Cynthia ran through her guest list in her mind remembering, in more detail, the individual speaking to her. Abraham Cromwell of Cromwell Restorations, Incorporated came recommended by many art critics and collectors. In what appeared to be record time, he and his six person crew tended to the many of the paintings in storage and still mounted on the museum walls. Hundreds of paintings were restored to near original beauty and reframed where it was necessary. It could be reasoned that while he and his staff were in the Metropolitan, Cromwell had his own tour of all of the collections, including the ones from Cynthia's collection.
"Something about him is not sitting right with us," the voice warned deep inside the mind of Cynthia. She agreed with the voice. Something about his eyes, familiar and unwelcoming. Granted he did an excellent job at this museum, but something about him was very disquieting. Distance was the best she could do for now without losing her composure.
"I appreciate your curiosity Mr. Cromwell," Cynthia started to say. "As for the tales of where and how got them, I believe I will let the mystery linger for now. All you need to know that the items were obtained without harmful means or through subterfuge." Cynthia drained her glass in one gulp.
Abraham bowed his head in acknowledgement. He knew his inquiries obviously unnerved the hostess of the evening. As to not draw any more attention to his motives he changed his posture. "Working for you, indirectly as it may be, has afforded me a look into many different art pieces. I would like to continue to work with you in your efforts for the foundation." He went into his pocket and withdrew a business card, shaped like an oversized paint brush, and presented it to Madame Petrakis. "Please call on my firm to be of service to you in any way."
Skeptically, she took card, observed it and placed it in her mini purse. "Mr. Cromwell, I will make sure you will have an opportunity to work on more beautiful works of art if you can restore them to their original splendor."
"Well, I have always had an appreciation for the beautiful things in life." He smiled at Cynthia and stepped a bit closer.
Removing herself from his immediate personal space, Cynthia gestured to the tables of food. "Please, enjoy the food." She smiled awkwardly and left his presence. He stood there for a moment and stared after her and inside he knew he would be seeing her again. Looking at the buffet tables, Abraham walked toward them to see the new foods on display.
Cromwell gazed after her for moment and whispered to himself, "Time has not dulled your beauty. We will meet again and soon."
* * *
Once Cynthia was out of his vision, she immersed herself into the crowd, politely responding to the guests, shaking hands, enjoying the complements and genuinely enjoying the evening. After the brief encounter with Abraham Cromwell, she began to relax. The voice had a few comments on the meeting.
"You were definitely tense during the short talk with him. First, he is putting off some really odd vibes. I think you should stay away from him. Second, I think we need to send some security guards to patrol the museum in case he has something to do with the robberies Jerimiah Clarke mentioned earlier. And three, we should eat some of this fine food."
Cynthia had to admit, the voice was right. She was tense and noted the tightness in her shoulders. Cromwell was an interesting character but in some deep emotional ways, something about him made Cynthia anxious. The robberies from the other museums were also on her mind. Could it happen tonight? Unlikely, because all of the security measures she employed that would make any attempt impossible. Perhaps they will make an attempt after the Gala. Her instincts told her to do something or the very least, prepare for any unexpected eventuality. Cynthia's mind was awash with so many different thoughts and by the reactions from her guests, the night was a complete success. Maybe she should relax a little.
Looking through the crowd she spotted Jerimiah with Samantha. She signaled for two museum guards to accompany her as they made their way through the crowd and found the couple in what appeared to be a personal conversation.
"Miss Reid, forgive me. May I borrow Mr. Clarke for a little while?" Samantha looked at Jerimiah and the two the guards at Cynthia's sides.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked.
"No, I just need Jerimiah's assistance with something he told me about earlier. I shall return him to you soon."
Samantha looked at Jerimiah with a smile. "Go. And do not get into any trouble!"
"You know me," Jerimiah replied.
"That is why I said what I said."
Walking away from the crowd of guests and deeper into the unoccupied museum, Cynthia, Jerimiah and the two guards stood in an empty corridor between the Asian and European artwork.
"I would like for you to take Mr. Clarke on a counter clockwise tour of the museum. I have reason to believe someone may be attempting a theft tonight. Based on the information you presented me, Mr. Clarke, it looks like the theft may be in ancient antiquities. Please allow Mr. Clarke to take pictures, notes and investigate anything he needs to ascertain if there could be a potential target."
Both guards looked at each other and then back at their boss. They wanted to ask a few questions, but her posture said enough for them to understand and do what she told them to do. "Yes ma'am!" answered the older of the two guards.
"If I find anything, I will text you right away," Jerimiah said and without further word, all three men set off into the exhibit halls the other guest would be touring through in less than ten minutes.
Once out of normal eye sight, Cynthia returned to her guests and headed for the buffet tables. "So, do you think Jerimiah will find anything?" the voice asked.
"I hope so, if not than all this worrying would be for nothing," she said internally as she pointed to the trays of food the caterers were serving from.
"You know the higher you go in society, there will be people trying to bring you down…as we saw from the past."
"True, but who will dare cross us knowing they may face a power unlike any they will ever experience."
"Let's hope no one tonight will have to find that out."
As her plate was full of salad and pieces of grilled lamb, Cynthia traveled to the table where the Channel 6 news team sat and they had the pleasure of sitting with the host of night. As they talked and laughed, Cynthia ate her food and thought so far, the night has been uneventful.
Cynthia ran through her guest list in her mind remembering, in more detail, the individual speaking to her. Abraham Cromwell of Cromwell Restorations, Incorporated came recommended by many art critics and collectors. In what appeared to be record time, he and his six person crew tended to the many of the paintings in storage and still mounted on the museum walls. Hundreds of paintings were restored to near original beauty and reframed where it was necessary. It could be reasoned that while he and his staff were in the Metropolitan, Cromwell had his own tour of all of the collections, including the ones from Cynthia's collection.
"Something about him is not sitting right with us," the voice warned deep inside the mind of Cynthia. She agreed with the voice. Something about his eyes, familiar and unwelcoming. Granted he did an excellent job at this museum, but something about him was very disquieting. Distance was the best she could do for now without losing her composure.
"I appreciate your curiosity Mr. Cromwell," Cynthia started to say. "As for the tales of where and how got them, I believe I will let the mystery linger for now. All you need to know that the items were obtained without harmful means or through subterfuge." Cynthia drained her glass in one gulp.
Abraham bowed his head in acknowledgement. He knew his inquiries obviously unnerved the hostess of the evening. As to not draw any more attention to his motives he changed his posture. "Working for you, indirectly as it may be, has afforded me a look into many different art pieces. I would like to continue to work with you in your efforts for the foundation." He went into his pocket and withdrew a business card, shaped like an oversized paint brush, and presented it to Madame Petrakis. "Please call on my firm to be of service to you in any way."
Skeptically, she took card, observed it and placed it in her mini purse. "Mr. Cromwell, I will make sure you will have an opportunity to work on more beautiful works of art if you can restore them to their original splendor."
"Well, I have always had an appreciation for the beautiful things in life." He smiled at Cynthia and stepped a bit closer.
Removing herself from his immediate personal space, Cynthia gestured to the tables of food. "Please, enjoy the food." She smiled awkwardly and left his presence. He stood there for a moment and stared after her and inside he knew he would be seeing her again. Looking at the buffet tables, Abraham walked toward them to see the new foods on display.
Cromwell gazed after her for moment and whispered to himself, "Time has not dulled your beauty. We will meet again and soon."
* * *
Once Cynthia was out of his vision, she immersed herself into the crowd, politely responding to the guests, shaking hands, enjoying the complements and genuinely enjoying the evening. After the brief encounter with Abraham Cromwell, she began to relax. The voice had a few comments on the meeting.
"You were definitely tense during the short talk with him. First, he is putting off some really odd vibes. I think you should stay away from him. Second, I think we need to send some security guards to patrol the museum in case he has something to do with the robberies Jerimiah Clarke mentioned earlier. And three, we should eat some of this fine food."
Cynthia had to admit, the voice was right. She was tense and noted the tightness in her shoulders. Cromwell was an interesting character but in some deep emotional ways, something about him made Cynthia anxious. The robberies from the other museums were also on her mind. Could it happen tonight? Unlikely, because all of the security measures she employed that would make any attempt impossible. Perhaps they will make an attempt after the Gala. Her instincts told her to do something or the very least, prepare for any unexpected eventuality. Cynthia's mind was awash with so many different thoughts and by the reactions from her guests, the night was a complete success. Maybe she should relax a little.
Looking through the crowd she spotted Jerimiah with Samantha. She signaled for two museum guards to accompany her as they made their way through the crowd and found the couple in what appeared to be a personal conversation.
"Miss Reid, forgive me. May I borrow Mr. Clarke for a little while?" Samantha looked at Jerimiah and the two the guards at Cynthia's sides.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked.
"No, I just need Jerimiah's assistance with something he told me about earlier. I shall return him to you soon."
Samantha looked at Jerimiah with a smile. "Go. And do not get into any trouble!"
"You know me," Jerimiah replied.
"That is why I said what I said."
Walking away from the crowd of guests and deeper into the unoccupied museum, Cynthia, Jerimiah and the two guards stood in an empty corridor between the Asian and European artwork.
"I would like for you to take Mr. Clarke on a counter clockwise tour of the museum. I have reason to believe someone may be attempting a theft tonight. Based on the information you presented me, Mr. Clarke, it looks like the theft may be in ancient antiquities. Please allow Mr. Clarke to take pictures, notes and investigate anything he needs to ascertain if there could be a potential target."
Both guards looked at each other and then back at their boss. They wanted to ask a few questions, but her posture said enough for them to understand and do what she told them to do. "Yes ma'am!" answered the older of the two guards.
"If I find anything, I will text you right away," Jerimiah said and without further word, all three men set off into the exhibit halls the other guest would be touring through in less than ten minutes.
Once out of normal eye sight, Cynthia returned to her guests and headed for the buffet tables. "So, do you think Jerimiah will find anything?" the voice asked.
"I hope so, if not than all this worrying would be for nothing," she said internally as she pointed to the trays of food the caterers were serving from.
"You know the higher you go in society, there will be people trying to bring you down…as we saw from the past."
"True, but who will dare cross us knowing they may face a power unlike any they will ever experience."
"Let's hope no one tonight will have to find that out."
As her plate was full of salad and pieces of grilled lamb, Cynthia traveled to the table where the Channel 6 news team sat and they had the pleasure of sitting with the host of night. As they talked and laughed, Cynthia ate her food and thought so far, the night has been uneventful.
