Chapter 3

News of my appointment exploded through the antique district.

"Did you hear that? The new National Cultural Heritage Authentication Center director is Kevin Reed!"

"Which Kevin Reed?"

"The same one David kicked out three years ago!"

"No way! Wasn't he blacklisted? How'd he end up running the show?"

"We're screwed! From now on, every piece we sell has to pass through him. If he wants revenge, we're done!"

The antique district went into full panic.

Everyone was terrified.

Because every dealer on that street had skeletons in their closet—things they never wanted exposed.

Those "expertly aged" fakes and knockoffs with…