Woohoo! The plot has returned! But fear not, i've got more fluff coming...

Chapter 10

The next morning Bobby and Carolyn exited their neighboring hotel rooms at the same time and turned to see if the other was out, only to see the other doing the same. Not only that, but they were suits in the same shade of grey. Carolyn's was just a bit more feminine. It brought out her curves nicely and went well with her wavy hair-

They simultaneously turned and went back into their hotel rooms. Bobby quickly changed his pants and jacket and then exited the room again, expecting to find that Barek had changed as well. But there she was, in that same beautiful grey suit.

"Touché," he said. She smiled modestly.

They headed towards the elevator. "I talked to Eames last night," said Bobby.

"I heard you fall over, what'd' you find out?" She pressed the down button.

Bobby gave her a reproachful glare. "The man who bought the violin at auction is Carey Lawrence, 45, married with 2 teenagers, told her that he bought the violin as an investment."

The door opened and they stepped on. "An investment?" said Barek with surprise.

"I know. She's going to interview him formally today." He pressed the L button and the doors closed.

"She letting Mike help?"

"Doesn't sound like it."

"Poor thing. She must be having a tough time," said Barek sympathetically.

"Don't pity Eames," said Bobby shortly. "She's conventional and independency works just fine for her."

"Sorry," said Barek, bowing her head as the door dinged open.

"It's not your fault. You don't know much about us. And I'm just tired," he sighed.

They walked out through the Lobby and to the lot where their rental car was parked.

"You speak German?" asked Bobby.

"Yah, why? Do you?"

"Yep, just checking," he said as he put the keys in the door. They got in and then drove away.

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Forty-five minutes and six massive traffic circles later they pulled up in front of a tiny house where the violin shop was.

They walked up and Bobby knocked on the door; an old woman in an apron answered it. "Good morning," said Bobby in German. "Is Mr. Lusk in?"

"Follow me," she responded as she turned and headed back into the house. She led them into a parlor that was full of violins, violas, and cellos. The place was a mess, but it wasn't unorganized. "Have a seat, and I'll get him for you. Would you like something to drink?"

"No thank you," said Bobby; Barek motioned her hand in agreement.

The lady turned and left the parlor to shout up the stairs: "Michael! In the Parlor!"

Soon, Michael Lusk came wandering down the stairs and turned into the Parlor where Carolyn was sitting and Bobby was up and looking around. "Can I help you?"

He turned around at the sound of the man's voice. "Yes, I'm Detective Robert Goren from New York, this is Detective Carolyn Barek. I believe I spoke on the phone with you about a violin you sold."

"Ooh, you speak German….Ah, yes. Mary's violin. Have you found it?"

"No sir, we were wondering if you could tell us where you got the violin from and what were the circumstances under which Ms. Steinman came to own it."

"Certainly," he said. He pulled up a third chair and they both sat down across from Carolyn. "I received the violin from a banker- Markus Darrin. He came in one day about 5 years ago and sold it to me on the spot. I paid $40,000 for it. Ms. Steinman bought it several weeks later for $50,000."

"Did the Banker say where he got it from?" asked Bobby.

"No, but a few days after I sold it to Ms. Steinman, a man came looking for the exact same violin. Said that a violin of his was stolen. And asked me if I had received any violins recently."

"What did you say?"

"I told him about the violin from the Banker, but that I had just sold it."

"Did you tell him the man who sold it to you was a banker?" asked Bobby.

"Yes, I did."

"And did he asked for the Banker's name?"

"Yes, but I told him that I wasn't allowed to give that out. And I told him that it was sold. But I reassured him that the man who had sold it to me had all of the ownership and insurance papers in order. There was nothing I could do."

"What was this man's name?" asked Barek.

"I believe it was James… Karaka. Yes- Karaka." Barek began to write notes in her little pad.

"Did Karaka ask for Mary's name?" asked Bobby.

"Yes, he did. He asked me for the name of the person who I sold it to. But I didn't tell him that either. I asked him why he didn't file a police report. He said that he did, but that the police were of no help."

"What did he do after that?"

"Nothing. He just left."

"And that's the last time you saw him?"

"Yes- but a few days later my shop was broken into. None of the instruments were taken though-"

"But your records were," finished Bobby.

"Yes," he said. "I filed a report, but they were never able to catch the man who did it."

"And you think it was this James Karaka? Mary's sales record was stolen?"

"As well as Mr. Darrin's, but I have copies," he said getting up from his chair and walking across the room to a cabinet where he pulled out an old shoebox.

"Could we have copies of those?" asked Bobby.

"Of course, let me get some fresh forms and I'll copy them over for you."

Lusk began to copy the records over. "Excuse me, Mr. Lusk, may I try some of the instruments?" asked Bobby.

"Certainly, this may take me a minute or two."

Bobby went over to the corner of cellos and began to try them out one by one. He took out his cell phone and began to take a few pictures with it to text to Alex.

"Robert," said Carolyn in English, bringing him crashing back down to earth. "Here, I brought a digital camera," she said pulling it out of her purse.

"Thanks," he said and he retook the pictures.

"All done," said Mr. Lusk cheerfully in his native German.

"Thanks very much."

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As soon as Bobby and Carolyn were back in their little rental car, Bobby pulled out his cell phone.

"Eames, guess what we just found out…"