Рита Браун - Out Of Hounds

“The very wealthy often do. For one thing, most of the people who inherit great wealth are given superb educations. I wonder if our thief is well-educated?”

“Could be. But I would think any successful thief, of big stuff, be it art, jewelry, or even in the old days racehorses, possessed a certain ingratiating charm. Like men who marry heiresses.”

“If a man marries a woman with more money than himself, I think, fine. If he marries her for her money I think he’s a bottom-feeder. A man can’t help it if he loves a rich woman but to marry her to live off of her, the worst. Like Rubirosa.” He named a famous gigolo. “Barbara Hutton, Doris Duke, plus a regiment of women for lovers, all beautiful. And the funny thing is, if we’d met him, we’d probably like him.”

Sister grinned. “Apparently he could charm women into a coma. But it was for the most part a superficial set. I’d die of boredom.”

Gray grunted a bit. “You know, back to research. Why don’t you ask Carter about jewel heists? I think people who do things like that may have common personality traits. Just a thought.”

“A good one.”

She got up, walked over to the landline, dialed Carter’s number after checking the hunt club directory.

“Carter.”

“Sister. Sorry to learn the rest of the season was canceled, but it was wise.”

“You’re not yet at your boat.”

“Thought I’d wait a few days to see how all this plays out. Will more restrictions be put into place?”

“I have a question. Can you think of great jewel heists?”

“Hmm. The Hope Diamond was stolen a couple of times. Originally it was the third eye of a Hindu god and pried out. Never a good idea to assault a god. Are you interested in historic jewel cons or thefts or recent ones?”

“Whatever comes to mind.”

“Well, one of the most famous was the theft of the English crown jewels by an Irishman, Thomas Blood, 1671. Couldn’t keep his mouth shut, of course, plus how did he come into money? Anyway, he was caught but the funny thing is, King Charles II was amused by his cheek. Pardoned him, gave him an estate in Ireland and a title. Originally, Blood had passed himself off as an aristocrat to the Keeper of the Tower of London and promised to marry his daughter. Once accepted by the family he was curious, he said, about the crown jewels. The poor Keeper showed him, got bashed over the head. Blood ran with the jewels, stuffed under his clothing I think.”

“That’s a good one. Even better for what it says about Charles II. Clearly not a boring man.”

“Of course, no one can match the thefts of the Nazis during the war. They even dismantled the Amber Room in Russia, a room made entirely of amber for Peter the Great. Catherine the Great loved it so much she had it moved to her palace in St. Petersburg. It’s never been found. The Nazis looted everybody and everything, among their other achievements.”

“So some of these were thought out, others maybe more of a daring adventure?”

“I think that applies to any form of major theft.”

“Like the Munnings’s paintings?”

“Perhaps. Profit is always a big motive.”

“Carter, don’t you think, like with the crown jewels, someone will have to show off?”

“Maybe. There was another jewel thief, closer to our time, Murf the Surf, a partier. He eventually threw one party too many, bragged.”

“Would you divide major thefts into purely business or a huge adrenaline rush? Then throwing the cash around?”

He laughed. “Well, maybe some thieves put their gain into a brokerage account. I guess the smart ones.”

“Think Buddy would know about furniture thefts?”

“Yes, but due to the size of the furniture there aren’t as many…unless, of course, you have an army like the Germans. Well, any conquering army. And furniture doesn’t seem to inflame people the same way as jewelry. The great blue diamond is still missing. A Thai gardener stole it from his employer, a Saudi prince. There was murder, diplomatic relations strained between Saudi Arabia and Thailand. Jewelry causes huge problems.”

“Well, someone stole Uncle Ray’s Louis XV desk. Still hasn’t been found.”

“True. But furniture theft is more rare. Then again, maybe you should rummage through Buddy’s storage unit.” He laughed. “Oh, movement is more curtailed in Pennsylvania right now and you’ll never guess what Buddy is doing?”

“You’re right. I won’t.”

“Baking. He wants to bring Kathleen something he bakes when he can next visit.”

“How thoughtful.”

“Buddy’s not much of a talker. He’s a doer and he hopes if he gives her croissants or really fluffy biscuits he might win favor,” Carter declaimed with relish.

“I think he will. You’ve been helpful.”

“You do know a Munnings was stolen from Belle Baruch on July 31, 2003.”

“I don’t know enough. I know she was Bernard Baruch’s daughter, sort of an original, especially for her time.”

“Seventeen art works were stolen. The Munnings was Belle on Souriant III, thirty-nine inches by thirty-six. In 2003 it was worth one million. Belle was a fantastic rider. She commissioned the painting in 1932.”

“I take ‘an original’ meant she was gay?” Sister wryly mentioned.

“Well, I suppose,” Carter replied.

“But wasn’t Belle dead?”

“In 1964. But her sixteen thousand acre estate on the coast, near Georgetown, South Carolina, was left intact as a fundraiser. The art was there. Eleven of the paintings, including the Munnings, were recovered in 2016. Thirteen years later. Quite a story.”

“You tell it well,” she complimented him.

“What are you thinking about the thefts?”

“Money, of course. But I keep circling back to Florence Carter-Wood. I can’t quite tell you why, but I think her shadow is over this. And I think Delores Buckingham figured it out.”

“Ah.” Carter drew out the “ah.” “Who is to say, but it’s an intriguing thought.”

“We’re taking hounds out here tomorrow. Only five of us, plus we’ll be far away from one another. But I want to take hounds out one more time and put all the first-year entry in. It will be the first time they hunt all together.”

“Hope it’s a good hunt. Stay safe.”

“You, too.”

CHAPTER 35

March 14, 2020 Saturday

A cold front blew through last night and early this morning, leaving behind a definite drop in temperature and clouds, which did not promise to disperse.

Aztec, although clipped, had begun to grow out a bit, so the temperature was fine with him. Sister sat outside the kennel as Tootie opened the draw pen and eager hounds, all who were fit, trotted out to gather at Weevil’s feet.

Betty stood on one side of him while Sister stood on the other until Tootie could mount up. Gray, on Cardinal Wolsey, was next to Sister.

“Just don’t get in front of me,” Aztec ordered.

Cardinal Wolsey looked at the dark chestnut, so full of himself, saying nothing. Let the vain thing go first. Also Cardinal Wolsey was a flaming chestnut so he knew everyone would be looking at him despite the fact there was no field today. He’d still outshine the staff horses.

“I called the Bancrofts and Cindy Chandler, too, in case we wind up over there. All are fine with it.”

“How’s Edward?”

“Better. All this virus talk had Tedi worried that he might have the Covid-19 virus but he had the standard flu. They wish us luck.”

Turning to his two whippers-in, Weevil said, “We’ll start in the big pasture, head for the hog’s back. If we don’t pick up scent I’ll let the hounds tell me.

“Come along,” he called to the hounds.

Riding side by side, Gray observed the sky. “Anybody’s guess.”