Chapter Fifteen
"Exactly what happened last night, Jimmy?"
"There were reports that the alarm went off twice –"
"What do you have to say to the culprit?"
"Is an investigation underway?"
"Are there any leads?"
"Gentlemen, gentlemen," Jimmy James finally broke through the voices of all the reporters who were now crowded in his living room, "it's too early for me to have any real information for you regarding the investigation. As far as how the Chellini Venus was stolen, Mr. Nye here, from the museum will be able to explain more fully."
The reporters then proceeded to talk all at once.
Upstairs in the James mansion, Haley James rolled over in her bed, completely unaware of the commotion going on just below her. Having done what she did last night, had she been thinking about the theft she would have guessed that her father was being ambushed by hundreds of reporters. However, her mind was on a much pleasanter topic.
The phone rang and Haley reached over to her bedside table to answer it. "Hello?"
"Hey."
Haley grinned when she recognized the voice. Trying to sound nonchalant she asked, "Who is this?"
"Nathan," he smirked.
"Hmm…I'm not sure I know a Nathan," Haley smiled, twirling the cord with her finger.
"Really? Then I guess the beautiful woman in bed with me right now will be of no concern to you," he said to shock her. It worked.
Haley sat up with a start in her bed. "What!"
Nathan grinned. "Relax. I'm talking about the Venus. She's right here."
"Oh, I see," she lied back down, "I knew that."
"Yeah, I'm sure you did," Nathan laughed. "Maybe next time you shouldn't pretend not to know me."
"Point taken. So, why did you call? Not that I'm not happy you did," she quickly added.
"Well, I was just wondering if you wanted to meet me for lunch today at the Plaza. We have a lot to talk about."
"You're right," she grinned into the phone. "Shall I come around one-thirty?"
"Erm, I think two would be better for me."
"Okay, then. Two o'clock it is," Haley said happily.
"I'll see you at two then."
……………
Nathan tapped the table impatiently. The reason he had asked Haley to come a little later was because he had something to take care of before that, but now that was getting late which meant he'd have to keep Haley waiting. Finally, the man he was expecting walked into the Plaza restaurant and came up to Nathan's table.
"Mr. Scott," he said as he sat down.
"Mr. Keller."
"Sorry for the late arrival, but I got held up at the office," Chris explained.
"It's no problem, but I have to meet someone else so we better get this done soon."
Chris nodded. "I must say I was quite surprised when you asked me to meet you today, especially after your brother told me he couldn't help me."
"Lucas doesn't know about this; you understand that no one can know?"
"Of course," Chris nodded. "The Venus –" he stopped when he received a look from Nathan, "Ahem, the item," he began again more softly, "is too high-profile right now. But are you so sure that you can get me the statue? It only went missing yesterday."
Nathan nodded. "I can. But first I have to make sure that you realize if it came to your possession you could never show it to anyone, not even your friends."
"That's fine; I only want it for myself."
"And of course you can't see any of the James'."
"Well," Chris faltered, "I sort of know the daughter, Haley James."
"Really?" Nathan asked, feigning only mild interest.
"Actually, we're engaged, but you're right, I can't see her when I have the Ve - the item."
"Exactly."
"I'm leaving to go back to New York tomorrow evening. Will you be able to give it to me by then?"
"I have a few arrangements to make. But it should be possible."
"Right," Chris nodded.
A/N: I know the ending of this chapter may seem a little confusing - at least, when I re-read it I thought Nathan and Chris' conversation seemed somewhat confusing if you didn't know the whole story. Anyway, it will be explained in the next chapter, which will be uploaded tomorrow.