The Collector Chapter 20: Kandestederne – Gabriel Meets the Thief

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Gabriel Allon showers and dresses carefully, choosing to carry his Beretta. He brings a bottle of red wine and his painting Kandestederne Strand at Sunset as a gift for the woman whose cottage he visits. She opens the door before he rings, wearing elegant black. He immediately confronts her about the missing cash and diamond jewelry taken from his rental cottage that afternoon. She denies it, but Gabriel insists she return the items.

Inside, she admires the painting and notes its lack of signature. She knows Gabriel works for the Tiepolo Restoration Company in Venice. When she helps him remove his coat, she detects his firearm. They share Sancerre. She admits she identified him using facial recognition software from a photo taken in Frederikshavn. She claims to own a cybersecurity consulting firm.

Gabriel explains he is investigating the theft of a painting from a villa on the Amalfi Coast for the Italian police. He states he was told the thief is in Kandestederne. She suggests the thief might be sending a message. She reveals that the stolen painting was last with Peter Nielsen, a rare book dealer murdered in Copenhagen. She has a hunch who killed him, video stills, and possibly Nielsen’s phone. She smiles sadly and says, “He said she had lost her touch, and she couldn’t help herself.” This implies she is the thief or knows one intimately.

Key Events

Gabriel decides to carry his gun and brings wine and a painting as gifts.
He confronts the woman about the stolen cash and diamonds.
She feigns ignorance but eventually reveals her knowledge.
She detects Gabriel’s firearm while helping him with his coat.
She explains she identified him through facial recognition software.
She states she owns a cybersecurity consulting firm.
Gabriel reveals he is searching for a professional thief who stole a painting.
She suggests the thief may be sending a message.
She reveals that the painting was last with Peter Nielsen (murdered rare book dealer).
She claims to have video stills and possibly Nielsen’s phone.
She implies she knows the thief personally.

Character Development

Gabriel Allon – He is cautious, carrying his weapon despite being on a social visit. He is direct and economises words, yet shows a willingness to engage in the woman’s game. His restoration background is used as a cover, and he remains focused on his objective.

The Woman (unnamed in this chapter) – She is intelligent, perceptive, and confident. She uses facial recognition and physical observation to assess Gabriel. Her cybersecurity expertise suggests a high level of technical skill. She is evasive but gradually reveals critical information, indicating she may be more involved than she admits. Her final remark hints at personal history with the thief.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Deception and Trust – Both characters test each other; Gabriel accuses her of theft, she denies but later shares key intel.
Surveillance and Technology – Her use of facial recognition contrasts with Gabriel’s traditional spycraft.
The Art World as a Cover – Paintings and restoration provide a facade for criminal investigations.
Cat-and-Mouse Game – The guarded toast, the detection of the gun, and the careful dialogue establish a tension of mutual suspicion.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter advances the plot by linking the stolen painting to Peter Nielsen’s murder. The woman emerges as a possible ally or adversary, and her possession of Nielsen’s phone sets up a crucial lead. Gabriel’s direct confrontation signals a shift from reconnaissance to engagement. The revelation that she returns his stolen items (implied later) could establish an uneasy partnership.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Gabriel bring the painting Kandestederne Strand at Sunset to the woman’s cottage? Gabriel brings the painting as a gift, replacing flowers he had no time to buy. It also serves as a subtle gesture of goodwill and a way to gauge her reaction to his art, reinforcing his cover as a restorer.

2. How does the woman identify Gabriel, and what does this reveal about her resources? She used facial recognition software on a photograph she took of him outside a bakery in Frederikshavn. This shows she has access to advanced technology and was actively tracking him, indicating she is more than a casual observer.

3. What is the significance of Peter Nielsen’s phone, and why might the woman have it? Peter Nielsen was the rare book dealer who last had the stolen painting before his murder. His phone likely contains contacts, messages, or evidence related to the theft and killing. The woman’s possession suggests she was either involved with Nielsen or is trying to solve the crime herself.