“I know.”
Sam tilted his head, as though considering Jason from another angle. “Am I missing something here? You don’t want to get a search warrant?”
“I’m…not sure.”
“I’m definitely missing something.”
Jason said, “Sam, there are some really valuable items in that collection. Rare. Irreplaceable. A couple of the lithographs are as valuable as any number of paintings in museums. They go for a lot more than, say, Granville Redmond’s work.”
“‘Items of cultural and historical significance,’” Sam quoted. “You mentioned that a couple of times. So?”
“So let’s say Dreyfus and I are successful in obtaining a warrant and we do find the collection on Diamond’s ranch. There are several possible scenarios, and almost none of them have to do with the preservation of—”
“Okay, stop,” Sam said, and he meant it. “You don’t get to make that kind of call. The fate of that collection is not up to you. Your job is not to decide who’s the best custodian for that art. Your job is to find the art and initiate the return to its legal owner. And if you can’t do that—”
“It might not even go to its legal owner. Given the number of claims people had against Khan… The entire collection could be held as evidence for years while the courts try to sort it all out, and you know what evidence lockers are like. Things get lost, damaged. There’s no question of climate control or—”
“Jason, stop.”
Jason stopped.
“You’re a sworn officer of the law.”
“Yes.”
“I’m a sworn officer of the law.”
“I know.” He realized abruptly that he had just placed Sam in a very difficult position. “I’m sorry.”
“This isn’t— You’re not your grandfather saving the world’s cultural heritage from the Nazis. These are a bunch of stage props and costumes and posters—and yes, I understand that some of those lithographs are extremely valuable—but this is a matter for the courts.”
Jason met Sam’s gaze and nodded.
“At best it’s vigilantism.”
Jason did not answer.
“You learned that one in fucking nursery school. Two wrongs don’t make a right.”
Ouch. Jason nodded.
Sam shook his head, turned away to put his mug in the sink. He turned the taps on, rinsed the cup. Turned the taps off. He glanced at Jason. “You’re not even officially on this case, so if you’re… I don’t know. Ethically conflicted? Ethically compromised? The thing to do is step away. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes.”
“If you cannot do the job, you need to step away.”
Jason said tersely, “I heard you. I understand.”
“Have you shared your theory with Dreyfus?”
“Not yet. No.”
Sam said nothing, but Jason could feel his gaze.
Sam said finally, “You could be wrong. Basically, this is instinct and guesswork. You don’t have any evidence yet.”
Jason nodded. “True.”