maximum security for it.” He added, “And he started work on the new DNA project the next day.”
“How? Did he meet with someone? Did he go to the lab?”
“He didn’t go to the lab. But he must have met with the client because he flew out that morning.” He added quickly, “And that’s all I know. I did what Dobran told me to do, then I was out of it. Dobran spent the next three weeks at the lab before the job was finished.”
“You know nothing else?” Joe asked.
“Only that Dobran is crazy about that statue and spends time with it every day.” He thought of something else. “Oh, and he told me to put two more guards on the property.” He added sourly, “But they didn’t keep you out, did they?”
“Names,” Joe said. “I need client names.”
“I don’t have any names. I’ve told you all I know.” Sebak’s voice was shaking. “You’ll have to get it from Dobran.”
Joe was afraid that was true. Sebak was still too frightened not to tell him if there was anything left to confess. “Then that’s what we’ll do.” He pulled Sebak to his feet. “Let’s go.”
“And am I to be allowed to interrogate Dobran?” Gideon asked. “I’m getting very bored, Quinn.”
“Maybe.” He pushed Sebak across the room and out the door. “But we’re going to make a stop before we go to see him. I want to take a look at that statue.”
“I told you that I don’t have the code for the gallery. You’ll have to rely on Sebak.”
“I’m certain he’ll cooperate,” Joe said as he nudged Sebak toward the gallery. “Isn’t that right?”
“I don’t know why you want to see it,” Sebak said. “It’s just a statue.”
“Maybe I’m an art lover. Besides, I want to see what Dobran sees in it and why he wanted it so badly.” He stopped before the ornate carved doors of the gallery and gestured to the panel. “Do your thing. If you set off an alarm, I don’t have to tell you that you’ll regret it.”
“No.” Sebak was quickly putting in the code. “I wouldn’t do that. Haven’t I done everything you’ve told me to do?” The carved door opened to reveal steel panels that slid silently to each side. “You see?”
“Yes,” Joe said. “You’ve made a good start. But it’s all in the follow-up. Where’s the statue?”
“At the end of the second row.” He hurried on ahead. “I’ll show you.”
Gideon gave a low whistle as he fell into step with Joe. “I’ve seen rooms at the Louvre that don’t have this many treasures.” His gaze was on the rows of glass cases on either side of them containing Egyptian artifacts of every description. “No mummies? I half expect to see King Tut in one of those cases. I bet there are artifacts in here that the government would never permit to be owned in a private collection.”
“No bet.” The gallery was very heavy on Egyptian artifacts, but there were also priceless originals on the walls by Cezanne, Rembrandt, Titian…“It’s clear he sometimes took his fee in fine art. That Titian is worth far more than this château.”
“You have a good eye,” Gideon said. “And whoever sent Dobran that artifact must have known that it would be irresistible to him.”
“Here it is.” Sebak had stopped before a softly lit case at the end of the row. He gestured impatiently. “I told you, it’s just a statue.”
Joe inhaled sharply as he gazed at the superb artistry of the work. It was no more than eighteen inches but was made of pure gold, and every complicated detail of the slim Egyptian woman it represented was done to perfection, from her crown headpiece to her sandals. “Yes, you did. Only a statue.” He bent closer. “Take it out of the case. I want to examine it.”
“I’m not allowed to do—” He met Joe’s eyes and reached out to press the coded release on the top of the case. “Be careful. He’ll kill me if it’s damaged.”
“It’s gold. I’m sure it’s already very old, and gold isn’t that fragile.” He took the statue and looked at it. It was just as magnificent as he’d first thought. “But I can see why he was impressed by her.”
“I can’t,” Sebak said sourly. “I don’t know why he wanted it. He has others, you know.” Sebak nodded at the row of cases across the room. “Probably older than this one. Age is everything to value according to Caladon. This one is only