The Collectors

Chapter 2

Malcom DeWhitt turned the cut glass tumbler in his hand and gazed through the amber liquid swirling inside to the light from his office window. Below in the street a siren wailed longingly, burped a few short blasts and then fell silent. He moved next to the heavy-duty glass and peered down to the street, seeing nothing of interest beyond the momentary passing of an emergency vehicle, and then with considerable theatre he sipped from the glass.

"You can't beat a good bourbon," He said dreamily, letting the liquid coat the back of his tongue before it slid warmly down his throat. Malcom, at fifty-six and wealthy beyond rich, wore the requisite power suit, styled hair, exotic destination tan and bundled it all in an indulgently plump frame. The teeth glistened obediently with the thousands of dollars the dental procedures had cost. The smile charmed and the voice was a buttery baritone.

"You're welcome." The answer was tinged with amusement. The owner sat comfortably in a soft leather padded chair, long silken legs crossed at the knee, hands folded over her stomach and a voice to match the smile spreading across her face.

"Holly you are the only woman I know who can select the right gift at the right time for all occasions."

"Such bull, Malcom. I could have brought you a postcard and you would have said the same thing. Getting your precious piece of art is all you care about."

"Allow me a little gloating." He sipped again and returned to his chair behind the desk. "It's one of a kind, Holly. Made from Rodin's own preliminary moulds and sketches. This was a product of his journey to the monument that now appears in museums around the world... and this one is an original"

"Gloat away, Malcom, you won again."

"Now, now, don't be cynical." He examined his drink and sighed. "So, how was the trip? I know it was successful but... otherwise?"

"Splendid, your seller was more than eager to accept the offer since the tax people were prepared to chain his boat to the dock with him in it. I even managed to squeeze in a few days in Antibes after closing the deal."

The laugh was also buttery. "Is it here yet?" He asked, eagerly.

"It's coming in tomorrow on a commercial flight. Your people can pick it up after you clear it through customs."

"Oh, I thought maybe that was part of your service." Disappointed.

"Sorry, Malcom, I negotiate, I don't do windows or paperwork." She pushed her tongue over her teeth and held her head up expectantly.

Malcom grinned and took another small, slow sip of bourbon, his dark eyes blinking with ecstasy, and changed the subject. "So Jean Tremblay has run afoul of the taxman." The grin became a chuckle and then a hearty laugh. Holly brushed some imaginary lint from her mint green suit jacket and waited out her client's moment of indulgent pleasure.

She was content to spend a short period in audience to her clients considering the generous fees she extracted for her services. People like Malcom DeWhitt, while having the resources, generally lacked the finesse required when trying to acquire things they just had to have. It was her expertise in negotiating and expediting that brought her to the lofty towers of these collectors as their intermediary.

DeWhitt and Winter maintained their suite of offices on the thirtieth floor of their wholly owned, thirty-two storey building, leasing the balance to a variety of businesses that provided a very handsome income. They provided all the maintenance and security for the building, additional to the base lease, ensuring an even greater return. This was the air Holly enjoyed breathing and what allowed her to charge her steep commissions.

Malcom had been almost rabid in his covetous pursuit of Rodin's miniature sculpture of his original Balzac work. Jean Tremblay had enjoyed taunting him with its ownership for years, until a careless falling out with the French tax people forced him to endure the humiliation of selling the piece, among a number of others, to cover his debt. Malcom had immediately sought out the only person he would trust with the task of getting it for his price and hired Holly Lakefield to negotiate the deal with orders to show no mercy. She hadn't.