ENDING OF PREVIOUS POST:

"Daddy, why don't you like dinner parties?"

Anderson looked at his daughter. "It's not that I don't like them, it's just that they're a pain." He stood. "I need to talk with Jeff. I don't like the idea of all these strangers in the house. We need to make sure they are who they're supposed to be."

"Drew's got a point." Jane looked at Shana. "We need a safe place for you to stay during the set up."

"I really feel I should help, but if it'll be easier, I'll stay in my room."

Anderson turned around. "Romeo will be by your side. Emily stays pretty close to you so Thor will be there. Axel will keep an eye on everything." He grinned. "He's good about that." After making a phone call, he added, "Jeff has added a female security guard to stay by you until all the set up is taken care of. She'll be here in about thirty minutes. A few security guards will be roaming around during the party." His eyes met Jane's. "Make sure they're fed."

Shana's shoulders slouched. "I'm causing way too much trouble."


TODAY'S POST:

Chapter 17 part 2

Maxwell Gaines arrived just as Anderson's antique cuckoo clock chimed ten times.

Jane was asked to bring Shana to the den. Romeo and the security guard followed.

When Shana arrived at the den, Anderson walked to the door and whispered to security, "Ma'am, I'll have coffee brought in. Please help yourself. Jane will assist you." He faced Jane. "Please help our guest and ask Helen to bring some coffee." He cupped Shana's arm, shut the door, and led her to his desk. He motioned for her to sit. Romeo lay beside her.

After introductions were made, Philip updated Mr. Gaines and then showed him the original paperwork, the receipt, and the faxes that had arrived from Dorotheum.

Helen brought in coffee and poured everybody a cup before she left, closing the door.

Maxwell studied the papers.

Shana glanced at Anderson and then Philip. How can they remain so calm? The silence is killing me. She fidgeted with her hands.

Philip winked at her and shook his head.

She stopped. Is Mr. Gaines ever going to say something?

"Ms. Kohlberg." Maxwell's eyes met hers. "Are you one hundred percent positive your family never sold this artwork?"

"Yes, sir. My grandmother has letters from Tomas Kohlberg's neighbors stating how the Nazis arrested him and looted his house. They watched the Nazis remove all the valuables. He was taken to Dachau. From the information we have, he died a few months later from injuries caused during the Kristallnacht."

"Tomas is Shana's great-great-uncle. He's the person her great-great grandfather left the artwork with when they fled Germany in 1931," interrupted Anderson.

"I'll need to see those letters." Gaines fingered the papers and then faced Shana.

"Yes, sir. They're in Peoria, Illinois, but I can get them. Will you need the originals?" She paused. "They're in German. Should I have them translated?"

"Have your grandma send copies. We'll need the originals for court. I don't want to risk them getting into the wrong hands. We'll have an independent agency translate them so there are no questions." Gaines paused. "Are they kept in a safe place?"

"Yes. They're in a lockbox at the bank. Is there any way we can solve this out of court?" asked Shana.

"There's always the possibility, but Kuznetsov has gone to a lot of trouble trying to scare you into dropping this. I doubt he'll just turn the painting over."

"I'm willing to pay for it to be returned." Anderson leaned back in his chair.

"No! I can't let you do that." Shana's eyes met his.

"I'm pretty sure Kuznetsov won't accept that either. It seems for some reason he really wants that painting. Any idea why it's so special?" asked Maxwell.

"Not really. Bruno Schmidt completed the painting in 1914. He used ornamental gold leaf as a flat two-dimensional Byzantine mosaic." Shana fidgeted with her hands.

"When I checked it out at the museum, there was a man trying to get really close. He had something small in his hand. I couldn't tell what." Anderson took a sip of coffee. "A security guard told him to step back before he could complete his task."

"That's interesting. I'll have some detectives sit on the painting for a few days and see if anything happens." Gaines finished his coffee and stood. "I need to research some things and I'll get back to you." He turned toward Shana. "Please contact your grandma as soon as possible." He paused. "Can she fax us copies of all the letters?"

"I'll have my brother help. They'll be faxed immediately; probably later today or Monday at the latest."

Maxwell Gaines shook their hands. On his way out, the cuckoo clock chimed eleven times. He stopped, watched the dancers move to Edelweiss, and turned to Anderson. "This is an antique German clock, right?"

"Yes, it is. My uncle willed it to me."

"Very nice." Mr. Gaines turned to leave but gave one more glance back at the clock. "Interesting."

After Maxwell left, Shana frowned. "I expected more."


*Please remember this is only part of a much longer chapter. I divide my chapters into three or four parts for ease of reviewing.*





Characters so far:

Shana Kohlberg -- a 25 year old high school English literature teacher -- she's trying to get her family's painting back

Anderson Sharp -- often called Drew -- 31 years old -- works part-time on Wall Street -- a billionaire from Texas oil wells

Dmitry Bezrukov -- one of three Russian men in black suits

Jeff Burk -- takes care of Anderson's cars and important security details.

Helen -- Anderson's cook

Jane -- Anderson's housekeeper

Philip -- Anderson's butler -- close friend and confident

Kyle -- Anderson's dog walker

Axel -- Anderson's lead German shepherd

Thor -- Anderson's second German shepherd

Romeo -- Anderson's third German shepherd

Aaron Kohlberg -- Shana's older brother

Ivan Kuznetsov -- formally Ivan Morozov, I accidently chose a real person, so I have changed it present day owner of the painting.

Patricia -- Anderson's ex-wife

Emily -- Anderson's five year old daughter

Isaiah Glassberg -- Anderson divorce/custody attorney.

Jeremy -- Jane's second-cousin twice removed, NYC undercover cop.

Hannah Jacobs -- Shana's cousin, the same age and best friend. Married within the past year and just had a baby, Sarah. Her husband, Paul.

Joshua Colton -- Art Museum's curator

Benjamin Kohlberg -- Shana's father

Maxwell Gaines -- Lawyer hired retrieve the painting

Erich Berger -- Manager of the Dorotheum art auction house in Austria