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Chapter 20
THE “BACK ROOM” turns out to be nothing more than a kind of storage space. On the near wall are two unframed canvases. Both have the graffiti touch of a Basquiat. Sophia Krane flicks her hand dismissively toward the unframed pieces.
“You won’t want these,” she says. “They’re second-rate examples. I knew Basquiat well.”
As if to prove her friendship, she now refers to him by his first name. “Jean-Michel has much better work. We just don’t have any of it at the moment.”
Then she walks to three framed canvases on the floor. They lean against the opposite wall, behind one another.
“Now these...” she says. Andre flips on an overhead fluorescent bulb. Sophia continues in her casual tone.
“This is a good Hopper. It comes from a private collection in Philadelphia. I think there was something going on between Hopper and the woman who originally owned it.”
She slides the painting to the side. She reveals a three-dimensional painting of a toy fire truck.
“Feldman. He’s hot again,” says Sophia.
“Whoever thought he’d be back on top?” says her husband. Sophia shoots Andre a mean glance, then says, “I did, darling.”
The third painting is a series of bowls on a shelf—simple, geometric, flat.
Sophia speaks.
“Ed Baynard is back, too. At least he’s back for the wealthy couples in Sanibel and Palm Beach. The rich people in Florida can’t decorate a media room without one of these pretty little Baynards hanging near their recliner chairs.”
Sophia’s art lesson has ended, and, although I find the Baynard paintings quite appealing, I am smart enough to remain silent.
Suddenly my fake–French wife speaks.
“I really would like to look at them further... but at a later time,” Burke says. “Luc and I are meeting our mutual friend, Etienne, for drinks...”
“Etienne is in town? I didn’t know that,” says Andre.
Burke is, I think, becoming a bit too impressed by her own charade. We need to get out. Burke speaks.
“Just for the day. An unexpected business meeting. So we will be in touch about the Monet and perhaps the Feldman. But, you know, I do have a question.”
“Of course,” says Sophia.
Burke continues.
“Isn’t it unusual to have such valuable pieces stacked one on top of another, leaning against the wall, on a dirty floor?”
“That’s how the artists often keep them in their studios,” says Andre.
“But this is not a studio,” Burke says, her charming smile in place.
Detective Burke and Mrs. Krane exchange tense smiles. But I know Burke well enough to realize that she is heading somewhere in this conversation.
“I was so hoping,” she says, “that you would sift through those three paintings and reveal a fourth canvas. I was foolishly hoping for a piece by Frida Kahlo. One of the self-portraits.”
“Yes, everyone loves the self-portraits,” says Andre. “The perfect scarves, the interesting headdress...”
“You know...” says Sophia.
“I know what you’re thinking,” says Andre. (I prepare myself for an avalanche of bullshit.)
Sophia speaks directly to K. Burke. Here it comes.
“You know, there is a collector, a very discreet individual, who has acquired three Kahlos over the years. The collector is away for the Christmas holidays. Saint Martin, I think. The French side, of course. I can get in touch, though. Would you be interested?”
“It would be a dream come true for Madame Moncrief,” I say.
Burke touches my shoulder. She smiles at me. She speaks.
“What a sweet Christmas gift that could be...” Her voice trails off. And we say our good-byes.
As soon as we step onto 57th Street I say, “A magnificent performance, K. Burke.”
“I’d like to thank the Academy...” she says. “And we might get a fake Frida Kahlo piece out of this.”
But I am already plotting our next steps.
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