An Insignificant Case

Chapter Ten

CHAPTER TEN

On the drive to Leon Golden’s estate, Gretchen’s emotions ricocheted between fear and nausea. The contents of the flash drive that Guido Sabatini had stolen from her safe could send her and many other people to prison. Worse, there were some people who were featured on the drive who might decide to kill her to punish her for losing the drive or to keep her from cooperating with the police.

Golden’s estate was in the middle of nowhere. To get to it, Gretchen drove down the Columbia River Gorge on I-84, then inland and across a river on a narrow bridge. The bridge connected to a private road squeezed tight by dense forestland where the canopy formed by massive trees cast the road in shadows. After a quarter of a mile, the road was blocked by a gate made of thick, black wrought iron bars that joined the two halves of a stone wall topped with razor wire. A large and intimidating guard stepped out of a sentry box and walked to the gate.

“It’s Gretchen Hall, Sully. I’m here to see Leon.”

“Is he expecting you?”

“Probably not. But he’ll tell you to let me in if you tell him I’m here.”

A few minutes later, Gretchen was driving up a narrow road through more forest. Shortly before she reached Leon’s mansion, the forest gave way to well-tended lawns patrolled by men with snarling guard dogs.

Leon lived in a three-story redbrick Georgian house with a roof of graduated slate tiles. Yuri Makarov was waiting at the front door. He was in his forties, but he still looked like he could compete at light heavyweight, the weight class he’d boxed in before Leon hired him. Makarov walked over to Gretchen when she got out of her car.

“Mr. Golden’s lawyers told him that he’s not supposed to talk to you.”

“I got the same warning. What our lawyers don’t know is that a lunatic named Guido Sabatini broke into my wall safe in La Bella Roma and stole a flash drive with the names of your guests and a copy of a certain movie. Tell him that, Yuri, then tell me what he says.”

Gretchen waited at the front door, but she didn’t have to wait long.

“He’ll see you,” Makarov said.

Gretchen followed Leon’s bodyguard down a hall to a wood-paneled study lined with bookcases that looked out on a side lawn. She started to say something when she walked inside, but Golden held up his hand.

“I know you met with the DA,” Golden said.

“You spied on me?”

“And you didn’t tell me you were hobnobbing with the people who want to put me in prison. So, before we talk, I want you to strip so I can see if you’re wearing a wire.”

“Screw you, Leon.”

Golden shrugged. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve seen you naked.”

Gretchen flushed. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. But I want him out of the room.”

“No problem.”

Makarov left and shut the door.

Leon watched Gretchen strip. Then he made her turn around.

“You’ve still got it, Gretchen,” Leon said as he admired Gretchen’s body.

“Grow up,” Gretchen said as she dressed. “Now, are you ready to get serious? Because we could have a big problem.”

Leon’s face darkened when Gretchen told him about the theft of the flash drive.

“Are you going to explain how this lunatic got into your safe?”

“Sabatini’s real name is Lawrence Weiss, and he’s an artist. I bought a painting from him, and I paid in cash I took from my safe. He was in my office when I punched in the combination.

“Weiss is also some kind of math genius. He can count cards, and he won a lot of money in casinos before they caught on and banned him. I don’t know how he did it, but I’m betting that he memorized my combination when I got his money from the safe.”

“Jesus, Gretchen, how stupid can you be!”

“I never saw him as a threat, Leon, and calling me names won’t get the flash drive back. So, let’s focus on that.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Sal told me that Sabatini’s lawyer called. I have his number.”

“Call him. See what he wants.”

Hall found the number in her purse and dialed.

“Charles Webb’s office,” a male answered.

“I’d like to talk to Mr. Webb. Tell him Gretchen Hall, the owner of La Bella Roma, is calling.”

“Oh, hi, Miss Hall. This is Charles. Thanks for calling.”

“I understand that you’re representing Guido Sabatini.”

“I am, and I think I can get you back the painting and the other objects he took.”

“I see. How would you do that?”

“Mr. Sabatini only wants to have his painting displayed where everyone can see it. If you agree in writing to hang it in the restaurant’s dining room and tell the DA to drop the charges, he’ll return it.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. You mentioned some other objects. What was he referring to?”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I asked, but he wouldn’t tell me. But he’ll definitely return them if you agree to hang the painting in the dining room. That’s all he’s interested in.”

“That isn’t a problem, and I’ll have no reason to see him prosecuted if I get the painting back. So, how do we do this?”

“Mr. Sabatini doesn’t want to come downtown because that means he can’t be painting. He wants to do everything at his farm. I’ll give you the address. Let’s meet there at noon. I’ll bring the paperwork.”

“That sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

When Gretchen ended the call, she turned to Golden.

“Sabatini will return the painting and everything else if I agree to hang his painting in the dining room at La Bella Roma and drop the charges against him. I’m going to his farm tomorrow at noon.”

“Did the lawyer know what Sabatini took in addition to the painting?”

“He told me that Sabatini wouldn’t tell him.”

“That’s a relief. That means that Sabatini is our only threat.”

“Don’t do anything stupid, Leon. This guy is nuts. All he cares about is his artwork. If he wanted to blackmail me, he’d have made his move already. If we’re lucky, I’ll have the flash drive tomorrow.”

“I’ll wait to hear from you. Hopefully, we’ll all be breathing easier by tomorrow afternoon.”

Golden walked Gretchen to her car. As soon as she left, he returned to his study and took a burner phone out of his desk and called Max Unger.

“We have a potential problem, Max,” Golden said.

“I hope you or Hall aren’t the problem.”

“No, no. I’d never sell you out.”

“What about Hall? She met with the DA. They offered her a deal.”

“How do you know that?”

“I know a lot of things.”

“Gretchen isn’t going to cooperate with the DA. It’s something else entirely.”

Golden told Unger about the theft at La Bella Roma.

“This fruitcake has the flash drive?” Unger asked. He sounded panicky.

“Gretchen assures me that this guy is nuts and hasn’t tried to use what’s on the flash drive for blackmail. Hopefully, she’ll have everything back tomorrow so you can relax.”

“Don’t tell me to relax. You know what will happen if the DA gets that drive.”

“Of course I do.”

“Where is Sabatini’s farm?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Just give me the address.”

“Don’t do anything until you hear from me,” Golden said as soon as he’d told Unger where Hall was going to meet the artist.

“I’ll do what I think is best,” Unger said. Then he disconnected.