Chapter 217 Appraisal, Caught in Partnership
Gabriel's face looked a bit tense.
Elijah had been thrown in jail by Catherine for what he did at the gallery, and word was, he was getting his meals on time now.
"Ms. Windsor, what are you getting at? I don't get it," Gabriel said.
"Didn't you visit him a few days ago? Seems like he's doing just fine in there," Catherine replied.
Gabriel and Elijah were tight. After Elijah got locked up, Gabriel made regular trips to see him. "Ms. Windsor, I visited him because we used to work together. I don't get what you're saying. Is there something wrong with these violins?"
Catherine raised an eyebrow, giving Gabriel a calm look. "Where did you get these violins?"
"Ms. Windsor, these violins have always been in our store! You probably missed them last time because you were in a rush," Gabriel said.
Catherine flipped the violin over and checked the engraving on the bottom. Sure enough, there was Vincent's personal seal!
"Ms. Windsor, there's a seal here. We've checked it multiple times; it's definitely legit."
Gabriel was confident, thinking, 'Even if Catherine knows a bit about violins, she can't possibly know where this one really came from. Plus, there's a signature on it, signed Ryder.'
Catherine raised an eyebrow slightly, thinking, 'How could I not know I made this violin and left my name on it? And that signature, who knows who scribbled that?'
"If you won't admit it, let's get an appraisal agency involved," Catherine said.
Old violins and master-crafted ones were pricey, and there were professional appraisal agencies in the business.
Gabriel wasn't fazed. "Fine, I'll call the appraisal agency right now."
He knew the folks at the agency and had already worked with them. To make sure the upcoming auction went smoothly, Gabriel had already reached out to the appraisal agency.
Gabriel stepped outside to make a call. "Peter, bring your tools to the violin shop. Catherine wants to appraise the violins. She thinks she's some kind of expert? It's a joke. I've been making violins for years, and she thinks she can outsmart me?"
'Elijah was just too dumb to let Catherine catch him. If he'd been more careful, she wouldn't have found out! We spent a lot on those violins at the antique market. They were pretty beat up when we got them, but with a little restoration, they're as good as new. We can sell them for a nice profit,' Gabriel thought.
Peter grabbed his tool bag. "I'm on my way. The price is as we agreed, just fooling Catherine a bit."
"Isn't she just the Windsor Family's daughter? If we don't put her in her place, she'll never learn!" Just as Peter finished speaking, the door suddenly got kicked open! He looked at the unexpected guests and exclaimed, "What are you doing here?!"
Alkaid chuckled, making way for Vincent and the appraisal agency's boss, Austin Perry.
Austin walked up and slapped Peter. "Peter, you've been with the appraisal agency for years, and you've done so many shady things! And you dare to mess with Vincent's student?"
Peter had taken the call on speakerphone, and everyone at the door had heard his and Gabriel's nasty comments about Catherine!
Austin felt embarrassed. Not only was Catherine the cherished daughter of the Windsor Family, but being Vincent's personally recognized student made her untouchable in the violin world!
Peter covered his face, still in shock!
On the other end of the phone, Gabriel was still waiting for Peter's response.
Austin apologized to Vincent. "I'm really sorry, Vincent. This is our appraisal center's fault. I'll personally handle this appraisal, free of charge!"
Vincent sneered. "I thought your appraisal center didn't want to operate anymore. Send him to prison too. The regular schedule there seems suitable for him."
"Yes, I'll call the police right away!" Austin said.
Peter looked at Austin with wide eyes. "Sir, I've worked here for thirty years. Please give me another chance!"
"Peter, you can explain yourself to the police. As a professional appraiser, you took money from customers and deliberately distorted the truth. You're a disgrace to the industry!" Austin said. "This is fraud, and the appraisal center will also hold you accountable."
Vincent watched as Peter was restrained and waved his hand. "I have other matters to attend to, so I won't stay here. You go to the violin shop."
"Yes, I'll go right away!" Austin, seeing that Vincent was satisfied with his handling of the situation, breathed a sigh of relief and led a large group of appraisers to Catherine's violin shop.
Vincent had noticed Alkaid following him on the way and, after catching him, had made a detour to the violin appraisal center. It was quite a coincidence.
"Alkaid, if you're going to follow me, go drive. Do you expect me to be your chauffeur?"
"Got it!"
Gabriel listened to the busy tone on the other end of the phone, feeling a bit puzzled. He thought, 'Peter must have gone off to do something in the middle of the call. Anyway, he has agreed to come, so I just have to wait.'
"Ms. Windsor, the appraisal center people are on their way," Gabriel reported.
"Okay." Catherine gently touched the nephrite used on the violins.
Just by touching it, she knew these were inferior nephrite. If it weren't for the fact that the violins didn't use much and it was embedded in a way that made it hard to notice, these pieces of nephrite would be worth at most two thousand dollars.
Gabriel had managed to hype up these violins with inferior nephrite to sky-high prices.
The shop's deputy manager, Nora, brought the appraisal center people up. "Ms. Windsor, the appraisal center's boss, Mr. Perry, is here."
Gabriel looked at the person in front of him and panicked, wondering why Austin was here personally and where Peter was.
"Didn't I contact Peter? Why is Mr. Perry here personally?" Gabriel asked.
Austin, while putting on gloves and his full set of appraisal equipment, explained to Catherine, "Ms. Windsor, I'm Austin Perry, the owner of the Violin Appraisal Center in Imperia City. I'll be serving you today, free of charge!"
Catherine raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Peter has been taken away for investigation due to professional misconduct, and he will face prison time!" Austin said.
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