CHAPTER 15

Cassie knocked at Olga’sdoor. It was nearly six o’clock, and although Cassie knew Olga was likely eating dinner, she wanted to update her on everything that had happened.

The door swung wide. Zack and Cassie exchanged looks of surprise.

“Cassie?” he said with a small frown. “We didn’t call for a package pick-up.”

“Hi, Zack, I know,” she said, hoping he couldn’t hear her racing heart. She still felt uncertain about him ever since the afternoon she’d followed him. “I didn’t realize you’d still be here.”

“Yeah, I had a bit of paperwork to finish up.”

“I came to speak with Olga about the theft,” she said.

His expression sharpened. “Oh, well, please come in then.” He stepped aside to let her pass and called out, “Olga, Cassie is here with an update on the Roncali painting.”

Cassie heard Olga’s exclamation, then the sound of her walker wheels rolling from the studio. Within seconds, she entered the foyer. “Cassandra, darling!” she said, her face anxious. “We haven’t heard anything from the police yet. What news do you have?”

Cassie told them about Brett. Her observations about his shoes, the fact that he had no alibi, and the incriminating art theft research he’d been doing on his cell phone. At that last part, Olga and Zack exchanged a look. Then Zack said, “That does sound really suspicious.”

“I don’t understand, Cassandra. With all of this,” Olga waved an arm wide, “why couldn’t the police hold him?”

“Well, technically, this is all conjecture. They don’t have any hard evidence to support my suspicions. They searched Brett’s home and his car, and they never found your package.”

Olga sank down weakly onto the seat of her walker, worry deepening the lines of her face. “So, what do we do now?”

“The police are aware and they’re watching him. And I’ll be keeping a close eye on him, too, Olga. I can’t shake the feeling that he’s somehow involved. And like I told you before, I won’t rest until we find your package.”

Olga’s expression cleared and she extended both her hands to Cassie, who took them in her own. “Cassandra, Zack and I are both so grateful for your tenacity. Between you and the police, I am confident we’ll get that painting back.”