Art and Murder. Don Easton

stolen goods were going or identify the real bosses had met with little success — until recently.

      A year earlier a French informant managed to ally himself with some local criminals associated with the gang. It was this informant who alerted the police that they were dealing with an international crime ring.

      The informant said the criminal empire was not large. Perhaps fewer than fifty people, counting the street criminals who worked for the gang in different countries. He said the criminals he met in Paris were controlled by a man by the name of Roche Freulard. He was also told that Roche had a boss whose real identity was unknown to any of the local criminals.

      Four months ago the informant was invited to a party and had a chance to meet Roche. What caught the rapt attention of the police was the informant’s telling them that one thug at the party let it slip that the gang was responsible for the high-profile murder of an art collector, and also that some of the stolen paintings were for the personal gallery of Roche’s boss.

      A couple of months before that, a respected and well-known art collector in Paris by the name of Philippe Petit had been found bludgeoned to death in his home. Seven of his paintings were stolen, but to date none had been located.

      Two days after the party, both the informant and the thug who’d let the information slip were found shot to death in an alley.

      That action prompted a premature start to Kerin’s undercover assignment, even though it would be another two months before judicial approval was officially given.

      Kerin managed to befriend Roche by passing himself off as a high-class criminal who operated a car-theft ring that moved stolen cars, as well as other merchandise, around the world. When Roche asked what other merchandise, Kerin smiled and twirled a diamond ring around his finger. It was enough to bait the hook.

      Roche began to confide in Kerin more and more with the idea of bringing him into the gang as an equal. He spoke of working for someone he referred to as the Ringmaster. Kerin had laughed at the title, but Roche shrugged it off. He said they were like a circus, with multiple troupes playing in different countries and moving frequently. He said the secrecy of their identities helped keep them safe from the police. That and using disposable phones.

      “And do you have a title?” Kerin asked.

      “Actually, I do,” Roche replied. “I’m known as the juggler, or sometimes the French juggler. I’m responsible for recruiting people to do the dirty work, as well as looking after the distribution of the goods in France. Sometimes I need to store them until it is safe, while other times the situation calls for a speedier distribution.”

      “Hence the juggling act,” Kerin said. “Are there many jugglers in your, uh, company?”

      “It varies. At the moment, there are five of us, counting my brother.”

      “Anton is a juggler?” Kerin was surprised. “You once mentioned he was a cabinetmaker.”

      “You’ve got a good memory,” Roche noted. “Yes, it is a recent development that he was brought into the fold.”

      “I see.”

      “Keep what I told you in confidence,” warned Roche. “The Ringmaster and the jugglers meet once a year to go over what we have done and see what we can do to help each other. That meeting should be happening soon. If you are accepted, you will meet the others then.”

      Kerin smiled. That is an opportunity I don’t want to miss.

      Despite Roche’s apparent trust, Kerin was still subjected to an electronic search for hidden transmitters once in a while. Roche would apologize each time and say he was simply following procedure. As a result, Kerin never wore a transmitter, but meticulously made notes of all his conversations with Roche immediately afterwards.

      Recently Roche had mentioned that the Ringmaster’s birthday was coming up, so Kerin gave him a gold watch to pass along, acting like it was a trivial item. The truth was, the cost of the watch had cut a big hole in the investigative funds allotted.

      The watch had a dual purpose. Besides gaining the favour of the Ringmaster, the watchband had a unique pattern of gold and silver. Unique enough, Kerin had convinced his bosses, that the man wearing it might be spotted and thus identified.

      Unfortunately subsequent surveillance of Roche did not identify anyone wearing the watch, but today Kerin had a chance to please his disgruntled bosses back at headquarters.

      A week ago Roche said he thought he might be garnering police attention. Kerin expressed concern, knowing full well that surveillance teams were targeting Roche. Fortunately it had an unexpected benefit. Roche blamed the police attention on the informant, who had allied himself to the gang and had been murdered prior to Kerin’s arrival. He then asked Kerin if he would be interested in temporarily replacing him as a safety precaution and suggested Kerin might be able to use his own connections to move stolen goods.

      Kerin could barely contain the exhilaration he felt. He remained silent.

      “I have heard that many stolen cars from Europe or North America end up in Arab countries,” Roche said. “Is that true?”

      “My best clients happen to be Arab,” Kerin replied.

      “Those are countries where we would like to expand. Are you willing to help?”

      Kerin hesitated, pretending to consider the offer.

      “I can assure you that you will be well paid,” Roche said.

      “Well paid?”

      “Contingent upon your meeting with the Ringmaster for final approval.”

      “I see.”

      “Are you interested?” Roche prodded him.

      “Yes, it sounds like it could be beneficial.”

      Kerin was told that he would only meet the Ringmaster face to face once. After that, all communication would be made through Roche. Subsequent arrangements were made for Roche to meet Kerin today at a café, where he’d introduce the Ringmaster.

      It was deemed unlikely that the Ringmaster would say anything to Kerin about the murders during the meeting, but identifying the Ringmaster would be a big step forward in the investigation. Once that was done, physical and electronic surveillance could be utilized, along with whatever other police investigative means were needed.

      * * *

      Kerin was pleased when he saw Roche parking his black Peugeot in front of the café, and a moment later greeted him when he walked inside. Roche declined to sit down and told Kerin that they would walk to another location to meet the Ringmaster.

      A half-hour stroll later, they came to a park. During the stroll, Kerin had caught the occasional glimpse of his long-time partner, Maurice Leblanc, who followed on the sidewalk across the street.

      Maurice was a tall, slender man with a black Fu Manchu moustache that grew to the bottom of his jaw. Kerin grinned to himself when he imagined that moustache twitching as it always did when Maurice was worried. It’s okay, Maurice, the meeting is still on.

      Kerin caught the odd glimpse of other colleagues. They had divided up their eight-person surveillance team, leaving drivers in four cars while the others followed on foot. Two of the team members who’d been in the café switched back to their cars.

      Once at the park, Roche received a call. After hanging up, he said, “The Ringmaster is coming, but is nervous about meeting you. I need you to answer a question.”

      Kerin frowned. “What?”

      “We can walk around the park as we talk,” Roche suggested.

      Kerin fell in step with Roche. and waited for him to speak. Finally, Roche asked, “Where do you come up with your stolen property?”

      Kerin stopped and faced Roche. “Jesus! You’re asking me about that again? I told you about one of the heists in advance!” In reality, the heist was not genuine but a ruse