The Da Vinci Deception Read Online Free Page A

paper, then find or make the inks and pens you will use. Secondly, she will develop techniques for aging documents. And finally, Eleanor will study the modern methods for detecting the age and authenticity of art and manuscripts. All the more reason we must have the genuine Leonardo from the Windsor Library.”
    â€œThen she knows what you are up to?”
    â€œNot at all.” Jonas blew a thick cloud of smoke. “I have commissioned Eleanor to gather the information and the samples, then prepare a complete documentation of her findings, which I have told her will then be published.
    â€œWill I meet her?”
    â€œYou would like that, she is a very attractive woman. But she must never know how the Leonardo manuscripts come into being.”
    â€œAt some point the whole world will know you discovered them.”
    â€œAnd she, too, must believe that I have rescued them from some obscure hiding place. She must not suspect you and Giorgio have created them.”
    Stiehl now realized how brilliantly Jonas had put his plan together. One of his conspirators would supply the raw materials for the missing Leonardo manuscripts, and then be the same person to test their genuineness.
    â€œWhere is she doing all this research?”
    â€œIn Florence. She must be where Leonardo lived most of his years. And where she will find paper of the kind available five hundred years ago.”
    â€œI can’t believe paper that old can be found. And if any is located, could it be handled and worked on?”
    Jonas swiveled around to the credenza and took from it a leatherbound book. “This is a rare Elzevir manuscript, printed in 1611. The end leaves have never been touched; the paper has merely yellowed a bit. The paper was made in Holland, possibly Belgium. Feel how supple it is after nearly four hundred years.”
    Stiehl was no stranger to paper. He rubbed the sheet between his thumb and forefinger. “You expect the Shepard woman will find five-hundred-year-old paper?”
    â€œShe will. You can depend on it.”
    â€œYou have an assistant. Another woman?”
    Jonas smiled broadly. “My assistant’s name is Anthony Waters, or Tony as we prefer to call him. Tony fills a special niche and will have a
variety of assignments. The first, which will occupy him between now and September, is to borrow Leonardo’s drawing of the skulls from the Royal Library.”
    â€œYou said it isn’t a lending library.”
    â€œTony is particularly adept at what I like to call ‘role-playing.’” Jonas added confidently, “Come September we will have folio number 19057 in hand.”
    Jonas unwrapped a package of cashews and poured the contents into a bowl. “Any more questions, Curtis?”
    â€œNot a question, just a statement. I haven’t said that I’m coming in with you.”
    Jonas calmly popped a few of the nuts into his mouth. “You have an abundance of talent, Curtis, but a very undisciplined memory. Perhaps we should review those photographs.”
    â€œGoddamn it! I’m the one that’s just out of jail and I’m not talking about Monopoly, where all you do is wait for the next roll of the dice. Forty-seven months . . . thirty days shy of four years shot to hell. If this scheme blows, I’m back for five, maybe ten years. You haven’t been there, and be damned well assured I’m not going back.”
    â€œYou won’t, Curtis. You have my word.”
    â€œYour word? I never laid eyes on you until an hour ago. What goddamn good is your word when the jury says guilty? It seems I’m pretty important to your plans and that convinces me that I hold some high cards.”
    â€œNot high enough. I would desperately hate to lose you, but having brought you into my confidence, I can ill afford to take any risks. The statutes haven’t expired on your counterfeiting escapade and a conviction would return you to that repugnant