[Alan Bernhardt 05] • Full Circle

Raymond DuBois - geriatric multimillionaire - has a problem. It's his art collection. He can't leave it to just anybody - especially not the contents of his private gallery, a secret room full of priceless stolen artwork. He'd just as soon not have anyone find out about his hobby - now, or when he dies. His former curator, Betty Giles, could have discreetly disposed of them. But Betty Giles has a problem, too. She's incommunicado, which is Italian for "hiding out in Europe indefinitely" - hiding from the American authorities, from a fistful of hitmen, and from her old boss DuBois. The only person who knows how to get in touch with her is Alan Bernhardt, private investigator and part-time theater director. The FBI's trying to get at DuBois. They'd haul Betty Giles in for questioning if only they could find her; and in the meantime, they're putting pressure on Bernhardt instead. That's a tough spot to be in, but dealing with the FBI is still easier than dealing with the underworld types who keep sniffing around, looking to prey on DuBois's weakness. But beyond all this, beyond the Feds and crooks and moneymen and killers, there's another organization with an interest in the case - ruthless, implacable, never forgetting or forgiving: the insurance industry. They had to pay out for every last piece of that stolen art, and now they're out for blood. Or money. Or Raymond DuBois. But they'll start with Bernhardt. It's going to be one of those weeks....