Home from the patisserie, late for lunch, Caydence put part of the baguette on the table and beside it placed a wedge of Saint Andre triple crème cheese, a bowl of oil-cured black olives, and a platter of imported smoked salmon. These things were in her refrigerator. If she was still hungry later, she would make an omelette.

On her answering machine was a message from Lucy at Major Knox Silicon Valley Ventures to the effect of "Major Knox has checked in from wherever he is, which I am not at liberty to disclose. He says to tell you that he already asked the antique store where they got the book object. It was, they told him, purchased by the lot at an estate sale along with expected art objects, such as small framed landscapes and hand thrown pottery. The antiques dealer showed him the bill of sale. Sadly, as is the case with many estate sales, the owner is deceased."

arrow It would be easy, Caydance thought, for anyone to slip that artists book into a box of assorted art ephemera, without being noticed.