There would be no stopping her.
Breaking into Varnelli’s warehouse was a recipe for disaster, but how could she say no? They’d lost the painting, and after all Francesca had done for her, she owed her. She needed to help her regain theMadonna.
But at what cost, and was she really willing to pay it?
Chapter 25
Strings
Penelope shut down her computer with a low curse.
Eighteen hours and twenty-three minutes since she’d left Lucia behind in the Conservation Lab, and she still hadn’t heard from her.
I’ll call you.
When? So far, no word. Not even a text.
Someone had gotten to them, and theMadonnawas gone.
But the real issue troubling her was…Lucia.
She’d sounded so flat. So detached.
Lucia’s usual warmth and energy had always come through—even over text. Could this be the real Lucia? Penelope doubted it.
Lucia’s behavior had been consistent: thoughtful, cheeky, nurturing, attentive.
That night had been high stress, but the silence now was suffocating. It had stretched into something heavier, pressing down on her chest.
The house felt too quiet, the ticking grandfather clock suddenly loud, almost intrusive.
But there was nothing she could do. Only wait.
She’d slept fitfully, head filled with dreams of losses, arrests, and hollow ache.
Even though today was Saturday and her day off, she’d tried to distract herself with work. No use. Her mind was shot.
Even Fuller’s snuggles didn’t help.
Their night together had been…wonderful. Ill-advised for many reasons, but Penelope was done pretending thisconnection between them was a fluke. Done trying to relegate it into something small.
Naturally, that was when all hell would break loose.
She pulled out her father’s notes again—not that she hadn’t been over them a million times before.
After another hour, still nothing. She returned to her computer and her research on Barry Whitfield.
So far:
44, former investment banker.
Art enthusiast.
Worked at The Met as a registrar (without a clear degree).
Now a collections liaison at Belgrave Trust—whatever that meant.
And Belgrave Trust? The deeper she dug, the shadier it got. Valentina had no official role, but Penelope had tied her to two shell companies listed as donors, and to a procurement firm involved in a major acquisition Belgrave had orchestrated.
