Framed Shadows: Shadows Landing #6 by Kathleen Brooks (well read books TXT) 📗

“Yeah, but we try to leave it up to the experts,” Kord answered. “I’m too fine to lose a finger. Or pecker.”

Tinsley took one look at Karri and Harper and the peals of laughter started again. “I hate to break this up because this was the most fun I’ve had in years, but Maurice stopped in to see me and we have a problem,” Tinsley announced.

11

Granger and Kord joined Tinsley and Paxton inside the gallery as she filled them in on her meeting with Maurice. Tinsley saw her same worry reflected on the lawmen’s faces. None of them looked pleased with this development.

“Peter could pose as the client,” Paxton finally said into the silence that lingered in the aftermath of her announcement that Maurice wanted to meet the buyer.

“I thought about that,” Tinsley told them. “But I worry. This is a big test. I would say just bust them, but Maurice keeps mentioning that his grandma has a huge collection and even said it could be historical. I wonder how many stolen paintings he has and how he came about them. We’ll never know if you arrest him now.”

“We can have Peter pose as the buyer and we can trace the money,” Paxton said again. “Then we follow the money and that will, hopefully, lead us to the rest of the paintings.”

Tinsley shook her head. “I don’t think that’s the right play here. I think we need to do something he’ll never see coming.”

“What are you thinking, Tins?” Granger asked.

“Mrs. Elijah F. Cummings,” Tinsley said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Who?” Paxton asked.

Granger ignored the question as Kord shook his head. “You want to use Miss Tibbie in a sting operation with a dangerous criminal?” Granger repeated for clarification.

“I do. No one can question her knowledge of art in case this is a test. Plus, she’d be way above suspicion as an undercover agent. I need to prove I can bring in a quality buyer. Miss Tibbie is a quality buyer,” Tinsley explained.

“Who is this Miss Tibbie?” Paxton asked again, this time a little more forcefully in hopes someone would answer him.

“She is the grand dame of Charleston society. Her husband, Elijah, is a very powerful man even though he retired decades ago. Miss Tibbie is your little old grandmother with pearls and an iron fist tucked inside her white gloves. She can ruin you with one word,” Granger explained.

“Won’t she be recognizable then?” Paxton asked.

“Her name will be,” Tinsley admitted, “But I also know Miss Tibbie isn’t a fan of her picture being in newspapers. Most photos of her on the Internet are of when she was much younger. So, you change her name, come up with a little disguise, and say we know each other through a fake charity and we’ll be good to go. If it makes you feel better, have Peter act as her grandson. Let’s see, her spoiled, bored grandson. Trust me, society matrons are always trying to make their grandsons act properly and give them culture while dangling access to their trust fund over their heads.”

“It’s not a bad idea,” Granger said. “You think Miss Tibbie will do it?”

“Miss Tibbie is always up for a little fun. Call Peter and see what he thinks. If it’s a go, I’ll call Miss Tibbie and get it all set up.” Tinsley hoped Peter would agree. She worried that Maurice was testing her, and it wouldn’t just be the art on the line if she failed. It would be her life.

Paxton endured five minutes of laughter on the other end of the line when he called Peter. Karri had already called to tell Peter about Gatorgate, and before Paxton could even tell his boss about the investigation, the jokes were flying.

Finally, when Peter gasped for breath after laughing at everyone thinking a teenage girl was in trouble, Paxton was able to squeeze in Maurice’s visit. That stopped the laughter and the joking.

“Mrs. Elijah F. Cummings? Tinsley wants to bring in an eighty-something-year-old society matron to deal with an art thief?” Peter paused for a second. “Hmm. Actually, that’s genius. He’d never suspect her working with us and I like the idea about being the bored, spoiled grandson of a very, very rich old lady.”

“Is he in?” Tinsley called out from across the gallery as she hung a new piece of art.

“Tell her I’m in. Have her call Mrs. Cummings and see if I can meet with her,” Peter instructed.

So it was on. Paxton would at least have Peter in the room to help keep both civilians safe. Within minutes, Tinsley bounded back into the room with a large smile on her face. “Miss Tibbie is in, but she has one request. She wants her alias to be named Bunny.”

Paxton shook his head as he smiled. “What is it with people around here being named after animals?”

Tinsley shrugged. “I don’t know. But she said she likes Bunny because people think they’re all cute and cuddly but they actually have a sharp bite.”

Paxton smiled as he thought about it. “I’m looking forward to meeting Miss Tibbie. She sounds like my kind of lady. Now, how about we head home and I make you dinner?”

“You just don’t want to go to the bar and have everyone laugh at you for screaming like a girl,” Tinsley teased.

“You’re right. I’d much rather make you scream.” Tinsley’s laughter stopped instantly as she gulped. Her eyes widened and her cheeks turned a pretty pink. When her eyes dropped downward with clear fascination, Paxton wondered just what kind of guys Tinsley had been dating. Either they clearly didn’t appreciate what they had or they had no idea what to do with her once they had her. Paxton smiled down at Tinsley. He didn’t have that problem. No, if Paxton were lucky enough to ever get Tinsley to be his, he’d whisper all sorts of naughty things to her, and that wasn’t half of what he’d already fantasized about