Three Fates

digging.”
    “I’m no longer concerned with that. Get me Malachi Sullivan. You can leave the way you came in.”
    She figured he didn’t have a brain, Jasper decided as he walked out. Figured he didn’t have the smarts to find out what was what.
    He’d find this Sullivan guy, all right, and the woman. But he’d be fucked if he’d turn them over for a lousy hundred grand. If they were the connection to those statues, they’d tell him about it. And when he had the Fates, Anita Gaye would pay, and pay deeply.
    Then maybe he’d do her just the way he figured she’d done that asshole Dubrowsky. Right before he hopped a plane to Rio.
     
     
    ANITA STAYED AT her desk, going through messages. To entertain herself she tore those pertaining to the police into small pieces. Investigations of homicides and burglaries weren’t her job, after all.
    She intended to contact the insurance agent very shortly. She expected them to deliver a check for her claim promptly. If they needed to be reminded that she could easily take her hefty annual premiums elsewhere, she would be happy to do so.
    The doorbell rang twice. She cursed her miserably inefficient and grossly overpaid staff before remembering she’d dismissed them for the remainder of the day.
    Sighing over the annoyance of having to do everything herself, she went to the door. She wasn’t pleased to see the two detectives standing on her stoop, but after weighing the pros and cons of ignoring them, she opened the door.
    “Detectives, you just caught me.”
    Lew Gilbert nodded. “Ms. Gaye. May we come in?”
    “This really isn’t a good time. I’ve just returned from an overseas trip. I’m very tired.”
    “But you’re on your way out? You said we just caught you.”
    “Just caught me before I lay down,” she said sweetly.
    “We’ll make it quick, then.”
    “Very well.” She stepped back to let them in. “I didn’t realize you were working with . . . I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten your name.”
    “Detective Robbins.”
    “Of course. I didn’t realize you were working with Detective Robbins on the burglary, Detective Gilbert.”
    “Sometimes cases overlap.”
    “I imagine. Of course, I’m delighted to have two of New York’s finest looking into my problem. Please sit down. I’m afraid I sent the servants off, as I wanted the house to myself. But I’m sure I could manage coffee if you’d like.”
    “Thanks just the same.” Lew sat down, started the rhythm. “You said you’d just gotten back from a trip? Something you planned before the break-in.”
    “Something that came up unexpectedly.”
    “Overseas?”
    “Yes.” She crossed her legs smoothly. “Athens.”
    “Must be something. All those old temples. What’s that drink? Ouzo. Had some once at a wedding. Some kick.”
    “So I’m told. I’m afraid this trip was business, and I didn’t have time for temples and ouzo.”
    “Tough on you, having to take off like that right after the burglary,” Bob put in. “You usually do the business travel?”
    “Depending.” She didn’t care for his tone. Not one bit. When this was over, she was going to have a few choice words on the subject with his superiors. “Excuse me, but if we could get to the point?”
    “We’ve been trying to contact you. It hampers the investigation when the victim’s incommunicado.”
    “As I said, it was necessary and unexpected. In any case, I gave Detective Gilbert all the information I had. I assumed you and the insurance company would handle the rest of it.”
    “You filed your claim.”
    “I left the paperwork with my assistant before I left. She assured me it was messengered to my agent. Do you have any leads on my property, or on who broke into my building?”
    “The investigation’s ongoing. Ms. Gaye, do you know anything about the Three Fates?”
    For a moment all she could do was stare. “Of course. They’re a legend in my line of work and my field of interest. Why?”
    “A tip that maybe that’s what the thieves were after. But you didn’t list any silver statue or statues on your claim form.”
    “A tip? From whom?”
    “Anonymous, but we intend to follow up any and all leads in this case. I didn’t see anything that matches the description of any of these statues on your inventory list.”
    “You wouldn’t, as I don’t have one. If I did, Detective, you can be sure I would have had it locked in a vault. The Fates are extremely valuable. Unfortunately, one was certainly lost