A World Without Secrets by Thomas DePrima

seen on any of the video monitors and never left a single fingerprint. At first we suspected it might be an inside job because it was so perfect, but we couldn't find anything to tie the theft to the guards, and all of them had been with the museum for years. They're still working there in fact."
    "I don't track support-payment deadbeats or parking-fine scofflaws, Mr. Kovacs. I only track drug pushers, murderers, or other high-profile criminals."
    Kovacs suddenly had a gleam in his eye. "Have you heard something about the location of the paintings? Are they on the market?"
    "One hears a lot of things when dealing with criminals and their associates. I don't know anything yet, but I can find out, if it's worth my while."
    "I don't expect you'll learn anything new, but if you do learn something that leads us to the paintings, I can promise you we'll pay a twenty-thousand-dollar bounty."
    "That's all? I heard you paid off fourteen million. I expected the reward to be ten percent of the policy amount."
    "Well, that's the normal arrangement for the recovery of stolen property, but we're only talking about information that will put us on the trail to the paintings."
    "If I take this case on, I'll find the paintings, Mr. Kovacs. I'll lead you right to them and even put them into your hands."
    Kovacs looked at me intently, seeing a look of complete confidence in my eyes and on my face. "Very well, Mr. James, find the paintings and my company will pay you ten percent of the policy amount for their recovery."
    "It's a deal, Mr. Kovacs. The paintings are as good as recovered."
    Kovacs nodded in a patronizing manner. "Uh, where did you say you worked, Mr. James?"
    "I've been recovering people for Ed Harris of Harris Bail Bonds and Marsh Adams of Triple A Bail Bonds."
    "Here in New York?"
    "Yes. Both are downtown if you care to check up on me."
    "And how long have you been doing this?"
    "Not very long, but both men will tell you I'm good. In fact, I've never failed."
    "We'll see, Mr. James. We'll see." Kovacs walked away, probably thinking that was the last he'd hear from or about me. Imagine a bounty hunter thinking he had the skills to solve a major art theft.
    Kathy had been watching the conversation from the other side of the room. When I returned, she said, "What was that all about?"
    "Just asking about a job."
    "You want to sell insurance?"
    "No, I want to find the missing paintings from the Philadelphia heist."
    "You what?"
    "I'm going to find the missing paintings."
    "Colton, don't be silly. By the way, how come you never told me you were a bounty hunter?"
    "Because of the look on your face when you learned."
    "What look?"
    "Like I'd just strangled a box of new-born kittens as you looked on."
    Kathy stared at me for a few seconds and then said calmly, "That's only because you caught me so off guard. I knew you as a computer expert who had turned to writing. I never would have expected you to take up bounty hunting."
    "I prefer skip tracer. I did it because even aspiring authors have to eat and pay the rent. I can earn enough money doing skip tracing part time to support myself very well, and I can keep writing."
    "What's 'very well'?"
    "My last job took two days and paid me ten thousand dollars."
    Kathy was clearly surprised. "Ten thousand dollars for two days' work?"
    "Not a bad payday, eh?"
    "But it's dangerous."
    "Not the way I work. I just find the people and then let others take them into custody."
    "But even the investigation can be dangerous."
    "Not so much. A lot of it's done on the computer."
    "You can find people using a computer? Even dangerous people?"
    "Well, the information I gather gives me the leads."
    "And now you think you can find the missing paintings using your computer? Google won't be any help with this."
    "I expect all my— electronic resources— to be helpful."
    Kathy shook her head. "You're an amazing man, Colton James. I'd just begun to think I had you figured out. Now you surprise me with this. I hope