False Impression (2006) Read online

  ‘That sounds like Leapman,’ said Anna.

  ‘Then we’d better get moving,’ said Ruth, as she began walking towards the door.

  Anna nodded her agreement, followed her out of the building and jumped into the passenger seat of Ruth’s Range Rover.

  ‘Terrible business, Lady Victoria,’ said Ruth as she swung the car round and headed for the south end of the cargo terminal. ‘The press are making a real meal of the murder - mystery killer, throat cut with a kitchen knife - but the police still haven’t arrested anyone.’

  Anna remained silent, the words ‘throat cut’ and ‘mystery killer’ reverberating in her mind. Was that why Arabella had told her that she was a brave woman?

  Ruth pulled up outside an anonymous-looking concrete building, which Anna had visited several times in the past. She checked her watch: 3.40pm.

  Ruth flashed a security pass to the guard, who immediately unlocked the three-inch steel door. He accompanied them both down a long, grey concrete corridor that always felt like a bunker to Anna. He stopped at a second security door, this time with a digital pad. Ruth waited for the guard to stand back before she entered a six-digit number. She pulled open the heavy door, allowing them to enter a square concrete room. A thermometer on the wall indicated a temperature of 20 degrees centigrade.

  The room was lined with wooden shelves, which were stacked with pictures waiting to be transported to different parts of the world, all packed in Art Locations’ distinctive red boxes. Ruth checked her inventory, before walking across the room and looking up at a row of shelves. She tapped a crate showing the number 47 stencilled in all four corners.

  Anna strolled across to join her, playing for time. She also checked the inventory, number forty-seven, Vincent Van Gogh, Self-portrait with Bandaged Ear, 24 by 18 inches.

  ‘Everything seems to be in order,’ said Anna, as the guard reappeared at the door.

  ‘Sorry to interrupt you, Ms Parish, but there are two security men from Sotheby’s outside, say they’ve been instructed to pick up a Van Gogh for valuation.’

  ‘Do you know anything about this?’ asked Ruth, turning to face Anna.

  ‘Oh, yes,’ said Anna, not missing a beat, ‘the chairman instructed me to have the Van Gogh valued for insurance purposes before it’s shipped to New York. They’ll only need the piece for about an hour, and then they will send it straight back.’

  ‘Mr Leapman didn’t mention anything about this,’ said Ruth. ‘It wasn’t in his email.’

  ‘Frankly,’ said Anna, ‘Leapman’s such a philistine, he wouldn’t know the difference between Van Gogh and Van Morrison.’ Anna paused for a moment. Normally she never took risks, but she couldn’t afford to let Ruth call Fenston and check. ‘If you’re in any doubt, why don’t you call New York and have a word with Fenston?’ she said. ‘That should clear the matter up.’

  Anna waited nervously as Ruth considered her suggestion.

  ‘And have my head bitten off again,’ said Ruth eventually. ‘No, thank you, I think I’ll take your word for it. That’s assuming you will take responsibility for signing the release order?’

  ‘Of course,’ said Anna, adding, ‘That’s no more than my fiduciary duty as an officer of the bank,’ hoping her reply sounded suitably pompous.

  ‘And you’ll also explain the change of plan to Mr Leapman?’

  ‘That won’t be necessary,’ said Anna, ‘the painting will be back long before his plane lands.’

  Ruth looked relieved, and turning to the guard said, ‘It’s number forty-seven.’

  They both accompanied the guard as he removed the red packing case from the shelf and carried it out to the Sotheby’s security van.

  ‘Sign here,’ said the driver.

  Anna stepped forward and signed the release document.

  ‘When will you be bringing the picture back?’ Ruth asked the driver.

  ‘I don’t know anything about—’

  ‘I asked Mark Poltimore to return the painting within a couple of hours,’ interjected Anna.

  ‘It had better be back before Mr Leapman lands,’ said Ruth, ‘because I don’t need to get on the wrong side of that man.’

  ‘Would you be happier if I accompanied the painting to Sotheby’s?’ asked Anna innocently. ‘Then perhaps I can speed up the whole process.’

  ‘Would you be willing to do that?’ asked Ruth.

  ‘It might be wise given the circumstances,’ said Anna, and she climbed up into the front of the van and took the seat between the two men.

  Ruth waved as the van disappeared through the perimeter gate and joined the late-afternoon traffic on its journey into London.

  24

  BRYCE FENSTON’S Gulfstream V executive jet touched down at Heathrow at 7.22pm, and Ruth was standing on the tarmac waiting to greet the bank’s representative. She had already alerted customs with all the relevant details so that the paperwork could be completed just as soon as Anna returned.

  For the past hour, Ruth had spent more and more time looking towards the main gate, willing the security van to reappear. She had already rung Sotheby’s, and was assured by the girl in their Impressionist department that the painting had arrived. But that was more than two hours ago. Perhaps she should have called the States to double-check, but why question one of your most reliable customers. Ruth turned her attention back to the jet and decided to say nothing. After all, Anna was certain to turn up in the next few minutes.

  The fuselage door opened and the steps unfolded onto the ground. The stewardess stood to one side to allow her only passenger to leave the plane. Karl Leapman stepped onto the tarmac and shook hands with Ruth, before joining her in the back of an airport limousine for the short journey to the private lounge. He didn’t bother to introduce himself, just assumed she would know who he was.

  ‘Any problems?’ asked Leapman.

  ‘None that I can think of,’ replied Ruth confidently, as the driver pulled up outside the executive building. ‘We’ve carried out your instructions to the letter, despite the tragic death of Lady Victoria.’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Leapman as he stepped out of the car. ‘The company will be sending a wreath to her funeral,’ and without pausing, added, ‘is everything ready for a quick turnaround?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Ruth. ‘We’ll begin loading the moment the captain has finished refuelling - shouldn’t be more than an hour. Then you can be on your way.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it,’ said Leapman, pushing through the swing doors. ‘We have a slot booked for eight thirty and I don’t want to miss it.’

  ‘Then perhaps it might be more sensible if I left you, to oversee the transfer,’ said Ruth, ‘but I’ll report back the moment the painting is safely on board.’

  Leapman nodded and sank back in a leather chair. Ruth turned to leave.

  ‘Can I get you a drink, sir?’ asked the barman.

  ‘Scotch on the rocks,’ said Leapman, scanning the short dinner menu.

  As Ruth reached the door, she turned and said, ‘When Anna comes back, would you tell her I’ll be over at customs, waiting to complete the paperwork?’

  ‘Anna?’ exclaimed Leapman, jumping out of his chair.

  ‘Yes, she’s been around for most of the afternoon.’

  ‘Doing what?’ Leapman demanded as he advanced towards Ruth.

  ‘Just checking over the manifest,’ Ruth said, trying to sound relaxed, ‘and making sure that Mr Fenston’s orders were carried out.’

  ‘What orders?’ barked Leapman.

  ‘To send the Van Gogh to Sotheby’s for an insurance valuation.’

  ‘The chairman gave no such order,’ said Leapman.

  ‘But Sotheby’s sent their van, and Dr Petrescu confirmed the instruction.’

  ‘Petrescu was fired three days ago. Get me Sotheby’s on the line, now.’

  Ruth ran across to the phone and dialled the main number.

  ‘Who does she deal with at Sotheby’s?’

  ‘Mark Poltimore,’