Nicholas felt Mike’s hand lightly touch his arm. He said, “See how he stiffened a bit as he looked at the photos? He’s a good actor, but he knows her.”
“I agree. If it were someone else, we could chalk it up to a natural reaction to seeing a dead body, but given who he is, it’s hardly likely crime scene photos would faze him.”
Campbell said, “We’re very sorry we couldn’t be of more help. And if there’s nothing else, Agent Houston, we really must be going.”
Anatoly rose, and his lawyer quickly followed suit.
Nicholas said, “Mike, quickly, tell Ben to ask Anatoly if he arranged for the theft of the Koh-i-Noor diamond.”
Mike stared at him. “You’re crazy, it’ll give everything away.”
“Doesn’t matter now. Trust me. Do it.”
She texted Ben, and Nicholas could see Ben’s surprise when he read the text, but then he smoothed himself out and lounged back in his chair. “Mr. Anatoly, one last question. Did you pay someone to steal the Koh-i-Noor?”
Mr. Campbell shouted, “Enough! This is utterly ridiculous. We’ve had enough of your accusations. We’re leaving.”
He began to push Anatoly from the room, but Anatoly appeared frozen to the spot.
He looked more than frozen, Nicholas thought, he looked stunned—horrified, actually. It wasn’t an act. He gathered himself together, but when he spoke, his voice wasn’t all that steady. “Agent Houston, do you mean to tell me the Koh-i-Noor diamond has been stolen from the exhibit?”
“No, sir. I’m asking if you arranged for the diamond to be stolen?”
Anatoly went a deep, unhealthy red, and shouted, “You drag me in here, insult me, and now you accuse me of planning to steal the precious Koh-i-Noor? Understand me clearly, Agent Houston. I have worked tirelessly for the past three years to bring the diamond, indeed, all the crown jewels, to America. I have helped fund this exhibit. This is absurd, you are absurd! Poshel na khui, suka, blyad!”
He continued to rant in Russian, and a wide grin spread across Nicholas’s face. “I’d say we rocked his boat.”
Mike said, “Do you know what he is saying?”
Nicholas said, “The gist of it, yes. Trust me when I say it’s not appropriate for polite company.”
Ben said, “Mr. Anatoly, I’ll get an agent to escort you and Mr. Campbell out. We’ll talk again soon.”
He looked directly into the camera, an eyebrow arched.
The feed went dark.
Nicholas said, “Anatoly lied through his teeth about knowing Elaine, and not seeing Kochen recently, but his shock and surprise at being accused of trying to steal the Koh-i-Noor seemed quite genuine. He wasn’t aware the diamond’s missing.”
“But maybe he set the whole thing up. Maybe he was somehow using Inspector York and Kochen, but things fell apart and he had them both murdered. Don’t forget the seven sons.” She added after a brief pause, “But here’s the problem: shooting Kochen full of cyanide? That doesn’t sound at all like Anatoly.”
24
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Jewel of the Lion gala
Thursday evening
The streets around the Met glittered under the lightly falling snow and the abundance of jewels and fabulous dresses lighting up the place. Limousines and taxis crowded Fifth Avenue. Some brave souls had defied the elements and were walking in. The paparazzi’s flashbulbs were going a mile a minute, making it look like a disco ball spinning outside the doors.
Mike watched the guests drift in, a steady line of Manhattan’s elite, plus celebrities and their acolytes, and several flamboyant arty-looking types—models, most likely—showing highlights from the latest fashion lines.
Nicholas said behind her left shoulder, “Your dress is quite lovely.”