Ch 19

Amy asked Ian and Fiske to do a search on each of the seven names, cross referencing them the entire Cahill database. Fiske said he thought he remembered a Marcus Starling, but he couldn't remember how he knew him.

Cara had tapped into the direct database at the Gardner and given Dan a direct line to his laptop. She had also suggested they take this search over to the partially finished Cahill headquarters a few blocks away. Now that someone knew they were looking for these, a secure location was a good idea. "A partially secure building was preferable to a non-secure building." Not for the first time, Amy wished construction would move faster.

The group worked for several hours comparing notes in Bianca's work with what they could find in the Cahill network.

"You know, most of the works stolen were Degas or Rembrandts. Maybe we're looking for the wrong work? Maybe this wasn't about cost, but rather a specific artist?" Jake offered after a while of silence.

"I don't know, the Degas works were of little value and were rather obscure works, one of them was never even dated!" Amy offered, rubbing her eyes.

"Guys, I'm beat." Dan finally said, shutting his laptop.

"Me too," Atticus said standing to stretch.

"You kids still at this? Why are you so interested in this?" Came Mark Rosenbloom's voice from the doorway. "How about I drive this box over the Gardner for you tomorrow and give it to Anne myself? I haven't seen her in 20 years."

The four of them all looked around at each other, silent. Afraid to say anything.

"Uh, that's OK dad, we want to do a little more digging here. It's just so fascinating." Jake said in his best fake-sincere voice.

Dr. Rosenbloom frowned at his oldest son, "Now I know you're lying to me. I suspected it yesterday in the office. You've never cared much for art Jake, why the sudden interest? What aren't you telling me?"

"Dr. Rosenbloom, Jake and I weren't completely honest with you the other night in your office about why we wanted Bianca's work." Amy started. Better to come right out with it, she thought.

"Anne Hawley actually approached us about finding the missing works. She…hired us to try and find the 13 pieces stolen from the Gardner. She seems to think that we'll have luck where authorities have not. She assured us that nobody else knew she had hired us, but, we are all beginning to suspect someone else out there knows we're on the hunt."

He glared at Dan and Amy alternatingly.

Dan added, "Amy and I were attacked yesterday at the museum. We were locked in the records vault for several hours and then a thug of epic proportions beat us up in the alley out back."

Amy indicated her bandaged cheek.

"That's it. This stops now." Dr. Rosenbloom said. Before either Amy or Dan could figure out what he was doing, he had pulled out his cell phone and punched in a number. He held it to his ear, ringing.

Amy was sure it was the police and she almost lunged for the phone.

"Anne? This is Mark Rosenbloom."

He was silent for a moment as Anne Hawley spoke into the phone.

"Yes, yes it has been a long time. I suspect you know why I'm calling. Did you hire my son to help you find your missing works?"

Silence. Finally, they could hear talking on the other end, but it was too indistinct to make out what she was saying.

Mark continued, "I'm sitting with him right now, and, with Amy and Dan Cahill" he said their last name with obvious distaste on his tongue "who were attacked leaving your museum."

Louder indistinct talking through the phone. "Yes, both of them."

More indistinct chatter, but this time very animated and longer. Amy and Dan shot each other a glance. Amy had a feeling she would have to fold Dr. Rosenbloom fully into the Cahill world after this conversation with Anne Hawley. It was probably about time. He was in this up to his neck now.

"Thank you, thank you very much, I'll text you the address. Come as quickly as you can."

Mark hung up the phone. "She's on her way."

In the time it took Anne Hawley to get to the Rosenbloom's home, Amy and Dan had time to fill Mark in on the whole Cahill family including Grace and the branches. They told him about the original hunt for the 39 clues and the serum. They told him more about fighting the Vespers and Jake and Atticus' role. They told him all about J. Rutherford Pierce and how Amy had nearly died because of the serum and finally, they told him about the Outcast, their estranged Grandfather. They had managed to squeeze the entire story of the Cahills into about 40 minutes. He sat in silence for most of it, listening intently, interjecting when his path had crossed theirs and lining up their stories together. They finally finished up by telling him about the nearly completed new headquarters in Cambridge; a dozen blocks from his house.

Just then, a single ping from the front door sounded and Mark rose to answer it.

"Mark Rosenbloom, it's been too long," Anne Hawley said clasping his hand in both of hers.

"Hello Anne, it has been too long," he said curtly, clearly holding back anger toward Anne.

"I need to do some explaining, don't I?" She said, Mark gave a small nod, gesturing for her to enter.

He led her to the kitchen where the kids had set up a makeshift detective bullpen. She talked at length about her desire to have the works returned. She and he knew intimate details about the robbery and they were able to talk specifics, Mark remembering specifics that Amy and Dan didn't know. They were able to chat at length. She explained why she needed Amy and Jake's help in trying to find the works. She explained about retiring next year. She was astonished to learn that the kids had been attacked at the museum. She genuinely didn't know anyone who knew that she had hired them to find them.

After an exhaustive discussion, everyone sat quietly around the table. It felt freeing to Amy to have everything out in the open with Mark. It was almost like letting a parent in on a secret she'd been holding for her entire life.

Whatever Mark decided would be final. She wouldn't be able to change his mind. She just had to hope that he knew everything now and would still allow them to work on the recovery.

He stared at Amy. "You really want to do this don't you?"

She nodded and simply said "yes."

"I doubt I can stop my sons from joining you if they choose. I guess the best I can hope for is that you can find these works of art before somebody gets hurt again."

Or worse, Dan thought.

Amy gave him a small smile.

Dan whooped with joy. "Alright!" was all he said. Realizing the seriousness of the situation and toning it down.

"Don't Cahills have any sort of security? I mean, if you've been attacked, I think it's time for some security."

Anne spoke, "I have several security men I could assign you, if you wanted."

"No, I won't use any outside help. I have friends and relatives that we can use for security if we need. However, the bigger issue is finding out who knows about your request Anne. You have a leak, or a mole in your organization and they aren't happy you've enlisted the Cahills to find these works."

This sparked a memory in Dan. He pulled out his cell phone and showed the list of names to Mark and Anne. "Do any of these names ring a bell for you?"

Mark's eyes got wide at Phillippe Calabrese's name and Anne's eyes took on a quizzical, thoughtful look.

"This is Bianca's father's name. Where did you get this list?" Mark asked wide-eyed.

"These were people who had created chatter leading up to or after the robbery back in 1990. They had been talking about the museum, the works, or were in some way associated with the robbery." Dan said, without giving information that they each had a dossier in the Janus database.

"That can't be, Danica Simonson replaced Bianca as collections director in 1993, she wasn't even around when the robberies happened."

"Do you recognize any of the other names on the list?" Amy asked gently to either of them.

"No, I only recognize Phillippe, Bianca's father who was in Portugal his whole life. He died about 5 years after Bianca. I can't imagine what he had to do with the robberies. That must be a false trail." But his face had taken on a dark look as if he were remembering something unpleasant.

Amy looked over at Anne, who hesitated only a moment before saying, "No, I don't recognize any of the other names."

"I'll need to get going" Anne said as she rose to leave. "I'm glad to know you'll still be looking Amy and Jake. Mark, thank you for any help you can give. I appreciate it more than you know."

The three of them watched her retreat out the front entrance into the Boston night.