.W hi le t he a ut ho r h as m ad e e ve ry e ffort t o p ro vi de a cc urat e t el ep ho ne n um be rs a nd Int erne t a dd re ss es a tt he t im e o f p ub li ca ti on , n ei th er t he p ub li sh er n or t he a ut ho r a ss um es a ny res po ns ib il it y for e rrors, o r for

c ha ng es t ha t o cc ur a ft er p ub li ca ti on . F urth er, t he p ub li sh er d oe s n ot h av e a ny c on trol o ve r a nd d oe s n otassume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

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For Jeff Zucker,

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for friendship, support, and personal courage.And, as always, for my wife, Jamie, and

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m y c hi ld re n, L il y a nd N ic ho la s.

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B eh in d e ve ry g re at fortu ne l ie s a g re at c ri me . HONOR DE BALZAC

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CONTENTSP R O L O G U EP A R T O N E : P R O V E N A N C EC H A P T E R 1

C H A P T E R 2C H A P T E R 3C H A P T E R 4C H A P T E R 5C H A P T E R 6C H A P T E R 7C H A P T E R 8C H A P T E R 9C H A P T E R 1 0

C H A P T E R 1 1C H A P T E R 1 2C H A P T E R 1 3C H A P T E R 1 4C H A P T E R 1 5C H A P T E R 1 6C H A P T E R 1 7C H A P T E R 1 8C H A P T E R 1 9

C H A P T E R 2 0C H A P T E R 2 1C H A P T E R 2 2P A R T T W O : A T T R IB U T IO NC H A P T E R 2 3C H A P T E R 2 4C H A P T E R 2 5C H A P T E R 2 6C H A P T E R 2 7


C H A P T E R 3 7C H A P T E R 3 8C H A P T E R 3 9

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C H A P T E R 4 0C H A P T E R 4 1P A R T T H R E E : A U T H E N T IC A T IO NC H A P T E R 4 2C H A P T E R 4 3


C H A P T E R 5 3C H A P T E R 5 4C H A P T E R 5 5PART FOUR: UNVEILINGC H A P T E R 5 6C H A P T E R 5 7C H A P T E R 5 8C H A P T E R 5 9C H A P T E R 6 0


C H A P T E R 7 0C H A P T E R 7 1C H A P T E R 7 2C H A P T E R 7 3C H A P T E R 7 4C H A P T E R 7 5C H A P T E R 7 6P A R T F IV E : R E C O V E R YC H A P T E R 7 7

C H A P T E R 7 8C H A P T E R 7 9C H A P T E R 8 0

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C H A P T E R 8 1AUTHOR S N O T EA C K N O W L E D G M E N T SABOUT THE AUTHOR

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PROLOGUEP OR T N AV AS , C OR NW AL L

B y c oi nc id en ce i t w as T im ot hy P ee l w ho first l ea rn ed t ha t t he s tran ge r h ad ret urne d t o C ornw al l. H em ad e t he d is co ve ry s ho rt ly b efore m id ni gh t o n a rai n-sw ep t W ed ne sd ay i n m id -S ep te mb er. A nd o nl y

because he had politely declined the persistent entreaties from the boys at work to attend the midweekbash at the Godolphin Arms up in Marazion.

I t w as a m ys te ry t o P ee l w hy t he y s ti ll b ot he re d t o i nv it e h im . T ru th b e t ol d, h e h ad n ev er c ar edm uch f or t he co mp any o f dr in ker s. A nd t he se da ys, w he nev er he se t f oot i n a p ub, t her e w as at l east on ei nt ox ic at ed s ou l w ho w ou ld t ry t o b ad ge r h im i nt o t al ki ng a bo ut little Adam Hathaway. Six monthse arli er, i n o ne o f t he m os t d ra ma ti c res cu es i n t he h is to ry o f t he R oy al N at io na l L ifeb oa t Ins ti tu ti on , P ee lh ad p lu ck ed t he s ix -y ea r-ol d b oy from t he t rea ch erou s s urf o ff S en ne n C ov e. T he n ew sp ap ers h adc ro wn ed P ee l a n at i on al h ero b ut w ere t he n d um bfou nd ed w he n t he b ro ad -s ho ul de re dtwenty-two-year-old with movie-idol looks refused to grant a single interview. Peel s silence privatelya nn oy ed h is c ol le ag ue s, a ny o ne o f w ho m w ou ld h av e l ea pt a t t he c ha nc e for a few m om en ts o f c el eb ri ty ,

e ve n i f i t m ea nt rec it in g t he o ld c li ch s a bo ut the importance of teamwork and t he p ro udt ra di ti on s o f a p ro ud s ervi ce . Nor did it sit well with the beleaguered residents of West Cornwall, whowe re al ways l oo ki ng f or a goo d r easo n t o boa st abou t a l ocal bo y and st ick i t t o t he En gl is h snob s f rom up-country. F ro m F al mo ut h B ay t o L an d s E nd , t he m er e m en ti on o f P ee l s name invariablyprovoked a puzzled shake of the head. A bit odd, they would say. Always was. Must have been thed iv orce . N ev er k ne w h is rea l fat he r. A nd t ha t m ot he r! A lw ay s t oo k u p w it h t he w ro ng s ort. R em em be rD er ek , t he w hi sk ey -s oa ke d p la yw ri gh t? H ea rd h e u se d t o b ea t t he l ad . A t l ea st t ha t w as t he r um or i nP o rt N a va s .

I t w as t ru e a bo ut t he d iv or ce . A nd e ve n t he b ea ti ng s. I n f ac t, m os t o f t he i dl e g os si p a bo ut P ee lhad a r ing of accur acy. But no ne of i t had anyt hi ng t o do wi th h is r ef usal t o acc ept hi s r ol e as her o. Peel s si lence was a t ribut e to a m an he had known onl y bri efl y, a l ong ti me ago. A man who had l ived j ustu p P or t N av as Q ua y i n t he o ld f or em an s c ot ta ge n ea r t he o ys te r f ar m. A m an w ho h ad t au gh t h im h owt o s ai l a nd h ow t o r ep ai r o ld m ot or ca rs ; w ho h ad t au gh t h im a bo ut t he p ow er o f l oy al ty a nd t he b ea ut y o f o pe ra . A m an w ho h ad t au gh t h im t he re w as n o r ea so n t o b oa st s im pl y f or d oi ng o ne s j ob.

T he m an h ad a p oe ti c forei gn -s ou nd in g n am e, b ut P ee l h ad a lw ay s t ho ug ht o f h im o nl y a s t hes tr an ge r. H e h ad b ee n P ee l s accomplice, Peel s g ua rd ia n a nge l. A nd e ve n t ho ugh he h ad b ee n g on ef ro m C or nw al l f or m an y y ear s n ow , P ee l oc ca si on al ly s ti ll w at ch ed f or h im , j us t a s h e h ad w he n h e w as aboy of eleven. Peel still had the dog-eared logbook he had kept of the stranger s e rrat ic c om in gs a ndg oi ng s, an d t he p ho to s o f t he e er ie w hi te l ig ht s t ha t u se d t o g lo w i n t he s tr an ge r s c ot ta ge a t n ig ht . A nde ve n n ow , P ee l c ou ld p ic tu re t he s tr an ge r a t t he w he el o f h is b el ov ed w oo de n k et ch , c om in g u p t heH el fo rd P as sa ge a ft er a l on g n ig ht a lo ne o n t he se a. P ee l w ou ld a lw ay s b e w ai ti ng i n h is b ed ro om

w in do w, h is a rm rai se d i n a s il en t s al ut e. A nd t he s tran ge r, w he n h e s po tt ed h im , w ou ld a lw ay s fla sh h isrunning lights twice in response.

T he re w er e f ew r em in de rs o f t ho se d ay s l ef t i n P or t N av as . P ee l s m ot her had m ov ed t o t heA lg arve c oa st o f P ortu ga l w it h h er n ew l ov er. D erek t he d ru nk en p la yw ri gh t w as rum ored t o b e l iv in g i na b ea ch fr on t h ut i n W al es . A nd t he o ld f or em an s c ot ta ge h ad b ee n c om pl et el y r en ov at ed a nd w as n owo wn ed b y p os h w ee ke nd ers fro m L on do n w ho t hrew l ou d p arti es a nd w ere forev er y el li ng a t t he irs po il ed c hi ld re n. A ll t ha t rem ai ne d o f t he s tran ge r w as h is k et ch , w hi ch h e h ad b eq ue at he d t o P ee l t henight he fled Cornwall for parts unknown.

O n t ha t rai ny e ve ni ng i n m id -S ep te mb er, t he b oa t w as b ob bi ng a t i ts m oo ri ng i n t he t id al c re ek ,waves nudging gently against its hull, when an unfamiliar engine note lifted Peel from his bed and carried

h im b ac k t o h is fam il ia r o ut po st i n t he w in do w. T he re , p ee ri ng i nt o t he w et g lo om , h e s po tt ed a m et al li cg ra y R an ge R ov er m ak in g i ts w ay s lo wl y a lo ng t he r oa d. I t c am e t o a s to p o ut si de t he o ld f or em an sc ot ta ge a nd i dl ed a m om en t, h ea dl am ps d ou se d, w ip ers b ea ti ng a s te ad y rhy th m. T he n t he d ri ve r s-side

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d oo r s ud de nl y s wu ng o pe n, a nd a f ig ur e e me rg ed w ea ri ng a d ar k g re en B ar bo ur r ai nc oa t a nd aw at er pr oo f f la t c ap p ul le d l ow o ve r h is b ro w. E ve n f ro m a d is ta nc e, P eel k ne w i ns ta nt ly i t w as t hes tr an ge r. I t w as t he w al k t ha t b et ra ye d h im t he c on fi de nt , p urpo se fu l s trid e t ha t s ee me d t o p ro pe l h ime ffortl es sl y t ow ard t he e dg e o f t he q ua y. H e p au se d t he re b ri efly , c areful ly a vo id in g t he p oo l o f l ig ht fro mt he s in gl e l am p, a nd s ta re d a t t he k et ch . T he n h e q ui ck ly d es ce nd ed t he f li gh t o f s to ne s te ps t o t he r iv er and disappeared from view.

A t f ir st , P ee l w on de re d w he th er t he s tr an ge r h ad c om e b ac k t o l ay c la im t o t he b oa t. B ut t ha t f ea r r ec ed ed w he n h e s ud de nl y r ea pp ea re d, c lu tc hi ng a s ma ll p ar ce l i n h is l ef t h an d. I t w as a bo ut t he s iz e o f ah ar dc ov er b oo k a nd a pp ea re d t o b e w ra pp ed i n p la st ic . J ud gi ng f ro m t he c oa t o f s li me o n t he s ur fa ce ,t he p ac ka ge h ad b ee n c on ce al ed f or a l on g t im e. P ee l h ad o nc e i ma gi ne d t he s tr an ge r t o b e a s mu gg le r.P er ha ps h e h ad b ee n r ig ht a ft er a ll .

I t w as t he n P ee l n ot ic ed t ha t t he s tr ang er w as n ot a lo ne . S om eo ne w as w ai ti ng f or h im i n t he f ro nts ea t o f t he R ov er . P ee l c ou ld n t q ui te make out t he f ace, onl y a si lh ouet te and a hal o of r iot ous hai r. H es mi le d for t he first t im e. It s ee me d t he s tran ge r fin al ly h ad a w om an i n h is l ife.

P eel h ear d t he m uf fl ed t hu mp o f a do or c lo si ng a nd sa w t he R ov er l ur ch i ns ta nt ly f or wa rd . I f h eh ur ri ed , t he re w as j us t e no ug h t im e t o i nt er ce pt i t. I ns te ad , i n t he g ri ps o f a f ee li ng h e h ad n ot k no wn

s in ce c hi ld ho od , h e s to od m ot io nl es s i n t he w in do w, a rm rai se d i n a s il en t s al ut e. T he R ov er g at he re ds pe ed a nd f or a n i ns ta nt P ee l f ea re d t he s tr an ge r h ad n ot s ee n t he s ig na l. T he n i t s lo we d s ud de nl y a nd t heheadlamps flashed twice before passing beneath Peel s window and vanishing into the night.

P ee l rem ai ne d a t h is p os t a m om en t l on ge r, l is te ni ng a s t he s ou nd o f t he e ng in e fad ed i nt o s il en ce .T he n h e c li mb ed b ac k i nt o b ed a nd p ul le d h is b la nk et s b en ea th h is c hi n. H is m ot he r w as g on e, D er ek w as i n W al es , a nd t he o ld f or em an s c ot ta ge w as u nd er f or ei gn o cc up at io n. B ut f or n ow , P ee l w as n ota lo ne . T he s tran ge r h ad ret urne d t o C ornw al l.

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P ART O NE

PROVENANCE

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1GLASTONBURY, ENGLAND

Th ou gh t he s tr an ge r d id n ot k no w i t, t wo d is pa ra te s er ie s o f e ve nt s w er e b y t ha t n ig ht a lr ea dyc on sp ir in g t o l ur e h im b ac k o nt o t he f ie ld o f b at tl e. O ne w as b ei ng p la ye d o ut b eh in d t he l oc ke d d oo rs o f

the world s s ec re t i nt el li ge nc e s ervi ce s w hi le t he o th er w as t he s ub je ct o f a g lo ba l m ed ia fre nz y. T hen ew sp ap er s h ad d ub be d i t the summer of theft, t he w or st e pi de mi c o f a rt h ei st s t o s we ep E ur op e i na generation. Across the Continent, priceless paintings were disappearing like postcards plucked fromt he r ac k o f a s id ew al k k io sk . T he a ng ui sh ed m as te rs o f t he a rt u ni ve rs e h ad p ro fe ss ed s ho ck o ve r t herash of robberies, though the true professionals inside law enforcement admitted it was small wondert he re w er e a ny p ai nt in gs l ef t t o s te al . If y ou n ai l a h un dred m il li on d ol la rs t o a p oo rl y g ua rd ed w al l, said one beleaguered official from Interpol, it s o nl y a m at te r of t im e be fo re a de te rm ine d t hi ef w il l t ryt o w al k a wa y w it h i t.

T he b ra ze nn es s o f t he c ri mi na ls w as m at ch ed o nl y b y t he ir c om pe te nc e. T ha t t he y w ere s ki ll edw as b ey on d q ue st io n. B ut w ha t t he p ol ic e a dm ired m os t a bo ut t he ir o pp on en ts w as t he ir i ro n d is ci pl in e.

T he re w ere n o l ea ks , n o s ig ns o f i nt erna l i nt ri gu e, a nd n ot a s in gl e d em an d for ran so m at least not a r ealo ne . T he t hi ev es s to le o ft en b ut s el ec ti ve ly , n ev er t ak in g m ore t ha n a s in gl e p ai nt in g a t a t im e. T he se w eren ot a ma te urs l oo ki ng for q ui ck s co re s o r o rg an iz ed c ri me fig ures l oo ki ng for a s ou rc e o f u nd erwo rl dc as h. T he se w ere art t hi ev es i n t he p ures t s en se . O ne w ea ry d et ec ti ve p re di ct ed t ha t i n a ll l ik el ih oo d t hepaintings taken that long, hot summer would be missing for years, if not decades. In fact, he addedm oros el y, c ha nc es w ere e xt re me ly g oo d t he y w ou ld fin d t he ir w ay i nt o t he M us eu m o f t he M is si ng a ndn ev er b e s ee n b y t he p ub li c a ga in .

E ve n t he p ol ic e m arve le d a t t he v arie ty o f t he t hi ev es g ame. I t was a bi t l ike wat chi ng a gr eatt en ni s p la ye r w ho c ou ld w in o n c la y o ne w ee k a nd g ra ss t he n ex t. I n J un e, t he t hi ev es r ec ru it ed adisgruntled security guard at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna and carried out an overnight theftof Caravaggio s David with the Head of Goliath. In J ul y, t he y o pt ed for a d arin g c om ma nd o-st yl erai d i n B arce lo na a nd rel ie ve d t he M us eu P ic as so o f Portrait of Seora Canals. Ju st o ne w ee k l at er ,the lovely Maisons Fenouillet v an is he d s o q ui et ly fro m t he w al ls o f t he M at is se M us eu m i n N ic e t ha tbewildered French police wondered whether it had grown a pair of legs and walked out on its own. Andt he n, o n t he l as t d ay o f A ug us t, t he re w as t he t ex tb oo k s ma sh -a nd -g ra b j ob a t t he C ou rt au ld G al le ry i nLondon that netted S e lf - Po r tr a it w i th B a nd a ge d E a r by Vincent van Gogh. Total time of the operationwas a stunning ninety-seven seconds e ve n m ore i mp re ss iv e g iv en t he fac t t ha t o ne o f t he t hi ev es h adpaused on the way out a second-floor window to make an obscene gesture toward Modigliani sluscious Female Nude. B y t ha t e ve ni ng , t he s urve il la nc e v id eo w as req ui re d v ie wi ng o n t he Int erne t. Itw as , s ai d t he C ou rt au ld s d is trau gh t d irec to r, a fit ti ng e nd t o a p erfe ct ly d re ad fu l s um me r.

T he t he ft s p ro mp te d a p re di ct ab le rou nd o f fin ge r-po in ti ng o ve r l ax s ec urit y a t t he w orld smuseums. The Times rep orte d t ha t a rec en t i nt erna l rev ie w a t t he C ou rt au ld h ad s tron gl y rec om me nd edm ov in g t he V an G og h t o a m ore s ec ure l oc at io n. T he fin di ng s h ad b ee n rej ec te d, h ow ev er, b ec au se t hegallery s d ir ec to r l ik ed t he p ai nt in g e xa ct ly w he re i t w as . N ot t o b e o ut do ne , t he Telegraph weighed inwith an authoritative series on the financial woes affecting Britain s g re at m us eu ms . I t p oi nt ed o ut t ha tt he N at io na l G al le ry a nd t he T at e d id n t e ve n b ot he r t o i ns ure t he ir c ol le ct io ns , rel yi ng i ns te ad o ns ec ur it y c am er as a nd p oo rl y p ai d g ua rd s t o k ee p t he m s af e. We shouldn t b e a sk in g o ur sel ve s h ow i ti s g re at w orks o f a rt d is ap pe ar fro m m us eu m w al ls , t he ren ow ne d L on do n a rt d ea le r J ul ia n Ish erwo odt ol d t he n ew sp ap er . Ins te ad , w e s ho ul d b e a sk in g o urse lv es w hy i t d oe sn t h ap pe n m ore o ft en . L it tl eby little, our cultural heritage is being plundered.

The handful of museums with the resources to increase security rapidly did so while those living

h an d t o m ou th c ou ld o nl y b ar t he ir d oo rs a nd p ra y t he y w er e n ot n ex t o n t he t hi ev es

list. But whenS ep te mb er p as se d w it ho ut a no th er rob be ry , t he a rt w orld b re at he d a c ol le ct iv e s ig h o f rel ie f a nd b li th el yr ea ss ur ed i ts el f t he w or st h ad p as se d. A s f or t he w or ld o f m er e m or ta ls , i t h ad a lr ea dy m ov ed o n t o

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weightier matters. With wars still raging in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the global economy still teetering ont he e dg e o f t he a by ss , f ew c ou ld m us te r a g re at d ea l o f m or al o ut ra ge o ve r t he l os s o f f ou r r ec ta ng le s o f canvas covered in paint. The head of one international-aid organization estimated that the combined valueo f t he m is si ng w or ks c ou ld f ee d t he h un gr y i n A fr ic a f or y ea rs t o c om e. W ou ld i t n ot b e b et te r, s heasked, if the rich did something more useful with their excess millions than line their walls and fill theirs ec re t b an k v au lt s w it h a rt ?

S uc h w or ds w er e h er es y t o J ul ia n I sh er wo od a nd h is b re th re n, w ho d ep en de d o n t he a va ri ce o f t he ric h for t he ir l iv in g. B ut t he y d id fin d a rec ep ti ve a ud ie nc e i n G la st on bu ry , t he a nc ie nt c it y o f pilgrimage located west of London in the Somerset Levels. In the Middle Ages, the Christian faithful hadf lo ck ed t o G la st on bu ry t o s ee i ts f am ou s a bb ey a nd t o s ta nd b en ea th t he H ol y T ho rn t re e, s ai d t o h av es prou te d w he n J os ep h o f A ri ma th ea , d is ci pl e o f J es us , l ai d h is w al ki ng s ti ck u po n t he g ro un d i n t he Y ea ro f O ur L or d 6 3. N ow , t wo m il le nn ia l at er , t he a bb ey w as b ut a g lo ri ou s r ui n, t he r em na nt s o f i tso nc e-so arin g n av e s ta nd in g forlo rn ly i n a n e me ra ld p arkl an d l ik e g ra ve st on es t o a d ea d fai th . T he n ewpilgrims to Glastonbury rarely bothered to visit, preferring instead to traipse up the slopes of the mysticalh il l k no wn a s t he T or o r t o s hu ff le p as t t he N ew A ge p ar ap he rn al ia sh op s l in in g t he H ig h S tr ee t. S om ec am e i n s ea rc h o f t he ms el ve s; ot he rs , f or a h an d t o g ui de t hem . A nd a f ew a ct ua ll y st il l c am e i n s ea rc h o f

G od . O r a t l ea st a r ea so na bl e f ac si mi le o f G od .C hr is to ph er L id de ll h ad c om e f or n on e o f t he se r ea so ns . H e h ad c om e f or a w om an a nd s ta ye df or a ch il d. He wa s no t a pi lgr im . He was a pr isone r.

I t w as H es te r w ho h ad d ra gg ed h im h er e H es te r, h is g re at es t l ov e, h is w orst m is ta ke . F iv e y ea rse arli er, s he h ad d em an de d t he y l ea ve N ot ti ng H il l s o s he c ou ld fin d h erse lf i n G la st on bu ry . B ut i n fin di ngh erse lf, H es te r d is co ve re d t he k ey t o h er h ap pi ne ss l ay i n s he dd in g L id de ll . A no th er m an m ig ht h av e b ee ntempted to leave. But while Liddell could live without Hester, he could not contemplate life without Emily.B et te r t o s ta y i n G la st on bu ry a nd s uf fe r t he p ag an s a nd d ru id s t ha n r et ur n t o L on do n a nd b ec om e afad ed m em ory i n t he m in d o f h is o nl y c hi ld . A nd s o L id de ll b urie d h is s orro w a nd h is a ng er a nd s ol di eredo n. T ha t w as L id de ll s a pp ro ac h t o a ll t hi ng s. H e w as r el ia bl e. I n h is o pi ni on , t he re w as n o b et te r t hi nga m an c ou ld b e.

G la st on bu ry w as n ot e nt irel y w it ho ut i ts c ha rm s. O ne w as t he H un dred M on ke ys c af ,purveyor of vegan and environmentally friendly cuisine since 2005, and Liddell s favorite haunt. Liddellsat at his usual table, a copy of the Evening Standard s prea d p ro te ct iv el y b efore h im . A t a n a dj ac en tt ab le , a w om an o f l at e m id dl e a ge w as r ea di ng a b oo k e nt it le d Adult Children: The Secret Dysfunction. I n t he f ar b ac k c or ne r, a b al d p ro ph et i n f lo wi ng w hi te p aj am as w as l ec tu ri ng s ix r ap t p up il s a bo uts om et hi ng t o d o w it h Z en s pi ri tu al is m. A nd a t t he t ab le n ea re st t he d oo r, h an ds b un ch ed c on te mp la ti ve lybeneath an unshaved chin, was a man in his thirties. His eyes were flickering over the bulletin board. Itwas filled with the usual rubbish an invitation to join the Glastonbury Positive Living Group, a freeseminar on owl pellet dissection, an advertisement for Tibetan pulsing healing sessions but the mana pp ea re d t o b e s crut in iz in g i t w it h a n u nu su al d ev ot io n. A c up o f c offe e s to od b efore h im , u nt ou ch ed ,

n ex t t o a n o pe n n ot eb oo k, a ls o u nt ou ch ed . A p oe t s ea rc hi ng for t he i ns pi ra ti on , t ho ug ht L id de ll . Apolemicist waiting for the rage.L id de ll e xa mi ne d h im w it h a p ra ct ic ed e ye . H e w as d re ss ed i n t at te re d d en im a nd fla nn el , t he

G la st on bu ry u ni fo rm . H is h ai r w as d ark a nd p ul le d b ac k i nt o a s tu bb y p on yt ai l, h is e ye s w ere n ea rl yblack and slightly glazed. On the right wrist was a watch with a thick leather band. On the left weres ev eral c he ap s il ve r b ra ce le ts . L id de ll s ea rc he d t he h an ds a nd forea rm s for e vi de nc e o f t at to os b ut fou ndn on e. O dd , h e t ho ug ht , for i n G la st on bu ry e ve n g ra nd mo th ers p ro ud ly s po rt ed t he ir i nk . P ri st in e s ki n, l ik es un i n w in te r, w as rarel y s ee n.

T he w ai tres s a pp ea re d a nd fli rt at io us ly p la ce d a c he ck i n t he c en te r o f L id de ll s n ew sp ap er . S hew as a t al l c re at ur e, q ui te p re tt y, w it h p al e h ai r p ar te d i n t he c en te r a nd a t ag o n h er s nu g- fi tt in g s we at er t h at re ad GRACE. W he ther i t w as her na me or t he s tat e of h er soul , Li ddel l d id not kn ow . Si nce He st er s d ep ar tu re , h e h ad l os t t he c ap ac it y t o c on ve rs e w it h s tr an ge w om en . B es id es , t he re w as s om eo ne e ls ei n h is l ife n ow . S he w as a q ui et g irl, forgi vi ng o f h is fai li ng s, g ra te fu l for h is a ffec ti on s. A nd m os t o f a ll , s hen ee de d h im a s m uc h h e n ee de d h er . S he w as t he p er fe ct l ov er . T he p er fe ct m is tr es s. A nd s he w as

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Christopher Liddell s s ec re t.H e pa id t he b il l i n ca sh h e w as a t w ar w it h H es te r o ve r c re di t c ards , a lo ng w it h n ea rl y e ve ry th in g

else a nd m ad e for t he d oo r. T he p oe t-po le mi ci st w as s crib bl in g furio us ly o n h is p ad . L id de ll s li pp edpast and stepped into the street. A prickly mist was falling, and from somewhere in the distance he couldh ea r t he b ea ti ng o f d ru ms . T he n h e rem em be re d i t w as a T hu rs da y, w hi ch m ea nt i t w as s ha ma ni c d ru mtherapy night at the Assembly Rooms.

H e cr os se d t o t he op po si te pa ve men t an d m ad e h is w ay al ong t he ed ge o f S t. Joh n s Church,past the parish preschool. Tomorrow afternoon at one o clock, Liddell would be standing there amongt he m ot he rs a nd t he n an ni es t o g re et E mi ly a s s he e me rg ed . B y j ud ic ia l fia t h e h ad b ee n ren de re d l it tl em or e t ha n a b ab ys it te r. T wo h ou rs a d ay w as h is a ll ot te d t im e, s ca rc el y e no ug h f or m or e t ha n a s pi n o nt he m er ry -g o- ro un d a nd a b un i n t he s we et s s ho p. H es te r s revenge.

H e t ur ne d i nt o C hu rc h L an e. I t w as a n ar ro w a ll ey wa y b or de re d o n b ot h s id es b y h ig h s to ne w al lst he c ol or o f f li nt . A s u su al , t he o nl y l am p w as o ut , a nd t he s tr ee t w as b la ck a s p it ch . L id de ll h ad b ee nm ea ni ng t o b uy a s ma ll t or ch , l ik e t he o ne s h is g ra nd pa ren ts h ad c ar ri ed d ur in g t he w ar . H e t hou gh t h eh ea rd foo tfal ls b eh in d h im a nd p ee re d o ve r h is s ho ul de r i nt o t he g lo om . It w as n ot hi ng , h e d ec id ed , j us this mind playing tricks. S i ll y y o u, C hr i st o ph e r , h e c ou ld h ea r H es te r s ay in g. S il ly , s il l y y ou.

A t t he e nd o f t he l an e w as a res id en ti al d is tric t o f t erra ce d c ot ta ge s a nd s em id et ac he d h ou se s.H en le y C lo se l ay a t t he n orth ern-mo st e dg e, o ve rl oo ki ng a s po rt in g fie ld . Its fou r c ot ta ge s w ere a b itl arge r t ha n m os t i n t he n ei gh bo rh oo d a nd w ere fro nt ed b y w al le d g arde ns . In H es te r s a bs en ce , t heg ar de n a t N o. 8 h ad t ak en o n a m el an ch ol y a ir o f n eg le ct t ha t w as b eg in ni ng t o e ar n L id de ll n as ty l oo ksf ro m t he c ou pl e n ex t d oo r. H e i ns er te d h is k ey a nd t ur ne d t he l at ch . S te pp in g i nt o t he e nt ra nc e h al l, h ew as g re et ed b y t he c hi rp in g o f t he s ec ur it y a la rm . H e e nt er ed t he d is ar m c od e i nt o t he k ey pa d aneight-digit numeric version of Emily s b ir th d at e a nd c li mb ed t he st ai rs t o t he t op f lo or . T he g ir l w ai te dt he re , c lo ak ed i n d arkn es s. L id de ll s wi tc he d o n a l am p.

S he w as s ea te d i n a w oo de n ch ai r, a w ra p of j ew el ed s il k d rap ed o ver he r s hou lde rs . P ea rle ar ri ng s d an gl ed a t t he s id es o f h er n ec k; a g ol d c ha in l ay a ga in st t he p al e s ki n o f h er b re as ts . L id de llr ea ch ed o ut a nd g en tl y s tr ok ed h er c he ek . T he y ea rs h ad l in ed h er f ac e w it h c ra ck s a nd c re as es a nd

y el lo we d h er a la ba st er s ki n. I t w as n o m at te r; L id de ll p os se ss ed t he p ow er t o h ea l h er . I n a g la ss b ea ke r,h e p re pa re d a c ol orl es s p ot i on t wo p art s a ce to ne , o ne p art m et hy l p ro xi to l, a nd t en p arts m in eralspirits a nd m oi st ened t he t ip of a c ot ton- wo ol s wab . A s he t wi rl ed i t ov er t he cu rve o f her b rea st , hel ook ed d ir ec tl y i nt o h er e ye s. T he g ir l s ta re d b ac k a t h im , h er g az e s ed uct iv e, h er l ips s et i n a p la yf ul h al f smile.

L idd el l dr opp ed t he s wa b t o t he f loo r an d f ashi on ed a n ew on e. I t wa s t hen h e he ar d a no ised ow ns ta ir s t ha t s ou nd ed l ik e t he s na p o f a l oc k. H e s at m ot io nl es s f or a m om en t, t he n t il te d h is f ac et ow ard t he c ei li ng a nd c al le d, H es te r? I s t ha t y ou ? R ec ei vi ng n o rep ly , h e d ip pe d t he fre sh s wa b i nt he c le ar p ot io n a nd o nc e a ga in t wi rl ed i t c areful ly o ve r t he s ki n o f t he g irl s b re as t. A f ew s ec ond s l at er c am e a no th er s ou nd , c lo se r t ha n t he l as t, a nd d is ti nc t e no ug h for L id de ll t o rea li ze h e w as n o l on ge r

alone. R ot at in g h is b od y q ui ck ly a to p t he s to ol , h e g li mp se d a s ha do we d fig ure o n t he l an di ng . T he fig uret oo k t wo s te ps forwa rd a nd c al ml y e nt ered L id de ll s s tu di o. F la nn el a nd d en im , d ark h ai r p ul le d i nt o astubby ponytail, dark eyes t he m an f ro m t he Hu ndr ed M onk eys . I t w as cl ear he w as ne it he r a poe t n or a p ol em ic is t. H e h ad a g un i n h is h an d, a nd i t w as p oi nt ed di rec tl y at L id de ll s h ea rt . L id de ll rea ch ed fort he f la sk o f s ol ve nt . H e w as r el ia bl e. A nd f or t ha t h e w ou ld s oo n b e d ea d.

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2S T. J AM ES S , L ON DO N

The first indication of trouble occurred the following afternoon when Emily Liddell, age four yearss ev en m on th s, e me rg ed fro m S t. J oh n s p ar is h p re sc ho ol t o f in d n o o ne w ai ti ng t o t ak e h er h om e. T hebody was discovered a short time later, and by early that evening Liddell s death was officially declareda h om ic id e. B BC S om erse t s initial bulletin included the victim s na me b ut m ad e no m en ti on o f h iso cc up at io n o r a ny p os si bl e m ot iv e f or t he k il li ng . R ad io 4 c ho se t o i gn or e t he s to ry , a s d id t he s o- ca ll edquality national papers. Only the Daily Mail c arri ed a n a cc ou nt o f t he m urde r, a s ma ll i te m b urie d a mo nga l it an y o f o th er s ordi d n ew s fro m a ro un d t he c ou nt ry .

As a result, Christopher Liddell s d ea th m ig ht h av e g on e u nn ot ic ed b y L on do n s a rt wo rl ds in ce few o f i ts l ofty c it iz en s e ve r s oi le d t he ir fin ge rs w it h t he Mail. B ut t hat was not t rue of t ub by O liv er D im bl eb y, a l ec he ro us d ea le r fro m B ury S tree t w ho h ad n ev er b ee n s hy a bo ut w ea ri ng h is w orki ng -c la ssroots on his well-tailored sleeve. Dimbleby read of the Glastonbury murder over his midmorning coffeea nd b y t ha t e ve ni ng w as b la ri ng t he n ew s t o a ny on e w ho w ou ld l is te n a t t he b ar o f G re en s Restaurant,a l oc al w at erin g h ol e i n D uk e S tree t w he re d ea le rs g at he re d t o c el eb ra te t he ir t ri um ph s o r l ic k t he irwounds.

O ne o f t he p eo pl e D im bl eb y c orne re d w as n on e o th er t ha n J ul ia n Ish erwo od , o wn er a nd s ol eproprietor of the sometimes solvent but never boring Isherwood Fine Arts, 7-8 Mason s Y ar d, St .James s, Lo ndon. He was Julie t o h is f ri en ds , Juicy Julie t o h is p artn ers i n t he o cc as io na lc ri me o f d ri nk . H e w as a m an o f c on trad ic ti on s. S hrew d b ut rec kl es s. B ri ll ia nt b ut n a v e. S ec re ti ve a sa s py b ut t ru st in g t o a fau lt . M os tl y, t ho ug h, h e w as e nt erta in in g. Ind ee d, a mo ng t he d en iz en s o f t heL on do n a rt w or ld , I sh er wo od F in e A rt s h ad a lw ay s b ee n r eg ar de d a s r at he r g oo d t he at er . I t h adenjoyed stunning highs and bottomless lows, and there was always a hint of conspiracy lurkingsomewhere beneath the shimmering surface. The roots of Isherwood s constant turmoil lay in his simplea nd o ft -st at ed o pe ra ti ng c re ed : Paintings first, business second, o r P FB S f or s ho rt . I sh er wo od sm is pl ac ed fai th i n P FB S h ad o cc as io na ll y l ed h im t o t he e dg e o f rui n. In fac t, h is fin an ci al s trai ts h adbecome so harrowing a few years back that Dimbleby himself had made a boorish attempt to buyI sh er wo od o ut . I t w as o ne o f m an y i nc id en ts t he m en p re fe rr ed t o p re te nd h ad n ev er h ap pe ne d.

B ut e ve n D im bl eb y w as s urpris ed b y t he s ho ck ed e xp re ss io n t ha t c am e o ve r Ish erwo od s f acethe instant he learned about the death in Glastonbury. Isherwood quickly managed to compose himself.T he n, a ft er m ut te ri ng s om et hi ng p re po st erou s a bo ut h av in g t o v is it a s ic k a un t, h e t hrew b ac k h is g in a ndt on ic a nd m ad e f or t he d oo r a t f lan k s pe ed .

Ish erwo od i mm ed ia te ly ret urne d t o h is g al le ry a nd p la ce d a fra nt ic c al l t o a t ru st ed c on ta ct o n t heA rt a nd A nt iq ue s S qu ad a t S co tl an d Y ar d. N in et y m in ut es l at er , t he c on ta ct c al le d b ac k. T he n ew s w ase ve n w or se t ha n I sh er wo od e xp ec te d. T he A rt S qu ad p le dg ed t o d o i ts u tm os t, b ut a s I sh er wo od s ta re d

i nt o t he y aw ni ng c ha sm o f h is l ed ge r b oo ks , h e c on cl ud ed h e h ad n o c ho ic e b ut t o t ak e m at te rs i nt o h iso wn h an ds . Y es , t he re h ad b ee n c ri se s b ef or e, h e t ho ug ht g ra ve ly , b ut t hi s w as t he r ea l t hi ng . H e c ou ldl os e i t a ll , e ve ry th in g h e h ad w orke d for, a nd i nn oc en t b ys ta nd ers w ou ld p ay a h ig h p ri ce for h is fol ly . Itwas no way to end a career not after everything he had accomplished. And certainly not aftere ve ry th in g h is p oo r o ld fat he r h ad d on e t o e ns ure J ul ia n s very survival.

It w as t hi s w ho ll y u ne xp ec te d m em ory o f h is fat he r t ha t c au se d Ish erwo od t o o nc e a ga in rea ch forh is p ho ne . H e s ta rt ed t o d ia l a n um be r b ut s to pp ed . B et te r n ot t o g iv e h im a dv an ce w ar ni ng , h e t ho ug ht .B et te r t o sh ow u p on h is do or st ep, c ap i n h an d.

H e rep la ce d t he rec ei ve r a nd c he ck ed h is c al en da r for t he fol lo wi ng d ay . J us t t hree u np ro mi si ngappointments, nothing that couldn t b e m ov ed t o a no th er t im e. I sh er wo od d re w a h ea vy l in e t hr ou ghe ac h e nt ry a nd a t t he t op o f t he p ag e s cr ib bl ed a s in gl e b ib li ca l n am e. H e s ta re d a t i t f or a m om en t, t he n,rea li zi ng h is m is ta ke , o bl it erat ed i t w it h a few firm s trok es o f h is p en . Pull yourself together, he thought.What were you thinking, Julie? What on earth were you thinking?

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3T HE L IZ AR D P EN IN SU LA , C OR NW AL L

Th e s tr an ger s et tl ed no t i n h is o ld ha un t al on g t he H el fo rd P ass ag e b ut i n a sm al l c ot ta ge a to p t he c li ff son t he west er n edge of t he L izard Peni nsul a. He had seen i t f or t he f ir st t ime f rom t he deck of hi s k etch , a

m il e o ut t o s ea . I t s to od a t t he f ar th es t e nd o f G un wa ll oe C ov e, s ur ro un de d b y p ur pl e t hr if t a nd r edfes cu e. B eh in d i t ros e a s lo pi ng fie ld c ri ss cros se d b y h ed ge ro ws ; t o t he rig ht s tret ch ed a c re sc en t b ea chw he re a n o ld s hi pw re ck l ay s le ep in g j us t b en ea th t he t re ac he ro us s urf. F ar t oo d an ge ro us for b at hi ng , t hec ov e a tt ra ct ed few v is it ors o th er t ha n t he o cc as io na l h ik er o r t he l oc al fis he rm en w ho c am e w he n t he s eabass were running. The stranger remembered this. He also recalled that the beach and the cottage borea n u nc an ny res em bl an ce t o a p ai r o f p ai nt in gs e xe cu te d b y M on et i n t he F re nc h c oa st al t ow n o f P ou rv il le ,o ne o f w hi ch h ad b een s to len f ro m a m us eum i n P ol and a nd w as m is si ng t o t hi s d ay .

T he i nh ab it an ts o f G un wa ll oe w ere a wa re o f n on e o f t hi s, o f c ou rs e. T he y k ne w o nl y t ha t t hestranger had taken the cottage under highly unusual circumstances a t we lv e-mo nt h l ea se , p ai d i n ful l, n om us s, n o f us s, a ll d et ai ls h an dl ed b y a l aw ye r i n H am bu rg n o o ne h ad e ve r h ear d o f. E ve n m or e

perplexing was the parade of strange cars that appeared in the village soon after the transaction. Theflashy black sedans with diplomatic plates. The cruisers from the local constabulary. The anonymousVauxhalls from London filled with gray men in matching gray suits. Duncan Reynolds, thirty years retiredfro m t he rai lroa d a nd reg arde d a s t he m os t w orld ly o f G un wa ll oe s c it iz en ry , h ad o bs erve d t he m engiving the property a hasty final inspection the evening of the stranger s a rr iv al . These lads weren tyour basic ready-to-wear security men, h e r ep or te d. T he y w ere t he rea l t hi ng . Professionals, i f y ouh ap pe n t o g et m y m ea ni ng .

T he s tr an ge r w as c le ar ly a m an o n a m iss io n, t ho ugh f or t he l if e o f t he m no o ne i n G un wal lo e h ad ac lu e w ha t i t w as . T he ir i mp re ss io ns w ere forme d d urin g h is b ri ef d ai ly foray s i nt o t he v il la ge for s up pl ie s.A f ew o f t he ol de r o nes t ho ugh t t he y r ec ogn iz ed a b it of t he so ldi er i n h im w hi le t he y oun ge r w om enadmitted to finding him attractive s o a tt ra ct iv e, i n fac t, t ha t s om e o f t he ir m en fo lk b eg an t o d is li ke h imi nt en se ly . T he d aft o ne s b oa st ed a bo ut h av in g a g o a t h im , b ut t he w is er o ne s p re ac he d c au ti on . D es pi tethe stranger s s om ew ha t s ma ll s ta tu re , i t w as o bv io us h e k ne w h ow t o h an dl e h im se lf i f t hi ng s g ot rou gh .P ic k a f ig ht w it h h im , t he y w ar ne d, a nd c ha nc es w er e g oo d t ha t b on es w ou ld g et b ro ke n. A nd n ot h is .

His exotic-looking companion, however, was another story. She was warmth to his frost, sunlightt o h is g ra y c lo ud s. H er e xc ep ti on al b ea ut y a dd ed a t ou ch o f c la ss t o t he v il lag e s tr ee ts , a lo ng w it h a h in tof foreign intrigue. When the woman s m oo d w as u pb ea t, h er e ye s a ct ua ll y s ee me d t o e mi t a l ig ht o f t he ir o wn . B ut a t t im es t he re w as a ls o a d is ce rn ib le s ad ne ss . D ot ti e C ox fro m t he v il la ge s to re s pe cu la te dt ha t t he w om an h ad l os t s om eo ne c lo se t o h er r ec en tl y. S he t ri es t o h id e i t, s ai d D ot ti e, but thepoor lamb s obviously still in mourning.

T ha t t he c ou pl e w as n ot B ri ti sh w as b ey on d d is pu te . T he ir c re di t c ar ds w er e i ss ue d i n t he n am e

R os si , a nd t he y w ere o ft en o ve rh ea rd m urmu ri ng t o o ne a no th er i n Ita li an . W he n V era H ob bs a t t hebakery finally worked up the nerve to ask where they were from, the woman replied evasively, London, mostly. T he m an , h ow ev er, h ad m ai nt ai ne d a g ra ni te s il en ce . He s either desperately shyor he s hiding something, V era c on cl u de d. I d w ag er m y m on ey o n n um be r t wo .

I f t he re w as o ne o pi ni on o f t he s tr an ge r s ha re d b y e ver yo ne i n t he v il la ge , i t w as t ha t h e w ase xt re me ly p ro te ct iv e o f h is w ife. P erha ps , t he y v en tu re d, a b it too p ro te ct iv e. F or t he fi rs t few w ee ksa ft er t he ir a rr iv al , h e n ev er s ee me d t o s tr ay m or e t ha n a f ew i nc he s f ro m h er s id e. B ut b y e ar ly O ct ob er ,t her e w er e s ma ll si gn s t ha t t he w om an w as g ro wi ng w ea ry o f h is c on st an t p re se nc e. A nd by t he m id dl e o f t he m on th , s he w as reg ul arly m ak in g t ri ps t o t he v il la ge u ne sc orte d. A s for t he s tran ge r, i t s ee me d t o o neo bs erve r t ha t h e h ad b ee n s en te nc ed b y s om e i nt erna l t ri bu na l t o forev er w al k t he c li ffs o f t he L iz ard

alone. A t first , h is e xc ursi on s w ere s ho rt . B ut g ra du al ly h e b eg an t ak in g l on g force d m arch es t ha t k ep th im a wa y f or s ev er al h ou rs a t a t im e. C lo ak ed i n h is d ar k g re en B ar bo ur c oa t w it h a f la t c ap p ul le d l ow

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o ve r h is b ro w, h e w ou ld t ro op s ou th a lo ng t he c li ff s t o K yn an ce C ov e a nd L iz ar d P oi nt , o r n or th p as t t heL oe t o P or th le ve n. T he re w er e t im es w he n h e w ou ld a pp ea r l os t i n t ho ug ht a nd t im es w he n h e a do pt edt he w ar in es s o f a s co ut o n a r ec on na is sa nc e m is si on . V er a H ob bs r ec ko ne d h e w as t ry in g t o r em em be r something, a theory Dottie Cox found laughable. It s o bv io us as t he no se o n y ou r f ace , V er a, y ou ol df oo l. T he p oo r d ea r i sn t trying to remember anything. He s d oi ng h is v er y b es t t o f or ge t.

T wo m at te rs s erve d t o rai se t he l ev el o f i nt ri gu e i n G un wa ll oe s ti ll h ig he r. T he first c on ce rn ed t he

m en w ho a lw ay s s ee me d t o b e f is hi ng i n t he c ov e w he ne ve r t he s tr an ge r w as a wa y o n o ne o f h is w al ks .E ve ry on e i n G un wa ll oe a gree d t he y w ere t he w orst fis he rm en a ny on e h ad e ve r s ee n i n fac t, m os ta ss um ed t he y w er e n ot f is he rm en a t a ll . A nd t he n t he re w as t he c ou pl e s o nl y v is it or, abroad-shouldered Cornish boy with movie-idol good looks. After much speculation, it was MalcolmB ra it hw ai te , a ret ired l ob st erma n w ho s me ll ed p erpe tu al ly o f t he s ea , w ho c orre ct ly i de nt ifie d t he l ad a st he Peel boy. T he o ne w ho r es cu ed l it tl e A da m H at ha wa y a t S en ne n C ov e b ut r ef us ed t o s ay a w or dabout it, Malcolm reminded them. T he o dd o ne f ro m P or t N av as . M ot he r u se d t o b ea t t he d ay li gh tso ut o f h im . O r w as i t t he bo yf ri en d?

T he a pp ea ra nc e o f T im ot hy P ee l i gn it ed a rou nd o f i nt en se s pe cu la ti on a bo ut t he s tran ge r s t ru ei de nt it y, m os t o f w hi ch w as c on du ct ed u nd er t he i nflu en ce a t t he L am b a nd F la g p ub . M al co lm

Braithwaite decreed he was an informant hiding out in Cornwall under police protection, while DuncanR ey no ld s s om eh ow g ot i t i nt o h is h ea d t ha t t he s tr an ge r w as a R us si an d ef ec to r. L ik e t ha t b lo keBulganov, h e i ns is te d. T he p oor s od t hey f oun d de ad i n t he Do ck lan ds a f ew m ont hs ag o. O ur n ewf ri en d b et te r w at ch h is s te p o r h e m ig ht m ee t t he s am e f at e.

B ut i t w as T ed dy S in cl ai r, o wn er o f a r at her g oo d pi zz er ia i n H el st on , w ho c am e up w it h t he m ostc on trov ersi al t he ory. W hi le t ro ll in g t he Int erne t o ne d ay for G od k no ws w ha t, h e s tu mb le d u po n a n o ldarticle in the Times a bo ut E li za be th H al to n, t he d au gh te r o f t he forme r A me ri ca n a mb as sa do r, w ho h adbeen kidnapped by terrorists while jogging in Hyde Park. With great fanfare, Sinclair produced thea rt ic le , a lo ng w it h a n o ut -o f-fo cu s s na ps ho t o f t he t wo m en w ho h ad c arri ed o ut h er d ra ma ti cC hris tm as -m orni ng res cu e a t W es tm in st er A bb ey . A t t he t im e, S co tl an d Y ard h ad c la im ed t ha t t heh eroe s w ere o ffic ers o f t he S O1 9 s pe ci al o pe ra ti on s d iv is io n. T he Times, h ow ev er, rep ort ed t ha t t he y

were actually agents of Israeli intelligence and t hat t he ol der of t he t wo, t he one w it h dar k h ai r and g rayt em pl es , w as n on e o th er t ha n t he n ot orio us Israe li s py a nd a ss as si n G ab ri el A ll on . L oo k a t h imcarefully. It s him, I t el l y ou . T he m an n ow l iv in g i n G un wa ll oe C ov e i s n on e o th er t ha n G ab ri el A ll on .

T hi s p ro mp te d t he m os t u proa ri ou s o ut bu rs t o f l au gh te r a t t he L am b a nd F la g s in ce a d ru nk enM al co lm B ra it hw ai t e h ad d ro pp ed t o o ne k ne e a nd d ec la re d h is u nd yi ng l ov e for V era H ob bs . W he no rd er w as fin al ly res to re d, a h um il ia te d T ed dy S in cl ai r w ad de d t he a rt ic le i nt o a b al l a nd t os se d i t i nt o t hef ir e. A nd t ho ug h h e w ou ld n ev er k no w i t, h is t he or y a bo ut t he m an f ro m t he f ar e nd o f t he c ov e w asaltogether and entirely correct.

IF THE STRANGER w as a wa re o f t he sc ru ti ny , h e g av e n o si gn o f i t. H e w at ch ed o ve r t he b ea ut if ul w om ana nd h ik ed t he w in d-sw ep t c li ffs, s om et im es l oo ki ng a s i f h e w ere t ry in g t o rem em be r, s om et im es a st ho ug h h e w ere t ry in g t o forge t. O n t he s ec on d T ue sd ay o f N ov em be r, w hi le n ea ri ng t he s ou th ern e nd o f K yn an ce C ov e, h e s po tt ed a t al l, g ra y-ha ired m an s ta nd in g p re ca ri ou sl y o n t he t erra ce o f t he P ol pe orC af a t L iz ard P oi nt . E ve n fro m a l on g w ay o ff, h e c ou ld t el l t he m an w as w at ch in g h im . G ab ri els to pp ed a nd r ea ch ed i nt o h is c oa t p oc ke t, w ra pp in g h is h an d a ro un d t he c om fo rt in g s ha pe o f a B er et ta9 mm p is to l. J us t t he n, t he m an b eg an t o fla il h is a rm s a s t ho ug h h e w ere d ro wn in g. G ab ri el rel ea se d h isg ri p o n t he g un a nd w al ke d o n, t he s ea w in d r oa ri ng i n h is e ar s, h is h ea rt po un di ng l ik e a k et tl ed ru m.

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4L IZ AR D P OI NT , C OR NW AL L

Ho w d id y ou fin d m e, J ul ia n? C hi ar a t ol d m e y ou w er e h ea de d t hi s w ay .Gabriel stared incredulously at Isherwood. H ow d o y ou t hi nk I f ou nd y ou , p et al ? E it he r y ou p ri ed i t o ut o f t he d ir ec to r- ge ne ra l o f M I5 o r S ha mr on t ol d y ou . I m b et ti ng i t w as

Shamron. Y ou a lw ay s w er e a c le ve r b oy .I she rw oo d a dd ed m il k t o hi s t ea. He wa s dr es sed f or t he co un tr y i n t we ed s a nd w ool , an d h is

l on g g ra y l oc ks a pp ea re d t o h av e b ee n r ec en tl y t ri mm ed , a s ur e si gn h e w as i nv ol ve d w it h a n ew w om an .Gabriel couldn t h el p b ut s mi le . H e h ad a lw ay s b ee n a ma ze d b y I sh er wo od s c apa ci ty f or l ove . I t wa sm at ch ed o nl y b y h is d es ire t o fin d a nd a cq ui re p ai nt in gs .

T he y s ay t he re s a l os t l an d o ut t he re s om ew he re , Ish erwo od s ai d, n od di ng t ow ard t hewindow. A pp aren tl y, i t s tret ch es fro m h ere t o t he Isl es o f S ci ll y. T he y s ay t ha t w he n t he w in d i s rig hty ou c an h ea r t he t ol li ng o f c hu rc h b el ls .

It s k no wn a s L yo ne ss e, t he C it y o f L io ns , a nd i t s n ot hi ng b ut a l oc al l eg en d. L ik e t he o ne a bo ut a n a rc ha ng el l iv in g a to p t he c li ffs o f G un wa ll oe C ov e? Let s not get carried away with the biblical allusions, Julian. I m a d ea le r o f Ita li an a nd D ut ch O ld M as te r a rt . B ib li ca l a ll us io ns a re m y s to ck -i n-trad e.

Besides, it s har d not t o g et ca rr ied a wa y i n a pl ace l ik e t hi s. I t s all a bit isolated for my taste, but Ican understand why you v e a lw ay s b ee n d ra wn t o i t. Ish erwo od l oo se ne d t he b ut to ns o f h iso v erc oa t . I r em em be r t ha t l ov el y c ot ta ge y ou h ad o ve r i n P or t N av as . A nd t ha t d re ad fu l l it tl e t oa d w hou se d t o w at ch o ve r i t w he n y ou w er en t a ro un d. R em in d m e o f t he l ad s n am e.

Peel, said Gabriel. A h, y es, yo ung M ast er P eel . H e w as l ike yo u. A na tur al spy , t ha t on e. G ave me a dev il o f a

t im e w he n I c am e l oo ki ng for t ha t p ai nt in g I d p la ce d i n yo ur c ar e. I sh er wo od m ad e a s ho w o f thought. Vecellio, wasn t it ?

G ab ri el n od de d. Adoration of the Shepherds. Gorgeous picture, said Isherwood, his eyes glistening. M y b us in es s w as h an gi ng b y t he

t hi nn es t o f t hr ea ds . T ha t V ec el li o w as t he c ou p t ha t w as g oi ng t o k ee p m e i n c lo ve r f or a f ew m or e y ea rs ,a nd y ou w er e s up po se d t o b e r es to ri ng i t. B ut y ou d d is ap pe ar ed f ro m t he f ac e o f t he e ar th , h ad n tyou? Vanished without a trace. Ish erw oo d frow ne d. I was a fool to ever throw in my lot with youa nd y ou r f ri en ds f ro m T el A vi v. Y ou u se p eo pl e l ik e m e. A nd w hen y ou re done, you throw us to thewolves.

Isherwood warmed his hands against the tarnished aluminum teapot. His backbone-of-Englands urna me a nd E ng li sh s ca le c on ce al ed t he fac t t ha t h e w as n ot , a t l ea st t ec hn ic al ly , E ng li sh a t a ll . B ri ti sh b yn at io na li ty a nd p as sp ort, y es , b ut G erma n b y b irth , F re nc h b y u pb ri ng in g, a nd J ew is h b y rel ig io n. O nl y ah an dful o f t ru st ed fri en ds k ne w t ha t Ish erwo od h ad s ta gg ered i nt o L on do n a s a c hi ld refug ee i n 1 94 2a ft er b ei ng c ar ri ed a cr os s t he s no wb ou nd P yr en ee s b y a p ai r o f B as qu e s he ph er ds . O r t ha t h is f at he r, t heren ow ne d P ari s a rt d ea le r S am ue l Isa ko wi tz , h ad b ee n m urde re d a t t he S ob ib or d ea th c am p a lo ng w it hIsherwood s m ot he r. T ho ug h I sh er wo od h ad c ar ef ul ly g ua rd ed t he s ec re ts o f h is p as t, t he s to ry o f h isd ra ma ti c e sc ap e fro m N az i-oc cu pi ed E urop e h ad m an ag ed t o rea ch t he e ars o f t he l eg en da ry Israe lis py ma st er A ri S ha mron . A nd i n t he m id -1 97 0s , d urin g a w av e o f P al es ti ni an t erro ri st a tt ac ks a ga in stIsrae li t arge ts i n E urop e, S ha mron h ad rec ru it ed Ish erwo od a s a sayan, a volunteer helper. Isherwood

had but one assignment

t o a ss is t i n b ui ld in g a nd m ai nt ai ni ng t he o pe ra ti on al c ov er o f a y ou ng a rtrestorer and assassin named Gabriel Allon. W he n d id y ou s pe ak w it h h im ? Gabriel asked.

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Shamron? Ish erwo od g av e a n a mb ig uo us s hrug o f h is s ho ul de rs . I b um pe d i nt o h im i nP ar is a f ew w ee ks a go .

G ab ri el , b y h is e xp re ss io n, m ad e i t c le ar h e fou nd Ish erwo od s a cc ou nt l es s t ha n c re di bl e. N oo ne b um pe d i nt o A ri S ha mron . A nd t ho se w ho d id rarel y l iv ed t o rec al l t he e xp erie nc e.

W he re i n P aris ? W e had di nner in hi s sui te at t he Ri tz. Just the t wo of us. How romantic. Actually, we weren t c om pl et el y a lo ne . H is b od yg ua rd w as t he re , t oo . P oo r S ha mron . H e s

a s o ld a s t he J ud ea n H il ls , b ut e ve n n ow h is e ne mi es a re rut hl es sl y s ta lk in g h im . It comes with the territory, Julian. I s up po se i t d oe s. Ish erwo od l oo ke d a t G ab ri el a nd s mi l ed s ad ly . He s as stubborn as a

mul e and about as char mi ng. But a part of m e is gl ad he s s ti ll t he re. A nd a no the r p ar t l iv es i n f ea r o f t hed ay h e fin al ly d ie s. Israe l w il l n ev er b e q ui te t he s am e. A nd n ei th er w il l K in g S au l B ou le va rd .

K in g S au l B ou le va rd w as t he a dd re ss o f Israe l s forei gn i nt el li ge nc e s ervi ce . It h ad a l on g a ndd el ib erat el y m is le ad in g n am e t ha t h ad v ery l it tl e t o d o w it h t he t ru e n at ure o f i ts w ork. T ho se w ho w orke dt he re r ef er re d t o i t a s t he O ff ic e a nd n ot hi ng e ls e.

Shamron will never die, Julian. Shamron is eternal.

I wouldn t be so sur e, petal . He di dn t l ook wel l t o m e.G ab ri el s ip pe d h is t ea . I t h ad b ee n n ea rl y a d ec ad e s in ce S ha mr on h ad d on e h is l as t t ou r a s c hi ef ,

a nd y et h e s ti ll m ed dl ed i n t he a ff ai rs of t he O ff ic e a s t ho ugh i t w er e hi s pr iva te f ief do m. I ts r an ks w er efil le d w it h o ffic ers w ho h ad b ee n rec ru it ed a nd g ro om ed b y S ha mron o ff ic er s w ho o pe ra te d b y a c re ed ,e ve n s po ke a l an gu ag e, w ri tt en b y h im . T ho ug h h e n o l on ge r h ad a forma l p os it io n o r t it le , S ha mronremained the hidden hand that guided Israel s s ec urit y p ol ic ie s. W it hi n t he c orri do rs o f t he Israe lis ec urit y e st ab li sh me nt , h e w as k no wn o nl y a s t he Memuneh, t he o ne i n c har ge. For m an y yea rs, h e haddevoted his formidable power to a single mission persuading Gabriel, whom he regarded as a waywards on , t o a ss um e h is rig ht fu l p la ce i n t he d irec to r s s ui te o f K in g S au l B ou le va rd . G ab ri el h ad a lw ay sresisted; and after his last operation, Shamron had finally granted him permission to leave the organization

h e h ad s erve d s in ce h is y ou th . W hy ar e y ou h er e, J ul ia n? W e h ad an ar ra ng em en t. W hen I w as r eady t o w or k, I w ou ld m ake

contact with you, n ot t he o th er w ay ar ou nd. Ish erwo od l ea ne d forwa rd a nd p la ce d a h an d o n G ab ri el s arm. S ha mron t ol d m e a bo ut w ha t

happened in Russia, h e s ai d s of tl y. H ea ve n k no ws I m no ex per t, bu t I d oub t e ven y ou ha ve t hepower to erase a memory like that.

G ab ri el w at ch ed t he s ea gu ll s flo at in g l ik e k it es a bo ve t he t ip o f L iz ard P oi nt . H is t ho ug ht s,ho weve r, w er e of a b ir ch f or est e ast o f M osc ow . H e w as st and in g ne xt t o C hi ar a a t t he edg e of a f res hl yd ug g ra ve , h is h an ds b ou nd b eh in d h is b ac k, h is e ye s f ix ed o n t he b ar re l o f a l ar ge -c al ib er p is to l. A t t heother end of the gun was Ivan Kharkov, Russian oligarch, international financier, arms dealer, and

murderer. Enjoy watching your wife die, Allon. G ab ri el b li nk ed a nd t he v is io n w as g on e. H ow m uc h d id S ha mron t el l y ou ? E no ug h t o k no w t ha t y ou a nd C hi ar a h av e e ve ry r ig ht t o l oc k y ou rs el ve s a wa y i n t ha t co tt ag e

a nd n ev er c om e o ut a ga in . I sh er wo od w as s il en t f or a m om en t. I s i t t ru e she was pr egn ant w hen shew as t ak en f ro m t ha t r oa d i n U mb ri a?

G ab ri el c lo se d h is e ye s a nd n od de d. Ivan s k id na pp ers g av e h er s ev eral d os es o f s ed at i vew hi le t he y w ere m ov in g h er fro m Ita ly t o R us si a. S he l os t t he b ab y w hi le s he w as i n c ap ti vi ty .

H ow i s she n ow ? L ik e a n ew ly res to re d p ai nt in g. O n t he s urfa ce , s he l oo ks w on de rful . B ut u nd erne at h

Gabriel s v oi ce t ra il ed o ff . She has losses, Julian. How extensive? T he re a re g oo d d ay s a nd b ad . I r ea d a bo ut I va n s m urde r i n t he n ew sp ap ers. T he F re nc h p ol ic e s ee m c on vi nc ed h e w as

k il le d on o rd er s f ro m t he K re ml in or b y a n a ng ry b usi ne ss r iva l. B ut i t w as y ou , w as n t i t, G ab ri el ? Y ou

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w ere t he o ne w ho k il le d Iva n o ut si de t ha t p os h res ta uran t i n S ai nt -T ro pe z. J us t b ec au se I m officially retired now doesn t m ea n t he rul es h av e c ha ng ed , J ul ia n. Ish erwo od rep le ni sh ed h is t ea cu p a nd p ic ke d refle ct iv el y a t t he c orne r o f h is n ap ki n. Y ou d id

t he w orld a fav or b y k il li ng h im , h e s ai d q ui et ly . Now you have to do one for yourself and thatg orge ou s w ife o f y ou rs . It s t im e f or y ou an d Ch iar a t o r ej oi n t he l ivi ng .

We are living, Julian. Quite well, actually. No, you r e n ot . Y ou re in mourning. You re s it ti ng a n e xt en de d shivah for t he c hi ld y ou

l os t i n Ru ssi a. B ut yo u ca n w al k t he c li ff s f rom h er e t o L an d s E nd , G ab ri el , a nd i t w il l n ev er b ri ng t ha tbaby back. Chiara knows it. And it s t im e f or yo u t o s ta rt t hi nk ing a bou t so me th in g o th er t ha n aRussian oligarch named Ivan Kharkov.

Something like a painting? Exactly.Gabriel exhaled heavily. Who s t he a rt is t? Rembrandt. W ha t c on di ti on i s i t i n? H ar d t o s ay .

W hy i s t ha t?

B ec au se a t t he m om en t, i t s missing. H ow c an I res to re a m is si ng p ai nt in g? P e rh ap s I m n ot m ak in g m ys el f c le ar. I d on t need you to restore a p ai nt in g, G ab ri el . I n ee d

yo u t ofind one.

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5L IZ AR D P OI NT , C OR NW AL L

They walked along the cliffs toward Lizard Light, a study in contrasts, figures from different paintings.Isherwood s h an ds w er e s ho ve d i nt o t he p oc ke ts o f h is t we ed c ou nt ry c oa t, t he e nd s o f h is w oo le nscarf fluttering like warning flags in the raw wind. Paradoxically, he was speaking of summer a sultrya ft er no on i n J ul y w he n h e h ad v is it ed a c h t eau i n t he L oi re V al ley t o p ick o ver t he c ol lec ti on of i tsd ec ea se d o wn er , o ne o f t he m or e g ho ul is h a sp ec ts o f a n a rt d ea le r s dubious existence.

T he re w ere o ne o r t wo p ai nt in gs t ha t w ere m il dl y i nt eres ti ng , b ut t he res t w as c om pl et e c ra p.A s I w as l ea vi ng , m y m obi le r an g. I t w as n on e o th er t ha n D av id C av en di sh, a rt ad vi se r t o t he v as tl y r ich ,a nd a r at he r s ha dy c ha ra ct er , t o p ut i t m il dl y.

W ha t d id h e w an t? H e h ad a p ro po si ti on f or m e. T he k in d t ha t c ou ld n t b e d is cu ss ed o ve r t he p ho ne . I ns is te d I

c om e s ee h im r ig ht a way . H e w as s ta yi ng a t a b or ro we d v il la o n S ar di ni a. T ha t s Cavendish s w ay .He s a h ou se gu es t o f a m an . N ev er p ay s f or a ny th in g. B ut h e p ro mi se d t he t ri p w ou ld b e w el l w or th m yt im e. H e a ls o h in te d t ha t t he h ou se w as fil le d w it h p re tt y g irls a nd a g re at d ea l o f e xc el le nt w in e. S o y ou c au gh t t he n ex t p la ne ?

W ha t c ho ic e d id I h av e? And the proposition? H e h ad a c li ent wh o w ant ed t o d is po se of a ma jo r p or tr ai t. A R em br an dt . Qu it e a p ri ze. N ev er

been seen in public. Said his client was disinclined to use one of the big auction houses. Wanted them at te r h an dl ed p ri va te ly . H e a ls o s ai d t he c li en t w is he d t o s ee t he p ai nt in g h an gi ng i n a m us eu m.C av en di sh t ri ed t o p ortray h im a s s om e s ort o f h um an it aria n. M ore l ik el y, h e j us t c ou ld n t bear thet ho ug ht o f i t h an gi ng o n t he w al l o f a no th er c ol le ct or.

Why you? B eca us e b y t he r at he r l ow s ta nd ar ds o f t he a rt w or ld , I m c on si de re d a p arag on o f v irtu e.

A nd d es pi te m y m an y s tu mb le s o ve r t he y ea rs , I ve somehow managed to maintain an excellentreputation among the museums.

If t he y o nl y k ne w. G ab ri el s ho ok h is h ea d s lo wl y. D id C av en di sh e ve r t el l y ou t he s el le r sname?

H e s pu n s om e n on se ns e a bo ut f ad ed n ob il it y f ro m a n E as te rn l an d, b ut I d id n t b el ie ve a wo rdo f i t.

W hy a p ri va te s al e? Haven t y ou h ea rd ? In t he se u nc erta in t im es , t he y r e a ll t he r ag e. F ir st a nd f or em os t, t he y

ensure the seller total anonymity. Remember, darling, one normally doesn t p ar t w it h a R em br an dtbecause one is tired of looking at it. One parts with it because one needs money. And the last thing a rich

person wants is to tell the world that he s n ot s o ric h a ny mo re . B es id es , t ak in g a p ai nt in g t o a uc ti on i sa lw ay s ris ky . D ou bl y s o i n a c li ma te l ik e t hi s.

S o y ou a gr ee d t o h an dl e t he s al e. Obviously. W ha t w as y ou r t ak e? Ten percent commission, split down the middle with Cavendish. That s not terribly ethical, Julian. W e d o w ha t we ha ve t o do . M y p ho ne st opp ed r ing in g t he da y t he D ow we nt b el ow s ev en

t ho us an d. A nd I m n ot a lo ne . E ve ry d ea le r i n S t. J am es s i s fee li ng t he p in ch . E ve ry on e b ut G il esP it ta wa y, o f c ou rs e. S om eh ow , G il es a lw ay s m an ag es t o w ea th er a ll s to rm s.

I a ss um e y ou g ot a s ec on d o pi ni on o n t he c an va s b ef or e t ak in g i t t o m ar ke t?

Immediately, s ai d Is he rwo od . A ft er al l, I h ad t o m ak e s ur e t he p ai nt in g i n q ues ti on w asa ct ua ll y a R em br an dt a nd n ot a S tu di o o f R em br an dt , a S ch oo l o f R em br an dt , a F ol lo we r o f R em br an dt ,

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o r, h ea ve n forbi d, i n t he M an ne r o f R em bran dt . Who did the authentication for you? W ho d o y ou t hi nk ? Van Berkel? B ut o f c ou rs e. D r. G us ta af v an B erke l w as w id el y a ck no wl ed ge d t o b e t he w orld s foremost authority on

R em bran dt . H e a ls o s erve d a s d irec to r a nd c hi ef i nq ui si to r o f t he R em bran dt C om mi tt ee , a g ro up o f a rthistorians, scientists, and researchers whose lifework was ensuring that every painting attributed toR em bran dt w as i n fac t a R em bran dt .

Van Berkel was predictably dubious, Is he rwo od s ai d . B ut a ft er l oo ki ng a t m yphotographs, he agreed to drop everything and come to London to see the painting himself. The flushede xp re ss io n o n h is f ac e t ol d m e e ve ry th in g I n eed ed t o k no w. B ut I st il l h ad t o w ai t t wo a go ni zi ng w ee ksf or V an B er ke l a nd h is s ta r c ha mb er t o h an d d ow n t he ir v er di ct . T he y d ec re ed t ha t t he p ai nt in g w asa ut he nt ic a nd c ou ld b e s ol d a s s uc h. I s wo re V an B erke l t o s ec re cy . E ve n m ad e h im s ig n a c on fi de nt ia li tya gree me nt . T he n I b oa rd ed t he n ex t p la ne t o W as hi ng to n.

Why Washington?

B ec au se t he N at io na l G al le ry w as i n t he fin al s ta ge s o f a ss em bl in g a m aj or R em bran dt e xh ib it .A n um be r o f p ro mi ne nt A me ri ca n a nd E urop ea n m us eu ms h ad a gree d t o l en d t he ir o wn R em bran dt s, b utI d he ar d r um or s ab ou t a po t of mo ne y t hat ha d b een set a si de f or a ne w a cqu is it io n. I d a ls o h ea rdt he y w an te d s om et hi ng t ha t c ou ld g en erat e a few h ea dl in es . S om et hi ng s ex y t ha t c ou ld t urn o ut a c ro wd .

And your newly discovered Rembrandt fit that description. L ik e o ne o f m y t ai lo r- ma de s ui ts , p et al . I n f ac t, w e w er e a bl e t o r ea ch a d ea l v er y q ui ck ly . I

was to deliver the painting to Washington, fully restored, in six months t im e. T he n t he d ir ec to r o f t heNational Gallery would unveil his prize to the world.

You didn t m en ti on t he s al e p ri ce . You didn t a sk . I m asking. F orty -fiv e m il li on . I i ni ti al ed a d ra ft a gree me nt o f t he d ea l i n W as hi ng to n a nd t re at ed m ys el f t o a

f ew d ay s w it h a s pe ci al f ri en d a t t he E de n R oc k H ot el i n S ai nt B ar th s. T he n I r et ur ne d t o L on do n a nds ta rt ed l oo ki ng for a res to re r. I n ee de d s om eo ne g oo d. S om eo ne w it h a b it o f n at ural d is cret io n. W hi chi s w hy I we nt t o Par is t o see S ha mr on .

I sh er wo od l oo ke d t o G ab ri el f or a r es po ns e. G re et ed b y s il en ce , h e s lo we d t o a s to p a ndw at ch ed t he w av es c ra sh in g a ga in st t he roc ks a t L iz ard P oi nt .

W he n S ha mron t ol d m e t ha t y ou s ti ll w eren t r ea dy t o w or k, I r el uc ta nt ly s et tl ed o n a no th er res to re r. S om eo ne w ho w ou ld j um p a t t he c ha nc e t o c le an a l on g-lo st R em bran dt . A forme r s ta ff c on se rv at or fro m t he T at e w ho d g on e i nt o p ri va te p ra ct ic e. N ot q ui te a s e le ga nt a s m y f ir st c ho ic e b uts ol id a nd m uc h l es s c om pl ic at ed . N o i ss ue s w it h t erro ri st s o r R us si an a rm s d ea le rs . N ev er a sk ed m e t ok ee p a d ef ec to r s c at f or t he w ee ke nd . A nd n o d ea d b od ie s t ur ni ng u p. E xc ep t n ow . Isherwoodt ur ne d t o G ab ri el . Unless you v e g iv en u p w at ch in g t he n ew s, I m sure you can fi ni sh the rest of thestory.

You hired Christopher Liddell.I sh er wo od n od de d s lo wl y a nd g az ed a t t he d ar ke ni ng s ea . It s a sham e y ou di dn t t ake t he

job, Gabriel. The only person to die would have been the thief. And I d still have my Rembrandt.

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6T HE L IZ AR D P EN IN SU LA , C OR NW AL L

He dg erow s l in ed t he n arro w t ra ck l ea di ng n orth fro m L iz ard P oi nt , b lo ck in g a ll v ie ws o f t hesurrounding countryside. Isherwood drove at a snail s p ac e, h is l on g b od y h un ch ed o ve r t he w he el ,while Gabriel stared silently out the window.

Y ou k ne w h im , d id n t y ou ?Gabriel nodded absently. We apprenticed together in Venice under Umberto Conti. Liddell

n ev er c ar ed f or m e. That s u nd erst an da bl e. H e m us t h av e b ee n e nv io us . L id de ll w as g ifte d, b ut h e w as n t in your

l ea gu e. Y ou w er e t he s ta r, a nd e ve ry on e k ne w i t. It w as t ru e, t ho ug ht G ab ri el . B y t he t im e C hris to ph er L id de ll a rriv ed i n V en ic e h e w as a lrea dy a

skilled craftsman more skilled, even, than Gabriel but he had never been able to win Umberto sapproval. Liddell s w ork w as m et ho di ca l a nd t ho ro ug h b ut l ac ke d t he i nv is ib le fire U mb erto s aw e ac htime Gabriel s br ush t ouch ed a c anva s. Um ber to h ad a m agi c r in g o f k eys t hat cou ld open an y d oor i nV en ic e. L at e a t n ig ht h e w oul d d rag G ab ri el f ro m h is r oo m t o s tud y t he ci ty s masterpieces. Liddellbecame angry when he learned of the nocturnal tutorials and asked for an invitation. Umberto refused.Liddell s instruction would be limited to daylight hours. The nights belonged to Gabriel.

It s n ot e ve ry d ay a n a rt r es to re r i s b ru ta ll y m ur de re d i n t he U ni te d K in gd om , Isherwoods ai d. G iv en y ou r c ircu ms ta nc es , i t m us t h av e c om e a s s om et hi ng o f a s ho ck .

Let s j us t s ay I r ea d t he st or ie s t hi s m or ni ng w it h m or e t ha n a p as si ng i nt er es t. A nd n on ementioned a missing Rembrandt, newly discovered or otherwise.

That s b ec au se on t he ad vi ce o f t he A rt a nd A nt iqu es Sq ua d a t Sc ot la nd Ya rd , t he l oc alpolice have agreed to keep the theft a secret, at least for the time being. Undue publicity only makesrec ov ery m ore d iffi cu lt s in ce i t t en ds t o i nv it e c on ta ct fro m p eo pl e w ho d on t actually have possessiono f t he p ai nt in g. A s far a s t he p ub li c i s c on ce rn ed , t he m ot iv e for L id de ll s m urde r rem ai ns a m ys te ry .

A s i t s ho ul d b e, s ai d G ab ri el . B es id es , t he l as t t hi ng w e n ee d t o a dv er ti se i s t ha t p ri va terestorers keep extremely valuable paintings under less than secure circumstances.

I t was one of the art wor ld s m an y d irty s ec re ts . G ab ri el h ad a lw ay s w orke d i n i so la ti on . B ut i nNew York and London, it was not unusual to enter the studio of an elite restorer to find tens of millionsof dollars w orth o f p ai nt in gs . If t he a uc ti on s ea so n w as a pp ro ac hi ng , t he v al ue o f t he i nv en to ry c ou ldbe stratospheric.

Tell me more about the painting, Julian.Isherwood glanced at Gabriel expectantly. D oe s t ha t m ea n y ou l l do i t? No, Julian. It just means I want to know more about the picture. W her e w ou ld y ou l ik e m e t o b egi n? The dimensions. One hundred four by eighty-six centimeters. Date? Sixteen fifty-four. P an el o r c an va s? C an va s. T he t hrea d c ou nt i s c on si st en t w it h c an va se s R em bran dt w as u si ng a t t he t im e. W he n w as t he l as t res to ra ti on ? H ar d t o s ay . A h un dr ed y ea rs a go ma yb e l on ge r. T he p ai nt w as q ui te w orn i n s om e p la ce s.

L id de ll b el ie ve d i t w ou ld req ui re a s ub st an ti al a mo un t o f i np ai nt in g t o k no ck i t i nt o s ha pe . H e w asw or ri ed a bo ut w he th er h e w ou ld be a bl e t o f in is h i t i n t im e.

Gabriel asked about the composition. Stylistically, it s s im il ar t o h is o th er t hree -q ua rt er-l en gt h p ortrai ts fro m t he p erio d. T he m od el i sa y ou ng w om an i n h er l at e t we nt ie s o r e arly t hi rt ie s. A tt ra ct iv e. S he s w ea ri ng a w ra p o f j ew el ed s il k

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and little else. There s s om et hi ng i nt im at e a bo ut i t. S he c le arly m an ag ed t o g et u nd er R em bran dt ss ki n. H e w or ke d w it h a h ea vi ly l oa de d b ru sh a nd a t c on si de ra bl e s pe ed . I n p la ce s, i t a pp ea rs h e w aspainting a l la p ri m a, w et i nt o w et .

Do we know who she is? There s n ot hi ng t o i de nt ify h er s pe ci fi ca ll y, b ut t he R em bran dt C om mi tt ee a nd I b ot h c on cu r

it s Rembrandt s mistress. Hendrickje Stoffels?Is he rwo o d n od d ed . T he d at e o f t he p ai nt in g i s s ig ni fi ca nt b ec au se i t w as t he s am e y ea r

Hendrickje gave birth to Rembrandt s c hi ld . T he D ut ch C hu rc h d id n t l oo k k in dl y o n t ha t, o f c ou rs e.S he w as p ut o n t ri al a nd c on de mn ed for l iv in g w it h R em bran dt l ik e a w ho re . R em bran dt , a rc hc ad t ha t h ew as , n ev er m arri ed h er.

Isherwood seemed genuinely disturbed by this. Gabriel smiled. I f I didn t k no w b et te r, J ul ia n, I d t hi nk y ou w ere j ea lo us . W ai t u nt il y ou s ee h er.T he t wo m en l ap se d i nt o s il en ce a s Ish erwo od g ui de d t he c ar i nt o L iz ard v il la ge . In s um me r, i t

w ou ld b e fil le d w it h t ou ri st s. N ow , w it h i ts s hu tt ered s ou ve ni r s ta nd s a nd d arke ne d i ce -c re am p arlo rs , i t

ha d t he sad ness o f a f te i n t he r ai n. What s t he p ro ve na nc e l ik e? Thin but clean. Meaning? T he re a re g ap s h er e a nd t he re . R at he r l ik e y ou rs , Ish erwo od a dd ed w it h a c on fi di ng g la nc e. B ut t her e ar e no cl ai ms agai nst i t. I h ad t he Ar t Lo ss R egi st er r un a q ui et sear ch j ust t o be ce rt ai n. The London office?Isherwood nodded. S o t he y k no w a bo ut t he p ic tu re , t oo ? The Art Loss Register is dedicated to finding paintings, darling, not stealing them. Go on, Julian. It s believed the painting remained in Rembrandt s personal collection until his death,

w he re up on i t w as s ol d o ff b y t he b an kr up tc y c ou rt t o h el p p ay h is d eb ts . F ro m t he re , i t f lo at ed a ro un dT he H ag ue f or a c en tu ry o r s o, m ad e a b ri ef f or ay t o I ta ly , a nd r et ur ne d t o t he N et he rl an ds i n t he e ar lynineteenth century. The current owner purchased it in 1964 from the Hoffmann Gallery of Lucerne. Thatbeautiful young woman has been in hiding her entire life.

T he y e nt er ed a t un ne l o f t re es d ri pp in g w it h i vy a nd h ea de d d ow nw ar d i nt o a d ee p s to ry bo ok h ol lo w w it h a n a nc ie nt s to ne c hu rc h a t i ts b as e.

W ho e ls e k ne w t he p ai nt in g w as i n G la st on bu ry ?I sh er wo od m ad e a s ho w o f t ho ug ht . T he d irec to r o f t he N at io na l G al le ry o f A rt i n W as hi ng to n

and my shipping company. H e h es it at ed , t he n a dd ed , A nd I su pp ose i t s p os si bl e I m ay h av em en ti on ed i t t o V an B erke l. Did Liddell have any other paintings in his studio?

Four, re pl i ed Is he rw oo d. A R ub en s h e d just finished for Christie s, something that mayo r m ay n ot h av e b ee n a T it ia n, a l an ds ca pe b y C za nn e q ui te a g oo d o ne , a ct ua ll y a nd s om ehideously expensive water lilies by Monet.

I a ss um e t ho se w er e s to le n a s w el l? I sh er wo od s ho ok h is h ea d. Only my Rembrandt. No other paintings? You re s ure ? T ru st m e, d arli ng . I m s ure. T he y e me rg ed f ro m t he h ol lo w i nt o t he o pe n t er ra in . I n t he d is ta nc e, a p ai r o f m as si ve S ea K in g

helicopters floated like zeppelins over the naval air station. Gabriel s thoughts, however, were focusedo n a si ng le q ue st io n. W hy w ou ld a t hi ef i n a h ur ry g rab a l ar ge R em br an dt p or tr ai t r at her t han a s ma ll er C za nn e o r M on et ?

D o t he p ol ic e h av e a t he or y?

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T he y s us pe ct L id de ll m us t h av e s urpris ed t he t hi ev es i n t he m id dl e o f t he rob be ry . W he n i t w en tbad, they killed him and grabbed the closest painting, which happened to be mine. After this summer,S co tl an d Y ard i s q ui te p es si mi st ic a bo ut t he c ha nc es for rec ov ery. A nd L id de ll s de at h m ak es i t mo recomplicated. This is now first and foremost a murder investigation.

How long until your insurance company pays out?Ish erwo od fro wn ed a nd d ru mm ed o ne fin ge r n ervo us ly o n t he w he el . I m a frai d y ou v e j us t

hit upon my dilemma. What dilemma? A s o f t hi s m om en t, t he rig ht fu l o wn er o f t he R em bran dt i s s ti ll t he u nn am ed c li en t o f D av id

C av en di sh . B ut w he n I t oo k p os se ss io n o f t he p ai nt in g, i t w as s up po se d t o c om e u nd er m y i ns uran cepolicy.

Isherwood s v oi ce t ra il ed o ff. It c on ta in ed a m el an ch ol y n ot e G ab ri el h ad h ea rd m an y t im esbefore. Sometimes it appeared when Isherwood s h ea rt ha d b ee n br ok en or w he n h e ha d b ee n f or cedto sell a cherished painting. But usually it meant he was in financial trouble. Again.

W ha t h av e y ou d on e n ow , J ul ia n? Well, it s b ee n a r ou gh ye ar , h as n t i t , p et al ? S to ck m ark et d ec li ne s. R ea l e st at e c ra sh es .

Falling sales for luxury items. What

s a s ma ll i nd ep en de nt d ea le r l ik e m e s up po se d t o d o?

You didn t t el l y ou r i ns uran ce c om pa ny a bo ut t he p ai nt in g, d id y ou ? T he p re mi um s a re s o b lo od y e xp en si ve . A nd t ho se b ro ke rs a re s uc h l ee ch es . D o y ou k no w

h ow m uc h i t w ou ld h av e c os t m e? I t ho ugh t I c oul d C ut a c or ne r? Something like that. I sh er wo od f el l s il en t. W he n h e s po ke a ga in , t he re w as a n ot e o f

d es pe ra ti on i n h is v oi ce t ha t h ad n ot b ee n p re se nt b ef or e. I n ee d y ou r h el p, G ab ri el . I a m p er so na ll y o nt he h oo k for forty -fiv e million dollars.

This isn t what I do, Julian. I m a Restorer? Ish erwo od g av e G ab ri el a s ke pt ic al g la nc e. A s w e b ot h kn ow , yo u r e n ot

e xa ct ly a n o rd in ar y a rt r es to re r. Y ou a ls o h ap pe n t o b e v er y g oo d a t f in di ng t hi ng s. A nd i n a ll t he t im e I ve kn ow n y ou, I v e n ev er as ke d y ou f or a f av or . Is he rwo od p a us ed . There s no one else I cant ur n t o. U nl es s y ou h el p m e, I m ruined.

G ab ri el rap pe d h is k nu ck le l ig ht ly o n h is w in do w t o w arn Ish erwo od t ha t t he y w ere a pp ro ac hi ngt he p oo rl y m ar ke d t ur no ff f or G un wa ll oe . H e h ad t o a dm it h e w as m ov ed b y I sh er wo od s a pp ea l. T hel it tl e h e k new ab ou t t he c ase s ug ges te d i t w as n o or di nar y a rt t hef t. H e a ls o w as s uf fe ri ng f ro m a n ag gi ngguilt over Liddell s d ea th . L ik e S ha mron , G ab ri el h ad b ee n c urse d w it h a n e xa gg erat ed s en se o f rig hta nd w ro ng . H is g re at es t p ro fe ss io na l t ri um ph s a s a n i nt el li ge nc e o ffic er h ad n ot c om e b y w ay o f t he g unbut through his unyielding will to expose past wrongs and make them right. He was a restorer in the truests en se o f t he w or d. F or G ab ri el , t he c as e w as l ik e a d am ag ed p ai nt in g. T o l ea ve i t i n i ts c ur re nt s ta te ,d arke ne d b y y el l ow ed v arni sh a nd s ca rred b y t i me , w as n ot p os si bl e. Ish erwo od k ne w t hi s, o f c ou rs e.

H e a ls o k ne w h e h ad a p ow er fu l al ly . T he R em br an dt w as p le ad in g h is c as e f or h im .A m ed ie va l d arkn es s h ad fal le n o ve r t he C orni sh c oa st b y t he t im e t he y a rriv ed i n G un wa ll oe .Ish erwo od s ai d n ot hi ng m ore a s h e p il ot ed h is J ag ua r a lo ng t he s in gl e s tree t o f t he v il la ge a nd h ea de dd ow n t o t he l it tl e c ot ta ge a t t he f ar e nd o f t he c ov e. A s t he y t ur ne d i nt o t he d ri ve , a d oz en s ec ur it y l am psc am e i ns ta nt ly t o l ife, flo od in g t he l an ds ca pe w it h s ea ri ng w hi te l ig ht . S ta nd in g o n t he t erra ce o f t hec ot ta ge , h er d ar k h ai r t wi st in g i n t he w in d, w as C hi ar a. I sh er wo od w at ch ed h er f or a m om en t, t he n m ad ea s ho w o f s urve yi ng t he l an ds ca pe .

H as a ny on e e ve r t ol d y ou t hi s p la ce l oo ks e xa ct ly l ik e t he Customs Officer s Cabin atPourville?

The girl from the Royal Mail might have mentioned it. G ab ri el s ta re d a t C hi ar a. I d like tohelp you, Julian

But? I m n ot r ea dy . G ab ri el p au se d. A nd n ei th er i s s he . I wouldn t be so sur e about t he l ast par t.

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C hi ara d is ap pe ared i nt o t he c ot ta ge . Ish erwo od h an de d G ab ri el a l arge m an il a e nv el op e. A t l east have a l ook at t hes e. I f you st il l don t want to do it, I l l f ind a n ice pi ct ur e f or yo u t o

clean. Something challenging, like a fourteenth-century Italian panel with severe co

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Daniel Silva - 10 - The Rembrandt Affair