To Catch a Billionaire (13 page)

“He didn’t say. I got the feeling he’s looking close to home. How much do you know about your staff?”

“I only know them from a work standpoint. I never encouraged tidbits of information about their personal lives. As Cam, I didn’t either.” She didn’t hold out now that Tristan knew she’d been playing the part of Cam. She still wondered how he had found out.

As though reading her mind, he said, “My associate, McNeill, looked into you and Cam. He was quite surprised to find she didn’t exist, and hadn’t, ever. When he researched you, he found you’d been part of the drama club at a university in Britain. It all made sense once the pieces of the puzzle came together.”

“I suppose I’ll have to speak with Durant and clear things up.” Erin brushed her hair from her face. “It was foolish to even begin the charade. Once I became Cam, the staff seemed to relax and do a better job than when I was there. I felt as though they feared the real me.”

“I’ll drive you to the station if you’d like,” Tristan offered.

She shook her head. “I think I’ll invite him here. It might go better that way.”

He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “If that’s what you want, I’ll stay until he arrives.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“I think it is. I worry you’ll change your mind, then where will you be? I’ll stay. End of discussion,” he said with finality.

Erin chafed at his insistence, but knew he was right. She’d probably talk herself out of doing what was necessary and then justify her actions in her own mind. Just the fact that she’d hidden behind Cam for so long was enough for Tristan to believe she might indeed run away from her responsibility. She lifted the phone from its charger and dialed the police station. It wasn’t long before the cop in charge of her case answered the call.

“This is Officer Durant,” he said in a bored tone.

“Good morning, this is Erin Cameron from the Cameron Gallery. We spoke the other day.”

“I remember, Ms. Cameron.” His voice turned all business.

The phone shook in her hand as she asked if he’d come to the estate.

“Is something wrong? Are you having an emergency?” Durant wanted to know.

“I’d like to talk with you in private about Cam Boucher.”

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Stay put,” Durant ordered.

She thanked him and hung up.

“You’ve done what’s right, Erin,” Tristan assured her. “Somebody on your staff took those paintings. I’m certain of it. Maybe we can flush them out. We’ll see what happens when Durant arrives. For a while, you had me fooled as Cam, you know.”

She appraised him and asked, “What gave me away?”

“Your teeth. No two people have the same teeth. I’m surprised your help hadn’t made the connection. Besides, nobody kisses the same, and you and Cam do. It didn’t hit me right away, but sank in rather slowly.”

She chuckled softly. “I was rarely at the gallery when anyone else was. When I was there, I made sure I didn’t grin. I thought about that and tried to smile with my lips closed, instead. I’ve never had to kiss anyone who tried to buy my gallery. You’re the first.”

“I was serious when I said if you sold to me, you could run the operation the same as you’ve been doing, Erin. I wouldn’t change much at Cameron’s, I promise.”

“Why are you so determined to own my gallery?”

He didn’t answer.

“No sidestepping, okay?”

Tristan stared at her for a time. Then he seemed to reach a decision.

“I’d bought about five galleries before I met your parents. Your father was a gentleman, a businessman and he had a big heart. Your mother was the most charming woman I’d ever met. She went on and on about you the entire time we spoke, until I felt I almost knew you. About a year later, your father called me. I was in Scotland at the time. He asked if I’d consider taking over Cameron Gallery. I was stunned and said so. He admitted that he had cancer and wouldn’t live much longer. Your mother was already gone and he was worried about you.”

She held her breath. Her father had never spoken one word of this to her, not even on his death bed. Or had he? She searched her memory of that stressful time and gasped.

“I was with him when he took his last breath. Before he died, he muttered something to me about collaboration plans. I thought he was hallucinating. I begged him to relax, and then he was gone,” Erin exclaimed.

“I agreed to wait and see how you handled the gallery before I made an offer. That was acceptable to him, even though he wanted me to approach you immediately after his death. I put feelers out several times to see how you were managing. Each time my information came back that you were mostly absent from the gallery and Cam Boucher was in charge.”

“The space Cam’s disguise gave me was important. I reeled from Mom’s death, but fell on my face when Dad’s came along.” Her voice trembled, even now, after the span of time between her father’s death and the present. Would she ever completely get over losing them? “I used Cam’s character as a crutch. I know that I made a poor choice.”

The doorbell chimed and Erin scurried from the room. Officer Durant stood on the steps, his back to her while he surveyed the grounds.

“Come in, please.” Erin stepped back and swung the door wide.

Durant gawked at her for a moment and then entered the foyer. “Quite a place you have here, Ms. Cameron.”

“It’s been in my family for generations, just as Cameron’s has,” she said. Erin guided him into the kitchen where they found Tristan making a pot of coffee.

He glanced over his shoulder with a smile. “Thought you might like a sip or two of coffee while the lass tells you what’s on her mind.”

Erin smiled at his accent. The word sip came across as seep and when he called her lass, a warm fuzzy feeling buzzed in the pit of her stomach.

With a grunt of thanks, Durant accepted the cup of coffee from Tristan and added cream and sugar when they were offered. He sat where he could see both their faces.

Erin wondered if her confession was a mistake. She glanced at Tristan, who shot her a look that said she’d better not back down now.

Tattered nerves and deep-seated fear left her voice as wobbly as her knees. She plucked at a napkin and fiddled with her coffee cup handle until Durant cleared his throat and said, “I assume you didn’t invite me here to sit in silence. Would you like me to start, or are you going to tell me things I already suspect?”

“Uh, of course, you’re right. You’re not here for coffee. You’re here for my confession, of sorts.” Erin drew a deep breath, let it out slowly and tried to steady her voice. Suddenly, she burst out, “I’m not simply Erin Cameron. I’m also Cam Boucher.”

His eyebrows hiked as Durant’s stare locked onto her face. “That wasn’t what I suspected at all. Go on,” he said.

“I’ve been pretending to be Cam for a few years now. After my father died, I had difficulty leaving the house and felt more confident in disguise. You see, reporters wouldn’t leave me alone, but Cam was of no interest to them. As her, I could go about freely. I made up a story about hiring Cam Boucher as a gallery manager. The longer it went on, the easier it was to hide behind Cam. I will also admit that I was about ready to leave Cam behind and be myself.” Erin shrugged. “Things started to unravel for me when the theft occurred.”

“Ah, yes, the theft. You wouldn’t want to confess to that, too, would you?” Durant asked.

“I didn’t steal those paintings and neither did Cam. Mr. Forsyth thinks it was an employee, just as you do. I’m not so sure, but it makes sense.” Erin sipped her coffee.

The saying two heads are better than one, could only mean three were better than two, right? Lost in thought, Erin slouched against the back of the chair. Her mind wandered over the past week or so. Excitedly she leapt up, startling both men. “I know who took them.” Erin’s hands fluttered as her excitement grew.

“Sit, lass, or the good policeman will be calling the men in white to take you away.” Tristan reached out, took her hand and smiled as she settled across from them once again.

Durant drank coffee, remained silent and waited. Erin could see the expectant sparkle in his eyes.

“You might think I’m barmy, but I’m not. Honest. Something has been niggling me since the theft took place. I couldn’t put my finger on it until now,” Erin remarked.

“Don’t keep us in suspense, lass, spit it out,” Tristan demanded.

Erin went to refill her cup and turned to them while she leaned against the sideboard. “Lately, Meredith has acted a bit odd. I thought it was due to the theft and police presence. Come to think of it, Jesse North hasn’t quite been himself either. Though, he had been struck on the head,” she added.

“You think these two hatched a plan to steal the paintings?” Durant asked.

“I don’t want to think so, but what other conclusion is there? The staff at Cameron’s is limited, which makes your suspect list rather short.” Erin paced back and forth a few times. “When Meredith left the other day, she had on a long coat. I’d never seen the coat before, it was too big and billowy to fit her properly. From the way she jumped, I figure I startled her when I came around the corner.”

Erin’s pulse hiked a notch when Durant’s skepticism showed in his eyes. To dispel his doubt, she insisted, “Meredith left by the front door. My staff and I always enter and leave by the rear exit. She didn’t want to pass by me. I’ll bet she hid the artwork within the coat. She’d been rummaging under her station and was rattled when I came into view.”

Durant nodded. “The reception desk is tall like those in hotels – a barrier of sorts between the customers and the staff. Hmm, and what about North? How does he fit in?”

“Not only did Meredith’s coat and her exit bother me, but she hurried across the street and got into a car driven by Jesse North. The whole scene left me unsettled, but at the time, I couldn’t say why. And the other day, she confided in Cam, that she didn’t think much of me – Erin, so I assume she has no employee loyalty to me or to the gallery. And weren’t you going to hire her if you bought the gallery outright, Tristan?”

Tristan nodded, but didn’t say anything.

Durant had tipped his chair back on two legs. He landed with a thump. “First, prove to me that you are Cam Boucher, then we’ll discuss this again.”

They trouped up the stairs. Outside her bedroom door, Erin said, “I don’t think the bed has been made yet, so please disregard the mess.”

Tristan gave Durant a glance and Erin saw them both smirk. Whether they found it humorous that she didn’t make her own bed, or that she apologized for not doing so, she couldn’t tell. The room was neat and orderly when Erin led the way in. Mrs. Hardy had managed to make it so before she left for the market.

Giorgio’s gorgeous creation lay neatly draped in its travel bag, ready for return. Her nightwear was gone as were her undergarments from the night before. Erin smiled, turned toward the closet and flung the doors wide.

“This section holds Cam’s wardrobe. The rest of the closet holds mine.” Erin left them to look it over and flung open the next set of doors that held shoes, hats, and three wigs. “These shoes,” Erin said, as she motioned to a small string of shoes and wigs on stands that were laid out neatly on a shelf, “belong to Cam. The rest belong to me.”

“I take it Cam shopped in discount stores while you shop in New York City?” Tristan asked with a grin.

“She did. I wouldn’t be caught dead, or alive, in those fashions. Cam, however, shopped there all the time. It was a defining factor for me. Occasionally, I’d find a jacket or slacks, at a yard sale that fit her personality.”

“Amazing,” Durant breathed. “You thought it out well, didn’t you? Being Cam and yourself must have been quite a juggling act.” He turned to Tristan and asked, “Were you aware of this double duo?”

“Not at first. My interest was in the acquisition of Cameron Gallery. Ms. Boucher piqued my interest when she kept diverting me from meeting with Erin. I had her investigated by a man who works for me. He found Cam didn’t exist.” Tristan chuckled. “From there I made the connection and faced off with Erin over the deception.”

Durant moved toward the hallway. “Let’s talk about this problem you have, Ms. Cameron.”

They’d returned to the kitchen when Erin said, “The problem I have is that you undoubtedly think I’m nuts for having played the part of owner and worker in my own business. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I’ve explained my reason for doing so.” Erin glanced at Tristan and then turned her attention back to Durant who still appeared disbelieving.

“You say that you were about to bring your deception to light. Would that mean telling the world or just your staff? Why now? Why not keep the charade going?”

Alarm stirred Erin’s already upset stomach, quickened her pulse and did nothing to calm her at all. “I told you, I wanted to leave that part of my life behind and truly be the owner and manager of my gallery. Surely you understand why I did it and continued to use Cam for so long. Haven’t you ever suffered from loss or had to deal with stress?”

He looked away when she asked, leaving Erin aware that she was on the right track. “I can see you have, so you should understand why I behaved the way I did.” She waved her hands when Durant leaned forward and opened his mouth. “I know, I know, I should have come clean early on in your investigation. I apologize for wasting police time. You have to believe me, I didn’t steal Mr. Pimskin’s art, nor was I anywhere near the gallery when it was stolen. I was here.”

Durant shook his head and snorted. “Say I believe you, what about the information I got from Meredith?”

Her eyes wide, Erin stared at Durant. “What information?”

He produced a couple scraps of paper from his jacket pocket and laid them on the table.
Remove the paintings. Pack them in crates after removal.

“Is this your hand writing?” Durant asked.

Peering at the scribbled words Erin glanced up. “Yes, it is. Those are reminders to remove the work in the watercolor room. Jeff Godrick’s art will be set up in there. The paintings will be stored until Jeff’s exhibit is over.”

“You’re sure that’s the story you want to go with?”

“It’s the truth. I wouldn’t steal from myself or anyone else. I have no need to. I can’t imagine why Meredith would do so either, but I believe she has taken the paintings and Jesse North helped her,” Erin answered heatedly.