table. “They called you a private antiquities consultant who caters to an exclusive clientele.”
“I noticed. Twelve weeks ago I was just a shady amber tuner, as far as the press was concerned.”
“You’ve been upgraded,” Nancy said. “Of course, they also implied that the reason you dropped the lawsuit was because you’re having a secret affair with Sweetwater.”
“Those rumors will only get worse if I go out to dinner with him.”
“So what? Beats sitting at home every night the way you’ve been doing.”
“Maybe.”
Lyra undid the ties that secured the wrappings and pulled the old blanket aside. Nancy studied the painting, hands on her hips. She smiled slowly.
“What do you think?” Lyra asked.
“I think it’s another Chimera original, and it will sell in a minute. Mr. Anonymous will snatch it up instantly, just like he did the others, if I give him the opportunity. But you know, I’m starting to think it might be time to go for an auction.”
“I’m not so sure,” Lyra said. “An auction will attract the press.”
“There are already rumors about the mysterious Chimera circulating in the art world. It’s great PR.”
“Yes, but too much attention could ruin us. You told me that critic at the Herald has been pestering you recently for details on the new artist in your gallery. What if he decides to do some investigating?”
“I can handle him,” Nancy said confidently.
“Hmm.”
Vincent bounced up onto the end of the workbench, a cookie in one paw. He munched enthusiastically, showing no interest in the painting.
They both looked at him. Lyra noticed that the jaunty red beret was sitting at a precarious angle. She leaned forward to adjust the clip that kept the little red cap in place.
“Come on,” Nancy coaxed. “What’s one more little art auction at a small gallery? It won’t even cause a ripple.”
“You know as well as I do that if word gets out that Chimera is actually a dust bunny, the bottom would drop out of his market overnight,” Lyra said. “Mr. Anonymous would want all of his money refunded. Worse yet, he’d probably sue both of us. Not only would we both be ruined financially, our reputations would be shot.”
“Okay, okay, we’ll make it a very private auction. Only the most exclusive and discerning connoisseurs of modern art will be invited. And Mr. Anonymous, of course. We’ll keep it very hush-hush. The collectors will love it. The bidding will go crazy. We’ll get rich.”
“Well—”
“This is our chance to make some really big money, Lyra. Time to go for the amber ring, my friend. Why the hesitation? This isn’t like you. Where’s that gutsy Dore spirit? Is this the woman who tried to sue Amber Inc.?”
“This is the woman who is knee-deep in debt because she tried to sue Amber Inc.,” Lyra said dryly. “But when you’re right, you’re right. This is a golden opportunity. Let’s do it.” She paused, glancing at the copy of the Herald. “I can’t believe they called me an antiquities consultant instead of a tuner.”
“An antiquities consultant with an exclusive clientele. They made it sound as though Cruz Sweetwater, himself, was one of your clients.”
“Wonder where the press got that idea?”
“Something tells me it came straight from the Amber Inc. publicity department,” Nancy said. “And that means they got it from Cruz Sweetwater. His way of trying to make amends, I’ll bet. In the art and antiquities world, you can’t buy publicity like that. He did you a huge favor. It was a very romantic thing to do, if you ask me.”
Lyra exhaled slowly, thinking about it. “You know, you’re right. Dinner with Cruz Sweetwater might be good for my career.”
“That’s it. Tell yourself you’re dating him because the publicity will be good for business.”
Chapter 10
HER PHONE RANG JUST AS SHE OPENED THE BACK ROOM of her shop.
“Dore Tuning and Consulting,” she said, hitting the lights. She watched Vincent
“I noticed. Twelve weeks ago I was just a shady amber tuner, as far as the press was concerned.”
“You’ve been upgraded,” Nancy said. “Of course, they also implied that the reason you dropped the lawsuit was because you’re having a secret affair with Sweetwater.”
“Those rumors will only get worse if I go out to dinner with him.”
“So what? Beats sitting at home every night the way you’ve been doing.”
“Maybe.”
Lyra undid the ties that secured the wrappings and pulled the old blanket aside. Nancy studied the painting, hands on her hips. She smiled slowly.
“What do you think?” Lyra asked.
“I think it’s another Chimera original, and it will sell in a minute. Mr. Anonymous will snatch it up instantly, just like he did the others, if I give him the opportunity. But you know, I’m starting to think it might be time to go for an auction.”
“I’m not so sure,” Lyra said. “An auction will attract the press.”
“There are already rumors about the mysterious Chimera circulating in the art world. It’s great PR.”
“Yes, but too much attention could ruin us. You told me that critic at the Herald has been pestering you recently for details on the new artist in your gallery. What if he decides to do some investigating?”
“I can handle him,” Nancy said confidently.
“Hmm.”
Vincent bounced up onto the end of the workbench, a cookie in one paw. He munched enthusiastically, showing no interest in the painting.
They both looked at him. Lyra noticed that the jaunty red beret was sitting at a precarious angle. She leaned forward to adjust the clip that kept the little red cap in place.
“Come on,” Nancy coaxed. “What’s one more little art auction at a small gallery? It won’t even cause a ripple.”
“You know as well as I do that if word gets out that Chimera is actually a dust bunny, the bottom would drop out of his market overnight,” Lyra said. “Mr. Anonymous would want all of his money refunded. Worse yet, he’d probably sue both of us. Not only would we both be ruined financially, our reputations would be shot.”
“Okay, okay, we’ll make it a very private auction. Only the most exclusive and discerning connoisseurs of modern art will be invited. And Mr. Anonymous, of course. We’ll keep it very hush-hush. The collectors will love it. The bidding will go crazy. We’ll get rich.”
“Well—”
“This is our chance to make some really big money, Lyra. Time to go for the amber ring, my friend. Why the hesitation? This isn’t like you. Where’s that gutsy Dore spirit? Is this the woman who tried to sue Amber Inc.?”
“This is the woman who is knee-deep in debt because she tried to sue Amber Inc.,” Lyra said dryly. “But when you’re right, you’re right. This is a golden opportunity. Let’s do it.” She paused, glancing at the copy of the Herald. “I can’t believe they called me an antiquities consultant instead of a tuner.”
“An antiquities consultant with an exclusive clientele. They made it sound as though Cruz Sweetwater, himself, was one of your clients.”
“Wonder where the press got that idea?”
“Something tells me it came straight from the Amber Inc. publicity department,” Nancy said. “And that means they got it from Cruz Sweetwater. His way of trying to make amends, I’ll bet. In the art and antiquities world, you can’t buy publicity like that. He did you a huge favor. It was a very romantic thing to do, if you ask me.”
Lyra exhaled slowly, thinking about it. “You know, you’re right. Dinner with Cruz Sweetwater might be good for my career.”
“That’s it. Tell yourself you’re dating him because the publicity will be good for business.”
Chapter 10
HER PHONE RANG JUST AS SHE OPENED THE BACK ROOM of her shop.
“Dore Tuning and Consulting,” she said, hitting the lights. She watched Vincent
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