Heads You Win

“Oh yes. The canvas is an inch wider than the original one in the Lowell Collection.”

“So it’s a fake?”

“No, sir. A fake is when someone attempts to deceive the art world by claiming to have come across an original work that is not recorded in the artist’s catalog raisonné. This,” he said, “is a copy, albeit a damned fine copy.”

“May I ask what it would have been worth had it been the original?” Alex asked tentatively.

“A million, possibly a million and a half,” said Rosenthal. “Its provenance is impeccable. I believe Mr. Lowell’s grandfather bought it directly from the artist in the early sixties, when he couldn’t even pay his rent.”

“Thank you,” said Alex, having quite forgotten why he’d originally come into the gallery.

“If you’ll excuse me,” said Rosenthal. “I ought to get back to my office.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you.”

Rosenthal left them, and after a moment Alex realized Anna was staring at him. “We met on the subway, didn’t we?” she said.

“Yes,” he admitted. “Why didn’t you say something when I first showed you the painting?”

“Because for a moment I wondered if you were an art thief.”

“Nothing quite so glamorous,” said Alex. “During the day I work at Lombardi’s, and spend most evenings at business school.”

“Lombardi’s margheritas were my staple diet before I graduated.”

“My mother cooks a mean calzone,” said Alex, “if you’d like to give it a try.”

“I would,” said Anna. “Then you can tell me how you came into possession of such a fine copy of a Blue Jackie Kennedy.”

“It was just an excuse to see you again.”

29

ALEX

Brooklyn

“Now tell me,” said Anna, “did you follow me onto that train?”

“Yes, I did,” admitted Alex, “even though it was going in the wrong direction.”

She laughed. “How romantic. So what did you do when I got off?”

“Traveled on to the next station, and as I was too late for my evening class, went home.”

A waiter came across and handed them both a menu.

“What do you recommend?” Anna asked. “After all, you own the joint.”

“My favorite is the pizza capricciosa, but you choose, because they’re so big we can share.”

“Then let’s order one. But you’re not off the hook, Alex. So after your lamentable failure at trying to pick me up, you decided like Antony to come in search of me.”

“I spent the morning checking out half the galleries in Manhattan. Then by chance I spotted you having lunch in an expensive restaurant with a handsome older man.”

“Not that much older,” said Anna, teasing him. “Then you followed me to the gallery with the excuse that you wanted your painting valued, when surely you must have known it was a copy.”

Alex said nothing as the waiter placed a large pizza between them in the center of the table.