Murder at the Library of Congress - Margaret Truman [32]
Annabel stayed up, her eyes focusing blankly on the images on the TV screen, her mind sorting through the evening’s events. It was a futile exercise, and she decided to join Mac in the bedroom. But before she did, she changed channels to the all-news network on which Lucianne Huston had built her reputation. Yes, indeed, Lucianne stood in front of the Jefferson Building, the flashing lights of police cars tossing shards of red light over everything, amplified voices creating a background din as she reported:
“This is the front of the Jefferson Building, the oldest of three buildings comprising the Library of Congress, the world’s largest and most important repository of information. Tonight, a man I had interviewed this afternoon, Michele Paul, was found murdered in the small area he occupied above the Hispanic and Portuguese reading room. He was killed by a blow to the head, according to sources who spoke with me on condition of anonymity. Michele Paul was a respected expert on the subjects of Christopher Columbus and more specifically Bartolomé de Las Casas, whose diaries—and possibly even a treasure map—have been the subject of searches by many scholars, some of whom have lost their lives in the effort. Whether Dr. Paul’s murder tonight is yet another tragic example of this remains to be seen. I’m Lucianne Huston reporting from Washington.”
Annabel clicked off the set. Ms. Huston was certainly on the case, as the saying goes. Would she change her plans and stay in Washington to continue covering Paul’s murder? Interesting, Annabel thought, as she headed for the bedroom, how Lucianne instantly wove Paul’s murder into the larger but vaguer Las Casas story.
What had started out to be an enjoyable two-month hiatus from running the gallery had, in two days, mushroomed into high-profile murder against the sedate, genteel background of the Library of Congress.
Who would have wanted to kill Michele Paul? she wondered as she slipped into bed beside her husband.
A cast of thousands, she decided as the warmth of his body helped lull her to sleep.
Chapter 11
“Warren A. Munsch, a two-time loser. Armed robbery, possession of stolen goods. Four other arrests—a couple of gambling charges, kiting checks—no other convictions. A wise-guy wannabe.”
“A jerk. So, what’s he doing stealing a painting?”
The two Miami detectives sat in a room used for interrogation, surprisingly clean and modern considering its use. An empty Dunkin’ Donuts bag, paper napkins, and coffee cups cluttered the Formica table. A file folder containing the report on the theft of the Reyes painting from Casa de Seville and the murder of the security guard was between them.
One of the detectives said, “His two amigos gave him up fast enough once the maintenance guy with a habit surfaced. Honor among thieves.”
“You believe the Cuban was the shooter?”
“Yeah, why not? The weapon was in his apartment, and his partner said he pulled the trigger.”
“But the Cuban—what’s his name? Garraga—Mr. Garraga says the missing Mr. Munsch did the deed.”
“Where the hell is Munsch? He flew to L.A. We know that. Used his own name to buy the ticket.”
“And then he goes to Mexico City. With the painting? Hey, I don’t get what’s the big deal about this painting they stole. The manager of the museum said it wasn’t worth much, was just sort of a backdrop, like wallpaper.”
“There’s mega-bucks in some stolen art. Don’t you know that?”
“Yeah, I know that, but come on. A lowlife like Munsch isn’t out stealing art. What does he know from paintings?”
“Like Jankowski says, he must have lifted it for somebody else, on assignment. Maybe some big-shot art collector.”
“I feel bad for the guard who got it. Christ, his first night on the job.”
“Guarding a second-rate museum. Who’d figure getting shot in a second-rate museum?”
“Yeah, who’d figure. You’d think that gut of his would have stopped a bazooka, let alone a Saturday night special.”
“Look who’s talking. You’re not exactly a male model.”
“What do you expect, you keep bringing in doughnuts. Did you see that newscast last