Framed Shadows: Shadows Landing #6, Kathleen Brooks [great novels of all time TXT] 📗

the painting. Maurice Smith and his brother, Murray. Maurice and Murray, this is Miss Bunny. We volunteer for the same charity in Charleston.”

“Such handsome young men,” Tibbie held out her hand and played it up. Maurice looked as if he didn’t know what to do and looked to Tinsley. Tinsley pursed her lips into a kissy face and Maurice looked slightly confused for a second before catching on. He took Tibbie’s hand and placed a careful kiss on her knuckles.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Bunny. This painting is part of our grandmother’s collection, so it holds a very special place in our hearts. Can you tell us why you’d like to buy it?”

Tibbie turned to Peter and smacked his arm. “See, they’re good grandsons. I bet they’re not amusing their grandmother just to get at their trust fund.”

Peter rolled his eyes and took a seat close to Tinsley.

“Castille is one of my favorites. I have three of his paintings already and Tinsley knows to grab any Castille she comes across for me. This is one of his lesser-known works. The brush strokes are his signature style with fluid strokes that hook just slightly to give the appearance of movement.” Tinsley sat back and let Tibbie put on a master class in art history. “However, this is a lesser-known and a smaller canvas size than his other works. Therefore, I’ll offer you fifty thousand for it.”

Maurice looked to Tinsley who was trying not to laugh. Leave it to Tibbie to play hardball with criminals. “Bunny,” Tinsley said, letting her amusement show. “You know this painting is worth much more than that. The sale price is a hundred thousand.”

Tibbie cocked her head and examined the painting for a second. She motioned for Tinsley to turn it over. Tinsley stepped forward and carefully turned the painting on the easel. Tibbie pulled back the paper backing on the frame and clucked. “Frayed canvas edges, and while it is in good condition, it’s not excellent. Whoever last framed it didn’t pull the canvas tight enough and that’s led to some bulk of the fold. You can see it here where there’s a ripple in the canvas. I’ll offer seventy thousand for it, but that’s my final offer.”

Tinsley looked over at Maurice who appeared to be happy with the offer, but she needed to impress him. “Seventy-five thousand and we’ll sign the deal right now.”

Tibbie looked as if she were thinking it over. Then she held out her hand to Tinsley. “You’ve got a deal. I always love negotiating with you.” Tibbie turned to Maurice and Murray. “Gentlemen. It’s been a pleasure. Now, tell me what else does your grandmother have in her little art collection?”

Tinsley almost sputtered. Tibbie wasn’t supposed to do that. “Actually,” Tinsley said, answering for the Smith brothers. “Here are a few others. You have the first look at them.” Tinsley stepped back and showed some of the stolen art they’d given her the other day.

“She might also have some more pieces that will interest you. My grandparents were longtime collectors. She has close to eighty pieces in her collection. Let me talk to Tinsley and I’m sure she’ll be in contact with you. We’d appreciate them going to someone who respects them,” Maurice said as he signed the papers for the Castille and handed them over to Tibbie.

“That one, the Shezun, how much for it?” Tibbie asked, pointing to the one painting valued at twenty thousand.

“Twenty thousand,” Tinsley replied easily.

“Hmm,” Bunny looked like she was considering it. “Fifteen and I’ll take it, too.”

“Eighteen and I’ll have Paxton wrap it up,” Tinsley replied in the blink of an eye.

“Young man, wrap these two up and take them to my car,” Tibbie said, snapping her fingers at Paxton before turning back to Maurice and Tinsley. “Call me the second the rest of your collection comes in. You know I’ll be very upset if I hear you let Cissy see them before me.”

“Of course, Miss Bunny,” Tinsley said as she handed the routing number and account number for Bunny to wire the FBI’s money to. Bunny waved it away.

“Make yourself useful, Graham. You know I don’t know how to work that blasted technology. Not that way, boy,” Bunny hissed at Paxton and took off to instruct him how she wanted the painting wrapped.

Peter grunted, but his fingers flew over Tibbie’s phone as he made the wire transfer. “Done. Gram, can we go now? I promised the guys we’d take the boat out today.”

Tibbie bid them goodbye and Paxton carried the paintings outside as Peter held the door for him. As soon as they were alone, Maurice and Murray stood.

“Let me just transfer you the money minus my commission,” Tinsley said as they watched her make the transfer. “Done. Wasn’t that easy?”

“I like how you work, Tinsley.” Maurice grinned at her as Paxton walked back in.

Paxton nodded to the men as he walked by and went back to work on the air conditioning.

“I know Bunny said she’d be interested in some of my grandmother’s pieces, but I already have some buyers lined up. I want you to handle all the sales for us. I don’t have the time or knowledge to do it myself. Can you explain how you just made the payment?” Maurice asked.

“My gallery has an escrow account. Most of the time, the seller wires money or gives me a check. Wiring money has become more common since they can leave with the piece as soon as it hits my account. Otherwise, they have to wait for us to deliver it after the check clears. Then I take out my commission and wire the rest to your account or write you a check. Your call,” Tinsley explained.

Maurice and Murray shared a look before Maurice nodded to her. “We’ll take wire transfers. You can use the account number we gave you. I’ll be bringing the collection to you soon.”

“I can have Paxton come pick it up. That way he can make sure they’re