It Takes a Forger
Quint and Clay Art Crimes - Book #3
Officer Lou Hernandez is surprised when
he's asked to help Gideon Monahan catch an art forger. He's not too
happy, though, when he meets the man he'll be working with. Lou thinks
Rory Kinley is a supercilious pain in the ass. Rory, on the other hand,
sees no reason why Lou has been brought into this. After all, he's just a
cop, albeit one who is good at going undercover.
The art forger they're after--Nate
Hanks--cons collectors, saying he has an undiscovered
painting by a
famous artist. He's killed one of his marks already to keep from being
caught.
Lou and Rory will have to set aside
their differences as they set up a sting to stop Hanks. When they do,
they discover they may not be as incompatible as they thought. The
question becomes, will their growing feelings survive what's to come--or
be destroyed in the process?
Excerpt:
"I'll have another, Jack," Lou told the bartender at his favorite local watering hole, tapping his empty beer bottle.
"You got it," Jack replied, adding, "I thought two was your limit."
"Usually, but tonight I'm breaking my rule."
"I'll pay for it," a man said, taking the empty stool beside Lou, "and one for me as well."
Lou turned to see who was offering to buy his drink.
The man, who had dark blond hair and
looked in his mid-forties, smiled. "We haven't officially met, Mr
Hernandez, but I was at the trials for both of the men involved in the
death of John Pierce. My name is Gideon Monahan."
Lou cocked his head. "That rings a bell.
I think Quint Hawk mentioned you at one point. You have something to do
with recovering stolen art."
"I do...privately. I'm not connected
with the FBI or any other law enforcement agency." Gideon took a drink
when the bartender set it down in front of him.
"So you tracked me down to congratulate me on helping to put them behind bars?"
"Yes. I don't like it when one of my
operatives is murdered. However, that's not the reason I'm here. I'm
impressed by the job you did to trap them. You seem to be good at
undercover work, the same way John was."
Lou shrugged. "I have my moments."
"I hope they're often, because I have a proposition for you."
"You're propositioning me?" Lou said, straight-faced. "Does that mean I'm going to get lucky tonight?"
"I don't swing that way," Gideon huffed in reply. Then he chuckled. "I know... Well, I hope you weren't serious."
"Nope." Not sure I like his reaction, but...might as well hear him out. "So, back to what you said. I'm good at what I do. I'd better be. I am a cop."
"An excellent one, from what I've heard. I could use a man like you."
"Sorry. Not interested. I'm a police officer for a reason. I like my job. With luck, I'll make detective soon."
"So Lieutenant Harber told me when I talked with him this afternoon."
"About me?" Lou raised one dark eyebrow in question.
Gideon nodded, turning to put his back
to a man who had just sat down on the stool next to him. "Why don't we
find a table where we can talk without being overheard?" he suggested
quietly.
With a shrug, Lou picked up his fresh
beer, following Gideon to a table in the back corner of the bar. When
they were seated, he said, "I've already told you I'm not interested in
leaving my present job."
"That wouldn't be a problem, as far as
I'm concerned. As I said, I talked with your lieutenant. He's willing to
loan you out to me--"
"Just a damned second," Lou said tightly. "I'm not a...a thing to be passed around at your--or the lieutenant's--whim."
Gideon nodded in agreement. "I phrased
that wrong. Let me preface this by telling you that one of the men you
helped bring to justice was a small fry compared to the guy I'm after
now."
Lou tried not to show any interest in what Gideon was saying, only asking, "How so?"
"What do you know about art forgery?"
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