‘But what about the clue?’ Jodi reminded her, her attention back on the painting.
Beth waved a hand. She felt exhausted by it all. ‘I meant what I said. I’m finished. No more clues. I’m going home.’ She stood up and, waiting for Jodi to follow her lead, she placed her hands on her hips and arched her back, stretching. ‘I’m seriously tired. I think I need to go home and sleep – or take Brinkley out for a walk – or something.’ She closed her eyes and moved her head around on her shoulders, releasing tension in her neck. When she opened her eyes again, Jodi was still stubbornly sitting on bench, staring at her. ‘Come on, I’m ready to go. Let’s get out of—’
But as Beth looked down at Jodi, she noticed there was somethingunderthe bench, something that had not been there before. Of that, she was sure.
‘Hey, what’s this?’ She squatted down to retrieve the object and realized that this must have been the cause of the thud that they had heard just a minute ago. Something had fallen off the bench; perhaps a bolt or something that held it together…
Reaching out and picking it up, all at once Beth realized what it was.
A key.
‘Where did that come from?’ Jodi asked, bending down to look.
But Beth didn’t answer. What was a key doing under the bench? She peered beneath the seat, looking at the bottom, and realized that it seemed to have fallen from the underside of the wood. An errant piece of duct tape had been holding it in place, along with a piece of paper.
A note.
Suddenly, and despite herself, Beth felt herself being pulled straight back into the search. Without a doubt, she knew the key was the next clue. This is why she had been brought to the Met, to this exhibit, this gallery and this painting.
In the filmThe Thomas Crown Affair, she recalled that by hiding a briefcase under a bench just like this in the movie, Pierce Brosnan had been able to carry off the heist at the Met. This clue was channelling that scene.
Beth reached under the bench for the piece of paper, releasing it from the duct tape. It was folded over like a note. She sat back down next to her friend and, key still in hand, she unfolded the paper.
And as Beth read the words written on it, her breath caught in her throat.
You are too romantic about Manhattan, as you are about everything else.
Chapter 36
The answer to everything hit her at once.
Suddenly she knew exactly who was behind it all, the coffee cup that had sent her to Tiffany’s, the boat exhibition, the Waldorf Hotel, the Bethesda Fountain… the painting of Venice.
Hell, when she was struggling with theSeven Year Itchclue, he’d even handed it to her on a plate!
Danny.
And now, Beth realized – her mind racing as all the pieces suddenly began falling into place – thinking of the Waldorf in particular… now she understood why the name Yussopov had seemed so familiar to her. It was the surname of Angelina from the boat. She must have been the woman in the suite. But who were these people? Clients of Danny’s, perhaps? She knew that his firm did some advertising work for Tiffany’s, and maybe the hotel too, but… Beth’s mind raced. How her boyfriend had managed it all, she didn’t know. But one thing was for sure, he was the one behind this treasure hunt.
Her heart soared. How could she have not seen that?
‘It’s Danny,’ Beth said to Jodi, tears in her eyes. ‘He’s been behind it all along. How could I have not known that? I’m such an idiot…’ She thought again about the clues from the beginning. Yes, there were some unanswered questions, but one thing was for sure: each and every clue had been orchestrated by the man she had been so certain she was losing.
Of course there was still one major unanswered question. Why? Why would Danny do all of this – go to these incredible lengths – if he was having an affair and about to leave her for another woman? Beth frowned. Was it some roundabout way of telling her?
No, no way. Danny wouldn’t dream of doing something so hurtful, especially at this time of year, with only days to go to Christmas. But still the puzzle remained, what was the point of it all?
Jodi seemed to read Beth’s thoughts. ‘Why would Danny do all of this, honey? OK, maybe he wanted to put some spice or romance back into your relationship, I can understand that. But what about that woman you saw him with yesterday?’
Beth shook her head, confused too by the same thought. ‘I have no idea. But I have a feeling I’m going to find out pretty soon. I need to go to him. Now.’
Beth hustled across the gallery floor towards the exit. Danny was waiting for her now, and she was almost positive as to where. The slightly altered quote on the note had made sure of that. Another movie quote, but one Beth understood (and Danny knew she would) very well.
Jodi, struggling to catch up with her friend, peppered her with questions as the two made their way to the front lobby of the Met. ‘How do you know where he is now? What did the note say? Where are we going?’
Beth stopped and turned to face her friend as they exited onto Fifth Avenue.
‘Not we, Jodi. I’m sorry. I have to do this next part on my own,’ she said softly. ‘And you want to know how I know where he is?’ She reflected on one major movie-worthy memory from their shared past, and realized just how unbelievably blind she had been. She couldn’t deny it, but now love – real love – bloomed in her heart. This was reality. Danny knew Beth to her core, and she couldn’t believe that she had taken that for granted.
