Act Fourteen - Interlude: Seen Them All

    “You’ve seen one crime scene, you’ve seen them all.”

    I’m almost startled by Dastun’s words as he comes up behind me from where I am formally requesting a copy of the police reports on the burglary. “Dastun,” I say in greeting.

    “So what’s in it for you this time, Negotiator?” his voice is easy, relaxed. He hasn’t been so relaxed since before the attack at the harbor. For a moment, thinking about the attack brings back the three misshapen monstrosity megaduces to mind, and Dastun repeats his question.

    “I’ve been hired to retrieve the statuettes.”

    “Have you had better luck with Miss Dorland then?”

    I reach into my jacket and pull out a copy of the paper she gave me. “Well she did tell me to give you this, in hopes that you would stop questioning her.”

    “For all I know, she was a party to the robbery.”

    I blink at him. Dastun’s many things, but not one for throwing things out without meaning behind them. “You’ve been to her studio, you know she’s probably been there since she got it.”

    “Probably. She gets all kinds in there.”

    “What do you know that you aren’t saying?”

    “Nothing, except that innocent little Miss Hope has done portraits for even the big shots in this city.” Dastun straightens his cufflinks and tie and glances around, taking the paper I’ve handed him and giving it off to a duty sargeant.

    “Rosewater?”

    “The very same. Actually, quite a few people you might remember. And not the Rosewater you think.”

    “Not Alexander, then?”

    “No. Gordon.”

    I blink again, finding myself speechless. Quickly I put on a blank face. “It’s not surprising. Alex inherited Paradigm from Gordon, many years ago. Gordon Rosewater was an important man.”

    “Who now farms tomatoes in a suburb far enough away to constitute being a suburb.”

    “So?”

    “Why would she paint the predecessor and not the reigning Rosewater?”

    Indeed. I start to respond, but Dastun is called off by one of his sergeants. Pondering this question, I return to my search for a copy of the reports.

***