Sleight of Hand - By Phillip Margolin Page 0,86

innocent. He loved his wife very much. If Mrs. Blair wanted this scepter, Mr. Blair might want to honor her wishes. But I’ll have to convince him that she was sincere in her desire to possess it.”

“I can give him that assurance.”

Benedict shook his head. “No offense, but your word would not carry a lot of weight.”

Blankenship straightened up. She looked insulted.

“Mr. Blair knows me. We’ve had business dealings.”

“I didn’t mean to disparage you, but let me ask a question. Will you profit if you broker this deal?”

“Of course.”

“And I assume we’re talking about a very hefty commission.”

Blankenship hesitated before nodding.

Benedict spread his hands. “Surely you see the problem. If Mr. Blair was unaware that Mrs. Blair wanted to pay several million dollars for the scepter, your statement won’t convince him if you are going to make a large profit from the deal.”

“What do you suggest?”

Benedict thought for a moment. Then he brightened.

“If I had a copy of the prenuptial agreement to show Mr. Blair, it would convince him that Carrie trusted you and was deadly serious about buying the scepter. Do you think you can get me a copy of the agreement to show to Mr. Blair?”

The woman’s head bobbed up and down. “Definitely.”

“I assume that you have to act quickly if this sale is to go through?”

“Very quickly.”

Benedict looked at his watch. “Where are you staying?”

Blankenship named a hotel near Dulles Airport and gave Benedict her room number.

“I have a few matters I must attend to,” Benedict said. “Go back to your hotel and I’ll call you when I’m done. We can meet and you can give me a copy of the agreement. I’ll take the document to Mr. Blair today and tell him about the urgency of making a decision about buying the scepter.”

“Thank you,” the woman said.

Benedict smiled. “I hope this works out for you. And it might take Horace’s mind off of his troubles. Of course, you understand that the utmost secrecy is required. Don’t tell anyone, even Mr. Draper, we’ve met, and do not, under any circumstances, discuss the scepter or the prenuptial agreement with anyone. From here on in, we must keep this matter strictly between us until I have an opportunity to discuss it with Mr. Blair.”

Benedict saw out Blankenship. As soon as the door closed, the lawyer went online and typed in Martin Draper’s name. His search turned up the existence of a Martin Draper Gallery in Seattle. A description of the art the gallery handled jibed with what Myra Blankenship had told him.

A search for Myra Blankenship turned up a small website that gave her academic credentials and a brief statement about her specialty, Asian antiquities.

Benedict called the gallery. Draper answered the phone. Benedict gave a false name, then said he wanted to contact Myra Blankenship. Draper said she was in Washington, D.C., on business, and hoped to be back in Seattle soon. He also confirmed that she had just returned from Asia.

Benedict told his secretary to hold his calls. Then he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. Blankenship was a gift from the gods. The problem was time. Benedict would have to act fast, because it would soon become public knowledge that he was no longer Blair’s attorney.

Benedict made a decision. He would meet Blankenship and get a copy of the prenuptial agreement. Then he would kill Blankenship and dispose of the body. After that, he would go to Blair’s estate. There was a good chance he could get into the mansion unseen. Horace had told him that the houseman lived in a cottage on the estate and that there was only a skeleton staff now that Carrie was dead and he was locked up. He had gotten the codes for Blair’s front gate and house alarm so he could get suits, ties, and shirts for Blair’s court appearances. When he was inside the mansion, he would hide the copy of the prenup. Then he would tip off Rick Hamada to its hiding place with enough specificity to establish probable cause for a search warrant.

Chapter Fifty-Six

Dana took off her wig and glasses as soon as she shut the door to her room in the hotel near the airport that Santoro and Robb had chosen for the sting. There was a desk, a couch, and a bed. Across from the bed was an armoire that concealed a television. A suitcase was on a stand next to the armoire.

Dana turned on the TV and channel-surfed to kill time