“Have you identified this art, jewelry, ascertained how it came to be in what appears to be a secret vault?”
“The items removed from the vault and now secured will be officially identified, authenticated, and, with the cooperation of Interpol and any local authorities, returned to their rightful owners, as the Barrister family had planned when they made the discovery.”
“Are you saying that Henry Barrister stole or obtained by other means numerous and valuable items of art and jewelry over the course of decades and kept them in a hidden vault, in his home, and his family was unaware?”
“Evidence indicates Henry Barrister facilitated the thefts, and when his surviving family discovered their location, they began the process to, again, facilitate their return. I have no reason, at this time, to believe otherwise.”
“Were the items missing from the residence taken from the vault?”
“Evidence indicates affirmative. That’s all the information I can give you at this time. The family will release a statement. The NYPSD will conduct a media conference. My priority is to identify and apprehend the individual who murdered Nathan Barrister. That’s it.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. These stunning revelations bring more questions,” Nadine said to the camera. “As we gather more answers, more information, we’ll keep you informed. This is Nadine Furst reporting from the gates of Barrister House.”
Nadine signaled cut to the camera, then, since Eve had already started toward the car, rushed after her.
“Wait a minute!”
Eve turned back. “How do you run in those?” She pointed at Nadine’s sky-high heels. “Do you start running around in them at like twelve, thirteen?”
“It’s an inherent skill. Dallas, Jesus! Henry Barrister, secret vault, stolen art and jewelry. This is a huge story.”
“Somebody bashed Nathan Barrister’s head in. That’s my story.”
“Look, I get it. You know I do. I had plenty of time waiting for you to do some research there. He comes off as a good man, a good husband, father, businessman, citizen. I want you to find who killed him, and any help I can give there, I will. But I can’t ignore the billion-pound elephant in the room. How much are we talking? I won’t use it from you—I’ll find out otherwise. But off the record, how much?”
“The museum guys have to authenticate and value. But I’d say make that billion-pound elephant plural.”
“Jesus. The man had a rep—a hound-dog-with-women rep—but this? A supersecret private collection, one his family didn’t know existed. You’re buying that?”
“Yeah, I’m buying that.”
“Okay. Tell me what they got, what they took. I’ll hold it, you know I’ll hold it until you give me the go. I’ll do my own research, no sharing with my team.”
Nadine, Eve knew, kept her word. No matter how big the story, integrity came first.
“The Royal Suite.”
“What is that?”
“Do your research. I’ve gotta go.”
“Dallas—”
“Nadine.” Roarke put a hand on her arm. “She’s barely slept, barely eaten. And here come your colleagues.”
Nadine looked around, saw the vans pulling up, the reporters hotfooting it down the sidewalk.
“Go.”
“Give the family a break,” Eve said as she got into the car. “The house is full of grief.”
As the shouts forLieutenant Dallas!rang out, Roarke pulled away.
Eve put her head back, closed her eyes. “And I have to do a media conference either tomorrow or Monday, depending.”
“You shouldn’t be so good at them. You are,” he insisted when she just gave a quick snort. “You’re clear, you’re brisk, and the obvious impatience adds to it. So does your emphasis on the victim. You gave Nadine more than I thought you would.”
“Whitney cleared it. We agreed she’d find out anyway, and she doesn’t sensationalize. Well, she doesn’t have to sensationalize the vault thing. It’ll have a life of its own.”
