Shroud of Concealment (Jake Dillon Adventure Thriller Series) by Andrew Towning Read Free Book Online Page B

looking at such magnificent beauty. Do you know anything about art?”
    “Not much, but I’m learning fast. The one thing I do know is that it’s very easy to get hooked on it.”
    “So what do you intend to do now?”
    Hart voiced the question softly, almost casually, as if it didn’t matter that much, but Dillon felt the cold fingers of old, run up and down his spine like a piano player: it mattered a great deal... to them both. Hart had thrown down the gauntlet and would deal with it either way.
    Dillon walked slowly around the room, eventually fixing his gaze on the life-size crystal skull positioned on its pedestal in the centre.
    “I report back. I’m no further forward and, like you say, I’m presuming too much on a cursory glance. In reality, it really doesn’t matter. Because without sending a team of experts down here to examine it properly, it’s merely speculation as to whether it’s the genuine painting or not, as you say.”
    “It obviously matters to whoever sent you. Was he a Dutchman?”
    “No. Not the person who asked me to look into it. Who asked him I have absolutely no idea”
    “Are you a private detective?”
    “Most definitely not.”
    “And yet you’re acting for someone of influence. So you must be known to that person and the way you handled it the other day, and are handling it even now, suggests to me that you are well used to gathering information. You must be someone special and that puts a different complexion on things.”
    “It’s not what I’d normally be asked to do,” Dillon said. “But on this occasion, I’m helping a friend out as a favour.”
    “Well, whoever you are. I now have you on record, I’ll see if I can hunt you down.”
    Dillon grinned. “I noticed the CCTV, very elaborate.” He took one last look round and headed for the air-lock.
    “One thing, though. Why are you so bothered?”
    “Because I don’t like people poking their noses into my private affairs. You may have found a way to give my home ‘the once over’, as they say. And yes, I did notice the way in which you were paying particular attention to the alarm system.”
    “Far too sophisticated for me.”
    And then, as he was just about to leave the air-lock: “You must do what you feel you must, Mr. Hart. But I do appreciate your inviting me in. Quite an education.”
    Hart led the way down the sweeping staircase, and as he reached the front door said, “Be under no illusion, you’ll get a different kind of lesson if I see or hear of you again. I’ve been straight with you, and open. So this had better end here and now.”
    Dillon went outside, turned, and said, “That sounds very much like a threat, Mr. Hart.”
    “A promise, Mr. Dillon.”
    Dillon noticed the change in tone again. Once more he felt that he was getting nearer to the real Charlie Hart, but immediately thought why he should be thinking like that. Was Hart putting on an act all through? And in a peculiar way Dillon was actually thinking that they had some sort of affinity. Almost as though they had something in common.
    “Why don’t you simply call the police?” Dillon prompted.
    “You’re goading me, Mr. Dillon. Is that what you want?”
    “Well, if I had nothing to hide and was as innocent as you appear to be, that’s what I’d most likely do.”
    “Like you say, would most likely do. But I think you would take care of it yourself, which is exactly what I intend to do. It’s what I’ve always done.”
    Hart walked outside and stood at the top of the steps watching Dillon walk to the Porsche. As he started to open the door, Hart called down to him.
    “I rather think that you and I have much in common. There was a point in my life when I could have done with a friend like you. But I had to look out for myself. I still do. I’m very good at it, so let’s go our separate ways, shall we? I really hope we don’t meet again.”

    * * *

    Dunstan didn’t know what to say. He was sitting in Dillon’s spacious