Grand Passion

“I imagine that transporting expensive art requires some security precautions.”
    “Oh, yes, yes, indeed.” Spark chuckled. “Especially when some of that art was purchased from collectors who had ties to the underworld. And then there were the occasions when Max delivered paintings which had rather cloudy provenances.”
    “You mean they were fakes?” Cleo demanded.
    “Excellent fakes, Ms. Robbins.” Spark contrived to look offended. “Max can tell you that when I deal in forgeries, I make certain I deal in only first-class forgeries. Ninety-nine percent of the time no one can tell the difference between a good Spark forgery and the original.”
    “Except Max?” Cleo asked.
    Spark sighed. “Unfortunately, yes. Max has what amounts to a preternatural talent for telling the real from the fake. At times it was an extremely useful skill. At other times, it was rather annoying.”
    “You mean you used Max's talent to make certain you didn't get burned yourself,” Cleo concluded. “But you worried that when you burned others, he might spill the beans?”
    “Precisely, Ms. Robbins.” Spark's eyes glittered. “To my knowledge, however, he experienced an attack of integrity only once during the course of our association. That was when he delivered a certain painting to Jason Curzon. In retrospect I'm inclined to believe that it was not integrity but sheer opportunism that overcame him. Max saw a chance to better himself, didn't you, Max?”
    Max kept his gaze steady. “We had a deal, Spark. I told you I wouldn't lie about a painting if one of your clients asked my opinion. Jason asked.”
    “And shortly thereafter Max resigned his position as my odd-job man to accept a more lucrative offer with Curzon.” Spark smiled thinly at Cleo. “Once again I advise you to be cautious around Fortune, Ms. Robbins. Once he has his hands on those Luttrells, he'll be gone.”
    “That's enough, Spark. I think we understand each other, don't we?” Max got to his feet.
    Spark lifted one shoulder in an elegant shrug. “We always did understand each other rather well, Fortune.”
    “One more thing. Make sure that you notify Nolan Hildebrand that you are no longer in the market for the Luttrells.”
    “If you insist.”
    Max folded his hands on top of the hawk and looked at Cleo. The deep sense of foreboding was eating him alive. “Let's go, Cleo.”
    Without a word, she rose from the chair and walked toward the door. Max followed.
    “Fortune,” Spark murmured softly behind him.
    Max glanced back over his shoulder. “What is it, Spark?”
    “I urge you to reconsider. I have a client who will pay a quarter of a million for those Luttrells. I'll split it with you, fifty-fifty. Think about it.”
    “They're not for sale,” Max said.
    “I was afraid you'd say that.” Spark raised a hand. “Take yourself off. I trust we won't run into each other again any time soon.”
    “That will be just fine with me. By the way, you probably ought to know that my attorney has a sealed letter which is only to be opened if I suffer an unfortunate accident. The letter contains a short list of the more prominent forgeries that are presently hanging on the walls of some of your clients' homes.”
    “You always were an ungrateful wretch.” Spark's mouth twisted wryly. “Never fear. I shall light candles for your continued good health.”
    “Thank you. The deal we made still stands, as far as I'm concerned, Spark. You stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours.”
    Spark looked at him. “It's going to be interesting to see how you adjust to married life.”
    Cleo turned at the door. “He's going to do just fine, Mr. Spark.”
    Max saw the warmth in her eyes. The tension inside him evaporated at last. It was going to be all right. Cleo was not going to hold his past against him.
    Max followed her out into the hall and closed the door of Spark's room. Without a word he took Cleo's arm. Together they walked out of the motel and into the cold, misty rain.
    “Well, that's that,” Cleo said as Max opened the door of the Jaguar. “What do you think?”
    “About Spark?” Max watched her intently. “I think the same thing I thought before. He's not the one behind the incidents. But if I'm wrong and he is the one who's been harassing you, or if he put Hildebrand up to doing it, it will stop now.”
    “You're sure?”
    “Yes. Spark and I understand each other. He knows I'll destroy him if he gets in my way. But he also knows