Seven

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"Fine. Thanks, judge Greenwood. We'll contact Yahoo as soon as we arrive to the Station, we have to go back to the Gallery now. Yes, we will keep you informed. " I hung the phone after talking to the judge. 

"Will she send them?" Mark asked, his eyes always on the road.

"She had a busy day too and hadn't managed to redact the warrants , but will do it today. "

"Well, let's see what the people at the Gallery tells us. "

Half an hour later we parked near the National Gallery and walked to it. The day was cloudy by then and some small raindrops fell every now and then. 

The guy in the ticket selling desk greeted us briefly and told us Mr Abbott would meet us in the  cafeteria, at the other side of the huge entry hall. Only some customers were there, and the waitress was emptying the dishwasher. 

"Two coffees, please. One with milk and no sugar." I left some money on the desk and the waitress went back to her chores.

"It's on the Museum, Bea." Abbott smiled at the girl " I just heard the news, it's terrible. Congressman Vernon and his family are close friends to me, I met his younger brother when I was in College. Poor Arthur... Do you think there's something connecting both crimes?"

Mark smiled lightly "I'm afraid we're not allowed to give any information about the case, Mr Abbott."

The man turned red and apologized profusely "Yeah, yeah. I'm sorry, shouldn't have asked. I imagine you will want to resume the interviews right?" 

"We would like it, yes." 

"This way then, please." 

We drank our coffees and followed Abbott to the offices of the Museum. Elizabeth, the woman we intended to talk to in the first place got up from her desk when she saw us. She was an elegant, classy woman with well cared grey hair and a smart look in her blue eyes. 

"Good day, Detectives.I'm Elizabeth Sheridan,  Culture Manager in the Museum. We can talk in Martin's office if you want." She didn't wait for our answer and walked to the office, her heels sounding loud over the tile floor. "Take a seat please." She sat on Bennett's armchair and we sat on the two ones placed in front of her.

"Did you usually work with Mr Bennett?"

"We were part of the same team. Mr Abbott and I planned the exhibitions the Gallery could host and Martin dealt with other Museums all around the world in case we had to borrow their paintings. Not all Museums are exactly willing to do it but he could be very persuasive. We will miss him, he was a good worker and a good friend." Elizabeth's voice trembled imperceptibly.

"And Ms Thomas, what can you tell us about her? Did you know her well too?" Mark asked .

The woman's expression changed suddenly "Martin's girlfriend? She's an intelligent woman, and made a good team with Martin. It doesn't surprise me he fell for her, they had a lot of things in common. "

"Do you know if he had any enemies or someone who could hold a grudge against him?" 

"Against Martin? That's nonsense, no one could hold a grudge against him. Never. He was a kind, sensitive man and will be dearly missed by all of us."

The rest of the people working at the offices told us more or less the same thing, so it was clear we wouldn't get any clue there. 

"This was an actual rose garden after a, let's hope Vernon's firm gives us more information." I said when we left the Gallery.

"I would prefer to take a look at the emails before going there, maybe that way we find a link between Bennett and Vernon. Apart from Abbott, that is."

"Hadn't thought of that," I admitted " The only connection we have so far is Abbott and the Museum itself, but I don't imagine him murdering anyone."

"Nor do I, to be true, but we should keep him watched just in case. We'll organize it when we arrive at the station."

"You go talk to Wilkins, I have to read Ellen's file before calling the detention center where she is."

"Good luck about it." 

I took the file and started reading it. As I did, a huge rage invaded me. Ellen has been arrested several times before, for small robberies in wealthy Los Angeles and San Diego houses. Allegedly she belonged to a gang but had never rat her accomplices out. 

Finally, I dialed Miller's direct phone number. After six or seven rings no one answered . I looked at my cell phone, it was seven p.m in San Diego, Miller was probably at home by then. I emailed him back apologizing and told him I would call him the following day.

"What do you have?" I asked Mark when he came back.

"Wilkins agreed to put surveillance on Abbott. And we found a link between Vernon and Bennett, they both studied in Harvard in the same dates."

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