Monograph And Murder by A.C.F. Bookens

Author:A.C.F. Bookens [Bookens, A C F]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-14T05:00:00+00:00

After Boone paid our bill, which I hoped was a sign of good faith for Eleni, she locked the front door and led us upstairs to her beautiful, light-filled apartment that showcased the most amazing houseplant collection I had ever seen. Everything from palms to ivy to those plants with holes in the leaves. The whole front of the living room was filled with plants, and I loved it.

“Your home is beautiful,” I said as Eleni gestured toward a purple velvet sofa before heading to the small room at the back that was, apparently, the kitchen.

“Thank you. It is modest, but it is mine,” she said. I heard the electric kettle begin to boil, and a few moments later, Eleni carried in a delicate copper tray with three teacups and a teapot on it. The scent of mint wafted through the air, and I took a deep breath in.

“Cream and sugar?” she asked.

Boone declined. “Just tea is great for me.” He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, and I followed his lead. Sometimes there were small elements of decorum that meant a great deal. I thought this might be one of them.

The tea was actually lovely, with just a hint of sweetness, even without sugar. I found myself enjoying it very much, even as my heart kicked hard against my ribs. “Thank you for having us,” I said.

Eleni quirked an eyebrow. “I’m not sure I really had the option to turn down Interpol.” She glanced at Boone, “But I wouldn’t anyway. This illegal trade needs to be stopped. It’s only getting worse.”

Boone looked at her over his teacup and said, “Tell me about that.”

For the next half-hour, Eleni laid out a long sequence of shady deals in her industry involving everything from Biblical texts to medieval manuscripts. By the time she was done, I was almost breathless with the value of the books and scrolls she described. They totaled millions of dollars, but it was the intellectual and cultural wealth that was being stolen that really broke my heart. These were irreplaceable items that should be available to the larger public or be legitimately owned so they could be loaned to museums and scholars as needed.

“Eleni, here is where you must make a decision. The next question I am going to ask you is going to require you to commit to helping us or simply refrain from answering. I want you to be aware that once you begin to work with us, you will be expected to fulfill that obligation.” Boone’s voice was very serious, and he held Eleni’s gaze.

“I understand. Please ask your question,” she said without hesitation.

Boone smiled. “Do you know who is at the center of this operation?”

She shook her head. “Not by name, but they call him ‘the Brother.’”

I kept my gaze very steady, knowing that Boone’s mind would have immediately gone to Ahmed just as mine had done but also knowing that he might not want Eleni to know we had an idea who that might be.

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