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xp_logsKevin and Amanda visit a wealthy Upper West Side collector about the theft of a particular item.
"So you're with the insurance company?" Adele Weisz showed them into her epically well designed mid-town apartment. The Upper West Side building was full of the comfortably affluent, and the money showed in the surroundings. Kevin's well tailored suit and quick smile were enough to disarm her suspicions.
"It was my first husband, Felix, who introduced me to this world. My half of his collection has proved an excellent start for my own." She said, a sly smile at Kevin, no doubt wanting him to think her naughty or something. To her joy, this Kevin was unctuous and accommodating, giving her an entirely authentic seeming laugh.
"Ah, Ms Weisz, obviously even the loss of half his collection couldn't have been as sharp as losing you." The woman laughed with a light and slightly grating trill, and Kevin rolled his eyes at Amanda. "Now, according to the report you filed, the thief stole only a single piece?"
"Oh, yes. Not a terribly valuable one either. I still believe it was the help." She lowered her voice. "One has to use those people in this city, but their basic nature is criminal, you know."
"Of course." Amanda's tone was blandly agreeable, without even a flicker to give away her distaste. This was why she tended to loathe these sorts of assignments. Criminals might be crass and dangerous, but at least they were honest in their repulsiveness. "Regardless, we'll need to go through the details. This piece, was it part of your ex-husband's... establishing collection?"
"Oh yes. It was a minor piece from the Qing dynasty, done as an obvious imitation of the Qin dynasty. It had some artistic value, showing how artisans at the time viewed the early works of China, but not particularly valuable from a financial sense." She fixed Amanda up with what she thought must have been a superior look, although it made her look more like she needed to sneeze.
"The only thing unique about it was that very few people were willing to try doing the earlier style at the time, so there are few examples. At the same point, it is still an inaccurate and inferior imitation."
"Strange, considering there are so many other, far more valuable items here. The Han dynasty jade carving over there, for example." Amanda nodded at one of the shelves. "It seems perhaps your thief was an amateur, one of your staff, as you said."
"Well, I've taken the precaution of having them all replaced already. So, Mister Smith, was it? Can I interest you in a martini?"
Kevin smiled broadly. "I suppose we have a few minutes while my associate writes up her notes."
***
They stepped back out into the hall, in a fog of privilege and too much 'Acqua di Gioia'. Kevin sighed as they moved down the hall.
"That was not fun."
"Ugh. Lifestyles of the rich and revolting," Amanda agreed. "And not exactly helpful, either. Like she said, the piece that was stolen was practically rubbish compared to what else was there. Why go to all that trouble?"
"We can rule out a strictly financial motive for the theft. Maybe there's a larger connection or maybe she's right and one of the maids got tired of scrubbing Adele's toothbrush in her ass and decided to up the ante. Either way, there's something to work with."
"So you're with the insurance company?" Adele Weisz showed them into her epically well designed mid-town apartment. The Upper West Side building was full of the comfortably affluent, and the money showed in the surroundings. Kevin's well tailored suit and quick smile were enough to disarm her suspicions.
"It was my first husband, Felix, who introduced me to this world. My half of his collection has proved an excellent start for my own." She said, a sly smile at Kevin, no doubt wanting him to think her naughty or something. To her joy, this Kevin was unctuous and accommodating, giving her an entirely authentic seeming laugh.
"Ah, Ms Weisz, obviously even the loss of half his collection couldn't have been as sharp as losing you." The woman laughed with a light and slightly grating trill, and Kevin rolled his eyes at Amanda. "Now, according to the report you filed, the thief stole only a single piece?"
"Oh, yes. Not a terribly valuable one either. I still believe it was the help." She lowered her voice. "One has to use those people in this city, but their basic nature is criminal, you know."
"Of course." Amanda's tone was blandly agreeable, without even a flicker to give away her distaste. This was why she tended to loathe these sorts of assignments. Criminals might be crass and dangerous, but at least they were honest in their repulsiveness. "Regardless, we'll need to go through the details. This piece, was it part of your ex-husband's... establishing collection?"
"Oh yes. It was a minor piece from the Qing dynasty, done as an obvious imitation of the Qin dynasty. It had some artistic value, showing how artisans at the time viewed the early works of China, but not particularly valuable from a financial sense." She fixed Amanda up with what she thought must have been a superior look, although it made her look more like she needed to sneeze.
"The only thing unique about it was that very few people were willing to try doing the earlier style at the time, so there are few examples. At the same point, it is still an inaccurate and inferior imitation."
"Strange, considering there are so many other, far more valuable items here. The Han dynasty jade carving over there, for example." Amanda nodded at one of the shelves. "It seems perhaps your thief was an amateur, one of your staff, as you said."
"Well, I've taken the precaution of having them all replaced already. So, Mister Smith, was it? Can I interest you in a martini?"
Kevin smiled broadly. "I suppose we have a few minutes while my associate writes up her notes."
***
They stepped back out into the hall, in a fog of privilege and too much 'Acqua di Gioia'. Kevin sighed as they moved down the hall.
"That was not fun."
"Ugh. Lifestyles of the rich and revolting," Amanda agreed. "And not exactly helpful, either. Like she said, the piece that was stolen was practically rubbish compared to what else was there. Why go to all that trouble?"
"We can rule out a strictly financial motive for the theft. Maybe there's a larger connection or maybe she's right and one of the maids got tired of scrubbing Adele's toothbrush in her ass and decided to up the ante. Either way, there's something to work with."
