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He spoke with rueful certainty. It occurred to Andy that Quinn might be married. Might be a father. It didn’t matter tohim, of course, so it was irritating to realize he was instinctively looking to see if Quinn wore a ring.

He did not.

Which might or might not mean much.

Andy said, “Not to mention, the only teenager I ever met who could actually pick a lock, was you.”

Quinn gave a quiet laugh but didn’t comment. He stepped out behind the desk, thoughtfully regarding the crowded, cluttered aisles.

“Is it possible Cutty could have picked up something valuable without realizing it?”

“I mean, it’s possible. But, unless he’s changed a lot, Uncle C. always knew his stuff.”

“Maybe something that was out of his realm of expertise. A rare book? A lost painting? Pirate’s gold?”

“A lost Rembrandt?” Andy was sardonic.

“It’s been known to happen.” Quinn was smiling again.

Andy couldn’t help smiling back. He looked up at the dusty paintings hung high above the tops of shelves. There weren’t many, and most of them had been there forever. “You see any Rembrandts?”

“Right there. I’m sure there’s a Rembrandt hidden beneath that meadow full of cows,” Quinn joked.

“Portrait of Rembrandt’s Cows? Except that meadow full of cows has been hanging up there for as long as I can remember.”

Quinn shrugged. “Okay. But something. Something Cutty picked up recently that’s worth more than face value?”

Crazy, right? Was he really standing here with Quinn Rafferty, discussing the possibility that Uncle C. had stumbled across a priceless…something, and that discovery had nearly cost him his life? The day was getting more surreal by the minute.

Andy joked back, “Maybe a family heirloom was accidentally sold to Uncle C., and now someone’s trying to retrieve it?”

Quinn grinned, “Sure. The duchess’s necklace is hidden in a hollowed-out book.”

“Ah.The family jewels.”

Now why had he said that? Quinn’s green eyes glinted knowingly. Before he could reply, Andy said, “Or maybe there’s microfilm hidden beneath the stamp on an old letter.”

Quinn stopped grinning and gave him an odd look. “You never can tell.”

“All kidding aside, sometimes Uncle C. purchases whole lots of items without knowing exactly what he’s getting. Maybe he did pick up something valuable. Hopefully, I’ll have a better idea after I go through the books.”

“I’d make that a priority.”

“I plan on it.”

Quinn went through the office and checked the bathroom. He studied the small room. “You’ve got to secure that window.”

“I will.”

“Jam one of those old wooden dowel pins in the track.”

That was a pretty good idea. Andy nodded, leading the way back to the sales floor.

“Thanks for letting me look around.”

Andy shrugged. He thought Quinn seemed preoccupied. He was inexplicably disappointed as Quinn turned, heading for the front door.

What had he expected? He followed in silence.