Page 84 of Family Affair

"How important is the Pollock drawing to you?" she asked.

Ross stilled.

Right back atcha, she thought. She managed to knock him off balance. She could feel his surprise.

“What do you know about this drawing?”

“Only that the police are looking for it. Detective Willis asked after it.”

“He askedyou?” He sounded incredulous.

“Yes. Because I’m linked to both Dan and Cade. And because I’m an artist. Yay, me.”

“Have you seen it?”

“Tell me why it’s important.”

His gaze burned her. “It’s family business. Old business.”

“I’ve seen it.”

He swore softly. “Coco, this is getting serious. Where did you see it?”

“Tell me about it.”

He made a fist and lowered it on the armrest. She was pretty sure he wanted to smash it but refrained seeing as it wasn’t his car they were riding in.

“I know that the Pollock drawing was made by your late brother, Frank,” she prompted. “And I know that it served as a catalyst when that reporter ran the story about Frank. What I don’t understand, why does it matter now?”

Ross looked out of the side window and sighed. “Because Ward Williamson had tried to pay Father back for old slights by posting the drawing for sale. He was going to leak the fact that it’s fake as a smear campaign against my family. And now the assumption is that one of us whacked Ward because of it.”

“Because of an old fake drawing?”

“So far, it’s the only lead. And our family, Cade in particular, is the only suspect the police can think of. He was around when Frank had been active. He had had charges brought up against him in relation to the forgeries, but they were later dropped. That’s how things stand."

She frowned. "Making a suspect out of Cade based on a bit of history and one old fake drawing is a huge stretch."

"They’re good at stretching. Practically yoga masters. So, where did you see it?"

Still, Coco hesitated before sharing her information.

“What will you do once you find the drawing?”

“Destroy it.” Ross didn’t hesitate in his answer. “I swear, Coco, we have enough problems with the police as it is. They don’t need to invent any more connections.”

“At La Vedova.”

Ross whistled softly. “Well, I’ll be damned. A top-notch place. Frankie’s still going strong.”

Coco started. It was so strange to hear him refer to Frank with so much familiarity, pride, and… affection. She risked a glance in Ross’s direction, but he turned away from her and was looking out of the window.

Sensing her regard, he looked back. “Thank you.”

She gripped the steering wheel tighter. “I didn’t do it for you.”

“I know.”

She drew a shaky breath. Whether it was morally right or not, she had done it, a favor to Cade, she thought, but also a favor to… Frank. He wouldn’t have wanted his drawing out and about now, damaging his brother’s reputation.

“Where do you want me to let you out?”

Her question roused Ross, and his customary sly grin returned. “On the second thought, take me back to the station. I want to make sure Cade’s sissy lawyers post his bail.”