Chapter 11
"Basen, come on." Miles said to her. "I may know someone who can help us with that picture."
"Great," she said getting up from her desk. "I think I was going cross eyed."
On the drive to the gallery Miles explained. "My wife's cousin owns a gallery not too far from here. Now he may not be there but I'm sure we can get someone to help us with your picture you seem so fascinated with." They drove in silence for a while when Miles spoke again.
"So, you, you had dinner with Joe last night?" he tried to make it sound casual but wasn't sure if he was successful or not.
"Joe? Oh yeah, I ran into him at the market. He ruined my night so I decided to return the favor. Impressed him with my blacken Cajun chicken," she said raising her eyebrows and nudging Niles. Then she added in a lowered voice. "It's just regular chicken but I burned it, voila it's blacken chicken!"
"Do you know what you're doing?"
"I didn't really burn it." She confessed.
"That's not what I'm talking about," he said.
"What then?"
"Right now no one knows you. There are too many rumors still being thrown around about you, what happened in the states and what you did to get here, I don't think it would be a good thing right now you getting too close to your DI."
"Well one," she started turning towards him and putting her hand on his shoulder. "I appreciate you listening to and perpetuating the rumors about me. It fills my heart that you have already come to a decision about me." She removed her hand and turned her attention to the front of the car. "One would think Chandler is the safest bet of anyone for me to talk to."
"Why would that be?" he inquired.
"Um, since he's so gay," she stated.
"He isn't gay," Miles calmly stated.
"Yeah he is." She insisted.
"Chandler says he's not and that's that."
"Whatever."
"Not whatever, you stay clear of Chandler."
"I supposed I should steer clear of Kent as well? And Mansell? Can I talk to Riley or only under supervision least we start any lesbian rumors. Should you and I have a chaperone or do you think we are safe to be here together today?"
"You're taking it the wrong way," he protested.
"How should I be taking it?" she asked.
"Look, we're here."
"Yes let's get this over with so I can go back molesting little children, school should be letting out soon." She hurried out of the car but stopped short of storming off since she wasn't exactly sure where they were going.
"It's just up here," he pointed. He tried to lighten the mood and added, "It may be a good idea that you don't hang around Mansell, more for your protection than his." She smiled and resumed and easy peace.
They entered a nondescript building. Vivi hugged the sweater around her, lumpy black today, as temperature seemed to have dropped 20 degrees inside. As they stepped inside they were greeted by a receptionist sitting behind a glass desk, leaning over the desk was a thin blond close at her elbow.
"Can I help you?" the receptionist asked.
"Yeah," Miles said taking the lead. "We wanted to talk to Victor Adams."
The receptionist gave Miles and Vivi a similar look that Chandler gave her on occasion, the 'what is that smell' look, the tall blond matched it.
"I'm afraid Mr. Adams is not in today," the blond spoke up. "Perhaps I can help you, Claire Spint." She said pointing to herself but made no move to shake either detective's hand.
"DS Ray Miles, DC Vivi Basen." Miles said flatly. He also made no attempt to shake hands. He didn't think this visit would be a fruitful one.
"Yes," Basen spoke up. "We were hoping to inquire about a painting." Vivi never tried an English accent she was sure she would fail miserably however it made her feel self-important when she threw in what she felt were "British" words. It would be months before someone would tell her she sounded ridiculous.
"What painting would that be?" Claire asked.
"Poet's Garden." Miles said. Both woman stiffened, the blond was able to recover more quickly than the receptionist however both detectives caught it.
"What a beautiful peace." Spint said. "You're in luck we haven't packed it up just yet."
"What do you mean?" Miles asked.
The blond motioned for them to follow her, "I'm afraid it's in the back not one of the pieces we keep out for general observation. The owner who has lent it to us has asked for it back."
"Why did he do that?" Basen asked.
"He just explained he was feeling nostalgic for it and wanted it returned. Here we are." They all stopped in front of the familiar print. And thin but long box along with packing material was off to the side of the picture. Basen felt this painting held more familiarity than the cheap print she had next to her desk.
"How long has it been on loan?"
"We've had it for 6 or 7 years now."
"Always back here?" they asked.
"Not the entire time but for a good portion of it." Vivi stepped up to the picture and reached out to it.
"Don't touch it," Spint said surprised. Vivi's hand froze in midair. She looked at the curator out of the corner of her eye, and then touched the picture. Miles shook his head, Basen made no sense.
There's no glass covering it?" Basen asked.
"There doesn't need to be," Claire ran over to the picture and scrutinized the place where Vivi's finger had made contact. "The temperature in this building it carefully controlled."
"Who owns the painting?" Miles asked quickly knowing they were going to quickly loose the person who was giving them the information.
"Dr. Ronald Block," she quickly answered.
"Do you know him?" Vivi inquired
"No." Claire answered this a little too quickly.
"His art has been here for over 6 years and you know his name, however you don't know him?" Basen accused.
"As I said, he did just contact us to retrieve the picture." Basen didn't believe her and neither did Miles.
"We'd like to get the contact number for Mr. Bach."
"Dr. Block," Spint corrected. "I will get that for you." She turned and walked back the way they came.
"You just can't help yourself can you?" Miles questioned.
"Some say I'm incorrigible. Others say I'm insatiable." She took one more look back at painting before leaving. That was the picture in Mellon's home, she was sure of it.