CHAPTER 19

Cassie bounded up thesteps to Olga’s house and knocked on the door.

“Come in, Cassandra,” Olga’s voice floated to her, and Cassie swung open the unlocked front door.

She glanced at Zack’s paper-strewn desk but sighed in secret relief to find that he was nowhere in sight. She’d already felt a little strange around him after following him on his alleged sick day. But now she wasn’t at all thrilled with the idea of facing him after witnessing his behavior the other night.

Cassie walked around to Olga’s studio. “You have a pick-up?”

“Yes, beautiful, I do.” Olga smiled at her. She stood and wheeled over to the bookshelf, pointing at a small, rectangular crate leaning against it. “Not a large one this time. It’s a small Madonna and Child devotional painting. It’s a form that was once very popular in Florence,” she explained as Cassie crossed the room to retrieve it.

Then Olga made her usual request for tea.

“I’m so sorry, Olga, I can’t today,” Cassie said apologetically. “After I make this airport run for you, I still have two more pick-ups.”

“Ah,” Olga looked disappointed but said, “I understand, darling.” Then she turned her bright blue gaze on Cassie. “I haven’t heard anything from the police. Any further news on Brett or my stolen package?”

Cassie hesitated. She didn’t feel it was appropriate to tell Olga about the altercation she and Wade had broken up between Zack and Brett. On the way home from their date, Cassie had told Wade about the scene she’d witnessed between Zack and his girlfriend. Wade agreed that although it sounded a bit strange, he doubted it was connected with the theft of the painting.

So now, Cassie just said, “Nothing concrete. I know the police are still keeping their eye on Brett, and I am, too. I’m sure something will turn up soon, Olga.”

Olga sighed, looking suddenly older than her years. “I do hope so, Cassandra.”

Cassie smiled at her reassuringly and picked up the crate. She bid Olga farewell and headed toward the door. As she walked past Zack’s desk, she noticed a large color photograph of a painting lying on the top of all the other papers. She paused for a moment to study it.

A note scrawled along the margin stated that the piece was titled, The Concert, and it was painted by an artist named Johannes Vermeer between 1663 and 1666. In the painting, a woman wore a softly draped cream and gold gown and sat playing a harpsichord. Seated in a chair beside her, a man played some type of stringed instrument. Another woman in a pale blue gown stood facing them, and she appeared to be singing. There were different detailed paintings hanging on the wall of the room they were in and a particularly elaborate painting on the open face of the harpsichord. Despite the fact that the painting depicted a trio of music makers, there was a sense of hushed serenity and stillness to the piece.

Cassie heard a noise and looked up to see Zack enter the room. He hesitated for an instant when he saw her. Then he walked purposefully to his desk and began gathering paperwork, smoothly hiding the photograph from her view.

“Hi, Zack,” she said, feeling a little awkward.

“Cassie,” he said, his lips tight, as if he was forcing the words out.

“So, uh... How’re things?” she asked, torn between whether to mention the altercation with Brett or not.

“Fine,” he said. He barely glanced at her. “Sorry, but I really need to get back to work. And it looks like you have a package to deliver.”

Oookay, Cassie thought. Definitely not his warm, chatty self today.

As she drove to the airport, she reflected on how strange Zack was acting lately. He’d always been so easygoing and comfortable. But now he was closed off and there was an unusual intensity to him. Maybe he was just embarrassed about her witnessing his encounter with Brett the other night, but she felt like there was more to it. They’d already determined it was unlikely Zack was the thief. But something was definitely going on with him. And as much as she racked her brain, she couldn’t figure out what it might be.