“Something to drink?”
“I’m fine.”
“Do you mind if I have something?”
“Not at all.”
Simon took the chair across from Dalton. “Phillip, could you bring me a glass of chardonnay?”
“Yes, sir.”
Dalton jumped at the sound of the big man’s voice. He hadn’t realized the guy had been standing in a back corner.
“Are you all right?” Simon asked.
“I’m fine.”
“You said you have the information?”
Dalton removed a thumb drive from his pocket. “Right here.”
“So kind of you to deliver it personally. Thank you.”
Simon held out a hand, but Dalton kept hold of the drive.
“Something we need to talk about first.”
Simon leaned back. “Anything you want to talk about could have been done over the phone.”
“Some subjects are better discussed in person.”
Phillip reentered the room and handed Simon a glass of wine.
“Thank you.”
Instead of leaving, Phillip took a few steps back and stood quietly, hands clasped behind his back.
Dalton eyed him for a second, then looked back at Simon. “I think this is a conversation we should have alone.”
“We are alone,” Simon said.
“What about him?”
“Think of Phillip as an extension of me.”
Dalton fought to keep the annoyance from his face. “Fine.”
“What is it you want to discuss?”
“My share.”
“You are already getting double your fee for this.”
“I didn’t say fee. I said share.”
“That’s not how our arrangement works.”
“It is now.”
“And what makes you think that?”
“The way I see it, I’m an integral part of your business, and it is only fair you pay me what my information is really worth.”
“And how much do you think that is?”
“Forty percent.”
“Of what?”
“Every job it plays a part in.”
Simon laughed.
“Look,” Dalton said. “My ass is on the line every time I dig something up for you. I deserve at least that much.” He waved the thumb drive in the air. “Or I could just take this and leave right now.”
“Relax, Dalton. I didn’t say no, did I?”
“No, you laughed.”
“I did, didn’t I?”
Dalton stood up. “I’ve told you what I want. Call me when you’re ready to take me seriously.”
Simon held up a hand to stop him from leaving. “I might be able to swing twenty percent, but only if you increase the amount of information that you provide.”
“Increase how?”
“On top of my regular requests, you’ll proactively send me anything you think I will be interested in. And you’ll develop sources at other companies who will supply you with similar intelligence on their clients.”
“I’ll need money to pay them.”
“Anything you pay them will come out of your cut, just like operation expenses come out of mine.”
“Thirty-five percent.”
“Twenty-five.”
“Make it a straight third and you have a deal.”
Simon shrugged and nodded. “A third it is.”
Dalton could barely contain his excitement. Even with the cost of a few lackies at other companies, he should be able to hold on to more money than he’d realistically hoped to get.
He took a step closer to Simon and held out his hand. “Deal.”
While Phillip escorted Dalton out, Simon plugged the thumb drive into his laptop and quickly scanned through the files.
Vitale insured seven clients who owned Matilda Stones. There was one painting each in Boston, Chicago, and Dallas, and four in California.
Or there soon would be four.
One of the paintings had recently been purchased by someone in Los Angeles. The buyer was not insured by Vitale, but the auction house that sold it was. On the thumb drive was information on how and when it was being delivered. And best of all, it was one of the paintings on the list from Nico. Sadly, none of the others were.
Phillip entered the room.
“He’s gone?” Simon asked.
“Yeah. Do you want me to deal with him now?”
“Not yet. If what he’s given me doesn’t work out, I may need him to find alternatives.”
“Just say the word.” Phillip dipped his head and left.
Simon called his brother.
“What’s up?” Benji answered.
“I need you and your crew in Los Angeles before the day’s out.”
Chapter 20
While Dalton was at lunch, stewing over his encounter with Monica, she and Stone were headed across town in silence.
Monica, who was still rattled by seeing her former boss, had been staring out the window and didn’t rouse from her stupor until she realized the vehicle had stopped in front of her cousin’s house. “What are we doing here?”
“A change of clothes. Remember?”
“Oh, right.” She sighed. “Maybe I should take a rain check.”
“Not a cloud in the sky.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Because of Dalton?”
“I can’t begin to tell you how sorry I am about all that. He’s the last person I expected to run into.”
“I got that impression, but I don’t see why you have anything to be sorry about. Nor do I think you should let him ruin your day.”
She took in his words, then smiled for the first time since lunch. “You’re right. To hell with him.”
“Seconded!”
She opened her door. “Something comfortable, you said? Like for a hike?”
“That’ll work.”
“I won’t be long.”
Ten minutes later, she was back in the car, wearing a pair of sturdy boots, blue jeans, and a green button-up shirt. “How’s this?”
“It couldn’t be more perfect.”
“What about your clothes?”
“I’ll change when we get there.”
“Ooh, do I get to watch?”
“If you do, we may not get to do the other thing I have planned.”
“I’m willing to take that chance if you are.”
He drove her to the ranch of a friend he’d made while he’d still owned the Lees’ house. After retrieving a change of clothes from the trunk, he led Monica into the stables, where a ranch hand had two horses saddled and waiting.
“We’re going riding?” Monica asked, excited.
“I take it this isn’t your first time.”
“In years, yes, but not my first. My high school boyfriend was president of the FFA club.” She was referring to the Future Farmers of America. “It was one of our favorite things to do.”
“Then you won’t be joining me while I change?”
She looked torn.
“Too many good choices?”
“Something like that.” She took a breath. “Go change. We’ll have time for taking advantage of each other tonight.”
“I’ll hold you to that.” He grinned.
Once Stone changed outfits, they set off on a trail that took them into the mountains.
“I’m glad you didn’t let me back out of this. It’s exactly what I needed. And thank you for helping at the restaurant, too. I should have said that before.”
“Even if I wasn’t there, you would have held your own.”
“It’s nice to know there’s someone who would back me up like that.”
“Dalton used to be your boss?”
“Yes.”
“The same boss you talked to on the phone last night?”
She nodded.
“I can understand why you left for another job.”
Grimacing, she said, “I haven’t been completely open about my situation. Technically, I’m unemployed.”
“Left or fired?”
“The latter. And unjustly.”