rooms. Exactly as Annie had specified. A suite with adjoining rooms. With spectacular views of Central Park.
“Oh my!” Charlotte said in awe. “This is beautiful!” She approached the other two women and embraced them. “You are too good to me. I cannot thank you enough.”
“True, but please stop!” Annie laughed. “We are on a mission, my friend. And other people will benefit from your bravery.”
“Brave?” Charlotte was skeptical. “Me? How?”
“You came to us with a very serious problem. Many people would never have had the courage to admit they were having problems. Not only did you tell me, but you are also doing something to change it,” Myra reassured her.
“Thank you. I mean, never mind!” Charlotte joked.
“Let’s unpack and freshen up. We have a lunch date!” Annie directed them. “Let’s regroup in a half hour. Is that enough time for everyone to get ready?”
“What shall I wear?” Charlotte asked.
“That lovely white suit,” Myra called out. “I’ll be in navy, and I know Annie will be wearing something red with her boots! We’ll look very patriotic together!”
Within thirty minutes, the women were ready and on their way to the restaurant. They walked along the south side of Central Park in the direction of Columbus Circle, admiring the budding trees.
“I remember when Central Park had a terrible reputation,” commented Charlotte. “Purse snatching, muggings. That poor girl who was murdered by that preppy kid, then the jogger.”
“But look at it now,” Annie exclaimed. “When Giuliani took office, he kicked a lot of ass cleaning up the city. Then Bloomberg stepped in and continued much of the progress. Although I don’t particularly agree with everything they did, they did turn the city around.”
“They could have turned it around quicker if they had had us on their team,” Myra said wryly.
They entered the luxurious restaurant and were greeted as old friends. “Countess. Mrs. Rutledge. And whom do I have the pleasure?” The maître d’ took Charlotte’s extended hand.
“This is our dear friend Charlotte Hansen,” Myra explained. “She is a children’s book author.”
“Lovely to meet you. Celine will show you to your table.”
The women followed the tall, exotic model type to a table, where Victor was waiting. Lots of “Darlings!” “Hello, Gorgeous!” and “Fabulous!” were bandied about among kisses on both cheeks.
“Tell me, what brings you to our fair city?” Victor asked. “Shopping for a new something? Anything?”
“Perhaps. But, most of all, we are shopping for information.” Annie got right to the point. “Are you familiar with a Dr. Raymond Corbett? He has a practice on Long Island, though he lives in the city.”
“Oh, darling, I do know this Dr. Corbett.” Victor batted his eyes at her.
Annie leaned into the middle of the table. Victor obliged. “We need to know if Dr. Corbett has been in contact with Christie’s, and if so, what for?”
Victor leaned in closer. “Yes. Arrangements have been made for him to acquire a Chagall that is in private hands. The change of ownership is being handled by us at the request of the owner. It is one of the recovered pieces the Nazis stole.”
“But shouldn’t that go back to the country of origin?” Myra asked.
“That’s been an ongoing issue for years,” Victor explained. “France, Germany, the Netherlands, and several other countries are battling with the survivors of families who originally owned the art before it was taken from them.”
“I recall reading an article in the New York Times about several Rembrandts that are in question,” Annie said.
“Yes, it’s a sticky situation. However, the piece we have is being sold by the person who found it, in an attic, of all places. Such luck, eh? And it’s a private sale, not an auction.”
“Tell us more about Corbett and this painting,” Myra pushed.
“Corbett has already set up an account. He apparently reached an agreement with the owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, to purchase it for one million dollars. Then he came to us and asked that we broker the transaction. We, of course, were happy to do so. Commissions are always welcome, you know.”
“Interesting. Some might say it’s worth twenty million,” Myra commented.
“And that is what makes the art world so mysterious. Whatever the bidder is willing to pay. But in this case, it’s not an auction we’re talking about.” Victor clapped his hands. “Ta-da!”
“When is this sale taking place?” Annie asked anxiously.
“Sometime next week. It will be conducted over the phone.” Victor sighed.
Myra and Annie looked at each other and grinned. Perfect timing.
“Then what happens, as far as taking possession?” Myra asked.