MisMatch (A Humorous Contemporary Romance) by Nana Malone

Author:Nana Malone
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: romance, romantic comedy, contemporary romance, nana malone, love match, game set match

Chapter 12

Eli pulled up to the curb and eyed the stately Tudor style mansion. As he strode to the front door, he noted the gnomes on the AstroTurf grass in the yard. “I guess being rich doesn’t mean you have taste,” he mumbled to himself.

Ducking under the yellow tape, he followed the booming sound of his partner’s voice into what looked like the living room. The dark hardwood floor was dusty. He did a quick scan of the room. If this was a burglary, they might not be able to tell what was missing. On the ornate antique desk, stacks of paper and tchotchkes littered the dusty surface.

Eli stared at Vince. “You called me for a robbery scene, but how can you tell anything is missing? These folks are not exactly neat freaks.”

Vince smirked. “Tell me about it.”

“You want to tell me why I’m here right now?”

Vince nodded. “Yeah, over here.” He led him into a back office. “So the owner never would have even noticed, if his granddaughter hadn’t brushed up against the paint and noticed it was still wet.”

Eli’s blood ran cold. Another painting. His conversation with Michael Fenton was clouding his mind. But he couldn’t ignore the fact that Fenton either knew his brother or was intimately acquainted with Sam’s past. If Sam did know Fenton, then this string of suspicion had just gained more substance. The doubt crept in and wormed its way insidiously into his heart. He wanted to believe in his brother. Samson had had enough to deal with over the years and wouldn’t endanger his recovery. But you’ve been here before. Eli’s heart stuttered.

In the best circumstances, his brother was charming and engaging and people wanted to be around him. At his worst, that charm turned into expert level lying and manipulation. And sure, people wanted to be around him, but he attracted the wrong type of people. It had taken Eli five years to get his brother back, and the thought of losing him again made Eli ill.

In the center of the office, a Thomas Kane painting of a 60’s mod girl in tribute to Nancy Sinatra, sat on an easel. Thomas Kane’s work had come to prominence with Warhol. The two of them had run in the same circles. Rumor was they were also occasional lovers. Eli frowned as he approached the painting. “The color matching is exquisite.” Pulling out his glasses, he set his carrier bag on the nearby table. “The stroke work is almost an exact match.” Eli shook his head.

Vince whistled low. “This guy is good.” He peered at the painting. “I mean, you’re the expert, you tell me. Would you have known this was a forgery?”

Eli shook his head. That was what scared him. He quickly took a paint sample. “I won’t know until we test it, but I’d estimate the thief made the switch not more than 48 hours ago.” He looked up at his partner. “Do you have a timeline for the owner’s whereabouts over the last week?”

“Yeah.

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