Free The Angel of Eden by D. J. McIntosh Page A

after he left the village?”
    Yersan made an impatient gesture with his hand. “Youappreciate I was only a child when this happened, so I must rely on what my father told me. Helmstetter came to the village because, according to him, it was close to a powerful place, full of magic. He stayed for many months, ingratiated himself with the villagers, hired a local boy as a guide, and set about exploring the surrounding area. He didn’t divulge to my father exactly what he was seeking.”
    I’d learned from Samuel that isolated communities in the Middle East were highly suspicious of strangers, let alone Westerners. “I understand Kandovan’s a small settlement and perhaps not too trusting of people they don’t know. Kind of hard to believe they’d be taken in by Helmstetter.”
    â€œThen you’re not very familiar with the man, obviously. He had an aura about him. He amused people with demonstrations of magic. Some admired him. Others feared him enough to stay out of his way. And he had money. He used it to burrow his way into my family’s trust like a beautiful lizard with a poisonous bite.”
    â€œWhat became of him?”
    â€œI don’t know. One night he simply vanished. The next day my father discovered that his prized objects were gone. As I said, my father was a simple sheep herder who in his entire life had journeyed no further than Tabriz. It was well beyond his means and ability to search for him. Now it’s your turn. Who owns the objects?”
    â€œThat information is not mine to share.”
    Yersan straightened his jacket. “Then I must ask you to go. I’m very busy. I’m sorry I agreed to see you at all.” Bennet tugged my arm. Before I followed her out of the room, I turned to Yersan. “I wish I could have been more help. But the confidentiality of my clients is very important, I’m sure you understand.”
    He gave me a cold look.
    Our elderly greeter was nowhere to be seen, so we let ourselves out.

Fourteen

    â€œM en.” Bennet swore as we headed down the sidewalk. “You should have let me do the talking. I would have gotten more out of him. At least I recorded it all.”
    I glanced quickly at her. I hadn’t thought to tape the conversation. “His touching story about his father braving dark caves was a complete fabrication. Nor did he strike me as the kind of guy to go around volunteering such information to complete strangers. I’m pretty sure Yersan has no legitimate claim to the objects. But it’s nice to have a record of exactly what he said. Good thinking.”
    â€œWhat’s his motivation then, if not to retrieve a family treasure?” Bennet said.
    â€œGetting his hands on a fortune. I bet he first heard about the objects when Tricia Ross sent out the theft inquiry and made up his mind to make a pitch for them. The story about his being from the area is no doubt factual. Northwest Iran is known to be a primary seat for Zoroastrianism. And by the look of that flaming urn wepassed on our way in, Yersan must be a practitioner. But I still think he’s a fraud. It’s a common scam in the antiquities world. Make a claim on objects whose provenance can’t be accurately determined then threaten to tie the rightful owner up in the courts. Stall any potential sales for years. The owner decides the best course of action is to settle and part with some of the value.”
    â€œI’m not so sure. I was watching him closely, and it seemed to me his anger was genuine. Under different circumstances I had the feeling he could be dangerous. What are you going to do about him?”
    â€œNothing I can do—except stay on my guard. Maybe sic Strauss on him.” I laughed. “I’d love to see those two go head to head.”
    Bennet and I hopped onto the 2 train, got off at Thirty-fourth, and headed down to West Thirtieth and the Conjuring Arts Center. The arched