A Sudden Change of Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

the canvases. It all stinks. It’s morally wrong, but try and get a museum to give a painting up, give it back. They just won’t … At least, most of them won’t. Some are starting to get nervous though.”
    “Can’t any of the original owners sue the museums?” Claire asked.
    “I suppose they could,” Laura answered. “But only if they have proof a painting is theirs. And even then it’s dubious that they’d ever get it.”
    Claire nodded. “I remember now, Hercule knowssomething about this. He mentioned it only recently. I believe he has a client who is the heir to art stolen by the Nazis from his family in 1938.”
    “Oh, who is it?”
    “I don’t know. He didn’t say.”
    “A great deal of the looted art is in private hands, and try and get
them
to give it back. They never will, hot when they’ve paid millions for it. There’s going to be a lot of trouble in the next few years now that it’s all coming to light. You’ll see.”
    Claire said, “You’re repeating what Hercule was telling me not long ago. Maybe you should talk to him about it.”
    “I’d like that.”
    “Maybe we can get together with him this weekend. Anyway, do you represent someone with a claim to stolen art?” Claire asked curiously.
    “Not at the moment, but I may well do so in the not too distant future.”
    They fell silent as they continued to stroll around the museum, as at ease with each other as they had been since childhood. Laura, forever worried about Claire, stole a quick look at her. In her years of living in Paris, Claire had acquired a certain kind of chic that was uniquely French. That afternoon she wore a dark purple wool coat, calf-length and tightly belted, over matching pants and a turtleneck sweater. The purple enhanced Claire’s, large green eyes and auburn halo of curls. Big gold hoop earrings and a dark red shoulder bag were her only accessories, and she looked stylish, well put together. Laura admired Claire’s style, which seemed so natural and un-
    Glancing at Laura, Claire came to a halt and said, “I’m glad you’re in Paris for a while, Laura, I miss you.”
    “I miss you too,” Laura answered swiftly.
    Looking at her watch, Claire went on. “I think I’d better be getting back to the photographic studio. I’m doing a shoot for the magazine, as you know, and Hercule’s coming over later. I need his advice about one of my sets.”
    “He’s turned out to be a good friend,” Laura said. “Hasn’t he?”
    “Yes. But not my
best
friend. That’s you, Laura Valiant. Nobody could take your place.”
    Laura squeezed Claire’s arm. “Or yours,” she said.
    L aura heard the phone ringing above the sound of the water pouring into the bath, and she reached for the receiver on the wall.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi, sweetie.”
    “Doug! Hello, darling.” She sat down on the small bathroom stool near the makeup table and glanced at her watch. It was six. Noon in New York.
    Her husband said, “I called you earlier, but you weren’t there. I’m off to lunch with a client in a few minutes, and I wanted to catch you before you went out again.”
    “It’s such a clear line, you sound as if you’re around the corner!” she exclaimed warmly, happy to hear his voice.
    “I wish I were.”
    “So do I. Listen, I’ve got a great idea! Why don’t youcome in for the weekend? Tomorrow’s Friday, couldn’t you take it off and fly over? It
would
be lovely, Doug.”
    “Wish I could, but I can’t,” he answered, his voice changing slightly, growing suddenly brisk, businesslike. “That’s another reason I’m calling you, I have to fly to the coast tomorrow. Meetings with the Aaronson lawyers. The merger’s on after all.”
    “Oh.
It’s unexpected, isn’t it?”
    “It sure is. But what can you do, I’m needed out there.”
    “Never mind. But it would have been nice to have you in Paris if only for a couple of days.”
    “Sorry, darling, it can’t be helped. When do you think you’ll be