An Insignificant Case

Chapter Thirty-Eight

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

Detectives Gordon Rawls and Sally Blaisedale, Multnomah County district attorney Thomas Grant, Deputy District Attorney Bridget Fournier, and Elin Crane followed Guido Sabatini into Charlie Webb’s tiny office. As soon as everyone was inside, Guido walked over to the painting he’d given Charlie and took it off the wall. Then he turned it over and removed the backing. Nestled against the back of the canvas was the flash drive.

“I will be glad to repair the damage I have just caused,” Guido told Charlie as he handed the flash drive to Sally Blaisedale.

“Please, Guido,” Charlie said. “I really like that painting, and I’ve gotten used to seeing it every day.”

“Say no more. I will take it back to my farm, and it will be gracing your wall again before the week is out.”

“Thank you for protecting this evidence,” Bridget told Guido. Then she turned to Charlie and smiled. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. It was above and beyond the call of duty.”

“You can thank me and Guido by dropping the charges against him,” Charlie said.

“Consider it done,” Thomas Grant said.

“May I return to my painting?” Guido asked.

“I’ll have a patrol car take you back,” Sally said. “We’re keeping a guard at the farm until we’re certain that you’re safe.”

“I appreciate your interest in my safety,” Guido said.

“Charlie, we’re going to take the drive to the crime lab and have a tech open it,” Sally said. “I can’t tell you how much we’ve appreciated your help.”

Charlie blushed. “I was doing it for my client.”

“Well, you did a bang-up job.”

Guido left, and the detectives and the prosecutors followed him out of Charlie’s office. Only Charlie and Elin remained.

“Are you okay?” Charlie asked.

Elin shivered. “I’m going to see that paintbrush sticking out of the judge’s eye socket in my nightmares.”

“Do you want to go somewhere and get a drink?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, Charlie, but all I want to do right now is take a shower and go to bed. I’m freaked out and wiped out.”

Charlie masked his disappointment. “I can understand that. I didn’t feel much like socializing after my near-death experience at Guido’s farm.”

“Thanks for being so understanding. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Elin left, and Charlie sat down behind his desk. He was alone, and he felt empty after all the excitement. He understood why Elin wanted to go home, but he had hoped that the end of Guido’s case would be the start of their romance.

Charlie sighed. It wasn’t as if Elin was gone forever. He would see her tomorrow. All the same, he would have liked to be with Elin tonight, instead of being alone.