The Collectors

Chapter 7

Holly and Daniel both turned together as the man pushed his way into the shop. Immediately the interior seemed to shrink along with the air supply. Holly instinctively knew what was happening and she darted behind the desk, searching through her purse for her gun. She found it with one of Malcom's business cards caught on the butt and she quickly hid it at her side. Daniel, meanwhile, tried stepping around the man to leave but was pressed down like a foam pillow, under the legs of an old buffet.

"Miss Lakefield, your having the Rodin sculpture that is wanted."

"I don't have anything," she said, gripping the gun low at her side.

"You are taking me to where it is." Nikoli reached around the desk and grasped her arm and Holly yelped. The gun fell to the floor, leaving her holding the business card. She could do little against the Russian, and as they passed Daniel struggling to get out from under the buffet, she pressed the business card into his hand, signaling a plea with her eyes.

He crawled to the door and watched with complete disbelief as Holly was pushed into a very large, black van and driven away. This was a movie or something, it had to be. His shoulder was sore from the man's shove and he wondered if he might sue somebody. Daniel looked around the shop and noticed that there were no cameras and he could see the Tarot deck sitting on the desk.

The card was for a company called DeWhitt and Winter and the name was of the president, Malcom DeWhitt. Daniel didn't know what he was supposed to do but he certainly wasn't calling the police and heading out the door he looked at the card again and stopped; even if she was a bit of a bitch the least he could do before leaving, he figured, was call the guy and tell him what happened. He patted the Tarot deck in his pocket and smiled to himself, theft was becoming his new hobby.

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Jacob looked around the shop confused. He went through to the house, checked around and went back into the shop. Holly would never just leave and not lock up or leave a note. His desk drawers were open but nothing seemed to be missing. The place looked the same... just empty and quiet. On an impulse he checked the drawer where the cards were and cursed when he saw they were missing. What the heck could that be about?

He called her condo and then her cell but got no answer on either; things didn't look good and not only that, his mouth was very sore. When he saw the small gun on the floor by the base of a lamp he began to really worry.

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Gregory pulled his robe as far around his body as he could and tried to tie the belt but it wouldn't reach far enough. Nikoli had returned without warning and Gregory had to hide his pancake syrup; taking pleasure in capitalistic pursuits was strictly banned. Finding a good spot had left him no time to get dressed and now he sat on the edge of the bed and glowered at Holly, her shoulder held by a firm hand the size of a mattress.

"Why am I here and just who the hell are you to just grab me off the street?" She said. Nikoli squeezed a little and she shut right up.

"You purchased the Rodin from the Frenchman." She shook her head no then nodded at Nikoli's urging. "Where is?"

"I never bought it or took it, I just closed the deal. It had to be shipped and then it would have to clear customs before anyone could pick it up. I had nothing to do with any of that other than fill out the necessary papers." She dropped her shoulder and squirmed out of Nikoli's grip. "If you don't believe me call customs. If it was picked up they'll have the paperwork. If they don't then it's still there."

Gregory's face darkened. He should have thought of all that before dispatching his men. "Who was purchaser?"

"Come on, don't think because I'm a woman that I'm stupid. Your boss knows full well who bought it and who I worked for."