5. Cold War by Created by Tom Clancy;Martin Greenberg; Written by Jerome Preisler

Author:Created by Tom Clancy;Martin Greenberg; Written by Jerome Preisler
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Radioactive waste disposal, War stories, Biological weapons, Technological, Fiction, Antarctica, Adventure fiction, War & Military, Thrillers, American fiction, General, Espionage
ISBN: 9780425182147
Publisher: New York : Berkley Books, c2001.
Published: 2001-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

ELEVEN

PARIS, FRANCE MARCH 12, 2002

HAVING WORKED OUT THE SOLUTION TO A SEEMINGLY insoluble problem, the mind longs for verification. It is not simply enough to know intuitively that something is correct; humans desire external confirmation. A math student wants the proof to be convincing and communicable. A police officer making an arrest wants the satisfaction of a conviction in a court of law.

Nessa wanted the Picasso, or more likely, the series of Picassos. She had consulted experts on her theory of a painting from the time of Guernica; there had been no firm consensus, but to her mind that made it even more convincing. Even more convincing was the buzz from certain quarters that she was not the first to make such inquiries. A Japanese collector had approached a professor in Barcelona, a curator in Los Angeles had been queried by a Belgian entrepreneur--there were questions in the air.

If she could find Elata, Nessa figured she would know within a half hour if she was right or not. She would charge him with theft and threaten him with a jail term of several years for stealing the letter from the museum. She would find out about the Picassos--as well as many other paintings. For he was a nervous man, haughty but on the edge and easily broken; she'd seen it in his eyes on the platform.

She could have grabbed him then. But at that moment there had been nothing to charge him with.

Nessa stared at a list of the men and two women who were suspected of having employed Elata over the last decade; it was not a long list, but every name was a prominent member of the art community and the world at large. Two had net worths that topped that of several countries. To say that their wealth and power protected them was an understatement--though with the right evidence, such as a sworn confession from the master forger himself, even the difficult might be attempted.

Others had tried to take Elata down. To fantasize like this was dangerous.

Her boss wanted him. More--he wanted the Picassos. He salivated over them--phony or real made little difference. Find them, and his career would be made; the French government would undoubtedly issue a medal.

Her boss wasn't kidding. He'd authorized her to go "anywhere in pursuit of tangible leads." Whatever resource she wanted, she could have.

As long as she succeeded.

Nessa pushed the thick pile of papers into the case folder. It was late, far past quitting time; the other offices were dark. She shoved the printouts and her notes into the top drawer of her desk, locked it, and went to leave.

The phone rang. She nearly blew it off, but then decided to pick it up--sometimes her ma called her here when she couldn't reach her at the apartment.

Then again, her mother was sure to ask her whether she had a boyfriend for the umpteenth time. Perhaps she should just let it ring.

Nessa grabbed it a half second before the voice-mail system would have taken over.

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