Page 32

“We’re friendly, which isn’t quite the same thing.”

“It’ll do for now,” said Hook. “Mark and I were supposed to be having lunch with the Douglases at Boucherie,” she said. “I’m not sure I can deal with them alone. One of her sons keeps undressing me with his eyes. I swear, he’s halfway to being a sex criminal.”

“If you want support, I can join you. I’m used to flying the museum’s flag at social events.”

“You’d do that?”

“We’ve just received a generous donation, in part through the efforts of Triton Rarities. It seems like a small favor to do in return. Plus, I hear Boucherie is great.”

And, Madeline thought,who knows what I might learn?

“Then consider it done,” said Tanya, obviously relieved not to be left to handle the vagaries of the Douglas clan alone. “We’ll be leaving shortly. Our reservation is at two-thirty.”

“I just need to get some stuff from my desk. I’ll meet you outside.”

Hook returned to her post by the widow Douglas’s side as Madeline slipped away. Had Madeline’s back not been turned, she might have seen Tanya Hook smile.

CLASSIFIED

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

File Number:REDACTED

Requesting Official(s):REDACTED

Task Numbers and Date Completed:1000210, Work Request Number 1000210, 3/13/24

Source File Information/Name of Audio File:031324_0138_pm BERN_Phone_Call.wav

VERBATIM TRANSCRIPTION

Participants:Aldo Bern B

Unidentified Participant UP

Abbreviations:Unintelligible UI

031324_0138_pm BERN_Phone_Call.wav

BERN:I’m calling on behalf of your business partner, so no names.

UP:Has something happened to him?

B:Why would you say that?

UP:Because you’re the one calling, not him.

B:He’s okay, but he’s in mourning. He just lost a friend, and it might not be the first.

UP:Which friend?

B:The one from Palm Desert. He had an accident in his motel room, a messy one.

UP:And the other?

B:The dealer down south. Missing, presumed not having a good time. He was the first, our desertfriend the second. Someone is working their way up the line.

UP:What about the rest?