A Dangerous Talent (An Alix London Mystery Book 1) by Charlotte Elkins & Aaron Elkins

Author:Charlotte Elkins & Aaron Elkins [Elkins, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Published: 2012-03-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

But first I have to call my father.

What a simple, unremarkable statement that was. What could be more natural? Thousands of people said it every day. But when was the last time it had come from Alix’s mouth? A decade? At least.

She tossed her purse onto the bed, opened the French doors to the slate-floored patio, brushed a litter of golden, newly fallen leaves from one of the rattan chairs, opened her cell phone, got the number of her father’s business from Information, and accepted the offer to be put right through. Best to get it done right away, even before taking those aspirin. If she gave herself time to think about it, she’d probably do what she’d done last night: change her mind and snap the phone closed, putting it off for another time.

In fact, that might be a good idea. She realized that her throat was dry. What harm would there be in—

“Venezia Trading Company. Can I help you?” Slow, labored, like a kid reciting something he’d worked hard to memorize.

Tiny.

“Hello, Tiny, this is Alix.”

The voice came cautiously alive. “Alix? No kidding? Hey, mia cucciolina, how’re you doing?”

Mia cucciolina. My little puppy. It was what he used to call her a million years ago when he was Uncle Beniamino and she loved to sit on his lap and blabber away up at that big, dumb, good-natured face. So suddenly she never saw them coming, tears were running down her cheeks. Only with an effort did she manage to get a few words through a painfully tight throat.

“I’m fine, Tiny, how’re you? It’s been a long time.”

“Hey, you know me, I’m always fine.”

She laughed. “I know. Tiny, is my father there? Can I talk to him?”

“Sure, you can talk to him. Lemme put him on. As soon as I figure out which button to…”

“Oh, and Tiny? You know, I’m working with someone who wants to buy a Georgia O’Keeffe.”

“Yeah, I heard. Good for you.” Not a trace of resentment there, even though she knew she’d hurt his feelings when she’d told Geoff she didn’t want his help. What a thoroughly nice, decent guy he was. Well, if you didn’t mind the part about his being a master forger. Or rather having been a master forger, assuming you bought the current story.

“Well, you know, I have a few questions I’d really like your opinion on. Can I call you about them in a couple of days?”

She could practically hear him purr. “Anything for you, piccolina.”

Piccolina. Little girl. Tiny had been born on Jerome Avenue in the Bronx and generally spoke with an accent that showed it, but he loved to sprinkle his speech with the terms of his ancestral Sicily. Sometimes, with a glass or two of Chianti in him, she could swear he developed an Italian accent.

“Thanks, Tiny, I appreciate it.” She jotted down a mental note: she was going to have to make up some questions for him.

A moment later, her father’s voice came on. “Alix? I’m glad you called.

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