Lifeguard

“It’s lovely,” Ellie said, unable to hide her appreciation of the painting itself.

“There’s much more…” Stratton took her by the arm and led her to a group of admirers staring at a well-known Rauschenberg on another wall. That one must’ve gone for ten million alone. And on the steps leading into the great room, on two wooden easels, were stu

Masterpieces.

“Whoever’s advising you on your art is doing a better job,” Ellie said, looking around.

“So glad you approve.” Stratton smiled, clearly enjoying himself. “And all dressed up, I see. Come, have some champagne. There must be a nephew of someone rich and famous floating around here who would find what you do for a living completely refreshing.”

“Thanks,” Ellie sniffed up at him, “but not tonight. I’m working.”

“Working?” Stratton seemed amused. “Well, that will set you apart in this crowd. Let me guess, you think that Ned Kelly character is in the house?”

“Kelly… no.” Ellie looked at him. “But I was wondering if the name Earl Anson means anything to you?”

“Anson?” Stratton shrugged and took a deep, thoughtful breath. “Should it?”

“He was the man killed along with Kelly’s brother up in Boston. Turns out he was a hood from around here. I thought it might ring a bell.”

“Why would it?” Stratton said, nodding across the room to a familiar face.

“Because he was up in Boston looking for your three paintings.”

Stratton waved across the room to his wife, greeting guests in an off-the-shoulder gown that looked like Prada. Liz Stratton smiled when she saw Ellie.

“You keep forgetting,” Stratton said, barely shifting his gaze, “it’s four. There were four paintings stolen. You always seem to overlook the Gaume.”

“An i

“One less lawyer,” Stratton said, and laughed at his own tasteless joke. “Now, I’m afraid I have other guests.”

“And what about Tess McAuliffe?” Ellie said, grabbing Stratton at the elbow. “Am I confused about her, too?”

Stratton’s face grew taut.

“I know you were seeing her.” Ellie stared at him. “I can tie you to the Brazilian Court. You were having an affair with Tess.”

Stratton’s gaze suddenly hardened. “I think we should have that champagne now, Ellie.” He latched onto her arm. “Out on the veranda.”

Chapter 54

MAYBE SHE SHOULDN’T have said what she did. She knew she had gone too far. But she wanted to throw it in his face and watch the haughty smile disappear.

Stratton dragged her through large French doors leading onto the vast terrace off the ocean. They were outside before she could resist. He’d dug his fingers into her arm.

“Get your hands off me, Mr. Stratton.” Ellie tried to pull away without making a scene – like taking him down in the middle of this crowd.

“I thought you might like to see the Fratesi marbles out here,” Stratton said as they passed a couple wandering on the terrace. “I shipped them from a villa outside Rome. Seventeenth century.”

“I’m a federal agent, Mr. Stratton,” Ellie warned him. “Twenty-first century.”

“A federal fucking bitch is what you are,” Stratton said, muscling her over to a remote section overlooking the sea.

Ellie looked around for someone she could yell to if things got really bad. A band was starting to play inside. If this got back to Moretti, she’d be toast.

“It seems our talk the other day didn’t impress.” Stratton yanked her across the tiles to a fieldstone ledge.

“You’re a pretty little girl, Ellie. You know how pretty little girls have to be careful in today’s world. Even when they’re with the FBI.”

“You don’t want to take this any further,” Ellie said, trying to pull away. “You’re threatening a federal agent…”

“Threats? I didn’t make any threats, Agent Shurtleff. All the threats came from you. Tess was private. I liked to fuck the little bitch, that’s all. I don’t know how she died. I don’t much care. But as an observation, when pretty little girls do things, like, say, jog on the beach, or better yet, sea-kayaking… Look, Ellie…You never can tell how rough it gets out there in the surf.”

“I’m going to tie you to Earl Anson.” Ellie glared back at him.

Her cardigan fell off. Stratton had her by the arm, a grin on his face she didn’t like, staring at her shape and her bare shoulders. “You must look cute in a wetsuit, Ellie. Maybe I’d like to see some more of you myself.”

Chapter 55

WHAT WAS THIS ?

I was out on the jetty, overlooking Stratton’s house, when I saw it all unfold. I’m not sure why I was even there. Maybe because that was where it all began; where Mickey and Bobby and Barney had been set up – and I was out of answers. Or because it burned me that Stratton could be in there celebrating about something while my life was falling apart.

Or maybe because it seemed that I’d been watching parties like this from the outside my whole life.

Whatever it was, I watched this guy in a navy blazer dragging a girl onto the terrace, maybe fifty yards away. He forced himself against her on the stone ledge. Shit, Ned, you’ve hit the bottom now, I groaned. I figured I was in for some peep show of the idle rich doing it under the stars.

Suddenly I realized the girl was Ellie.

I went closer. It was Ellie! And the guy in the blazer, De

I inched closer, crouching near a rock wall. Their words started to come clear. Something about Tess… something about this being a private matter. Was I hearing this right? What did Tess have to do with Stratton?

Then Ellie said, “I’m going to nail you for fraud – and murder!”

That was all I needed to hear, but the bastard started threatening her. Ellie was trying to twist away. “You’re hurting me.”

I hoisted myself up the concrete seawall and onto the ledge of the terrace.

Then I jumped down off the ledge onto the terrace a few feet behind the two of them. It all happened quickly after that. I jerked Stratton away and nailed him with a solid right. He went down hard on the terrace.

“You want to put your hands on somebody,” I said over him, “c’mon, how ’bout me?”

Stratton looked up as if he were dreaming. He rubbed his jaw. “Who the hell are you?”

I turned to Ellie and did a double take. She was beautiful. In a cute black dress, shoulders exposed. All made up. And diamond studs sparkling in her ears, nice ones. She was staring at me with her mouth open.

I was hoping I hadn’t shocked her so much that she’d say my name.

She didn’t. Instead, Ellie took hold of my arm. “I was wondering where you were. Let’s get out of here.” She looked at Stratton, who was slowly getting to his feet. “Love your party, De