Hearing Ben speak so frankly and clearly brought such relief to Nell that she broke out in a huge smile, leaned over, and kissed him on the cheek.
Whats that for? Ben asked.
Just for doing that thing you do. Sorting through things so clearly. I think youd be a great knitter, Ben. You can certainly get rid of straggly ends.
Izzy agreed. Its huge, Uncle Ben. Like finishing that first cleansing edit of a law school paper.
Come on, you two, this is going to go to my head.
But the hard part is ahead of us, Nell said. So whos left? D.J. is still out there with motive and opportunity.
They all nodded.
Ben shook his head. Hes almost too obvious. Jerry told me D.J. is clean when it comes to following the law. Just barely, but he manages to walk the line. Not even a parking ticket. He knows the law well enough to stay just this side of it. I dont think he fits the profile. Hes talked people out of property for years and probably has had a fair number of lawsuits brought against him, but hes never murdered anyone for land. So why now? Ben paused and took a drink of coffee, thinking through what hed just said.
Then he went on. But Id be the first to admit that that isnt proof. Its a gut feeling with a few facts tossed in. And youre probably right to keep him on the list. Jerry Thompson is probably doing the same. Profiles dont always prove true.
My instincts are with Bens, Nell said to Willow and Izzy. I think we need to look at the original problem between Aidan and Billy. Thats where weve messed up. We stumble over it every time we talk about this. So what are we missing?
We know that Aidan wouldnt have objected to something that would have helped Billy succeed. He was all about helping the other artists and gallery owners. So their little feudif thats what it wasdidnt make sense. So we need to focus on that, and try to make it
make
sense.
Well, on that topic, Brendan says the paintings are amazing, Willow said. He says its the best work James has ever done.
These paintings have been hovering over these murders somehow, and none of us has seen them. Odd, isnt it? Im looking forward to stopping by today. Is everyone going?
Id like to see them, Willow said immediately. Definitely. Brendan showed me a glimpse of one. Its really kind of a mess over there, so dont expect a grand showing. A lot of the work has fallen on Brendan. Its making him cranky, but itll soon be over.
I imagine hes a big help to her. And he knows a lot about the paintings, being an art teacher and an artist himself.
Willow nodded. Brendan talks about the paintings a lot. He will be a good docent to have. And speaking of paintings, she said, looking over the island at Nell, Brendan and I stopped by Aidanshe wanted to look something up in that book on New England artists that Aidan had. I told him you borrowed it, and he was kind of anxious to borrow it back.
Of course, Nell said, and made a mental note to pass the book along after shed had a chance to read the chapter on the James paintings. Ill look at it this morning and bring it to the gallery. Will that work?
Thats good enough for me. I wont see him before then, anyway.
What was the painting like? Izzy asked.
Nell was wondering the same thing. Shed seen a dozen photographs of paintings James had done and some in a small museum in New Hampshire. But the lost paintings had an aura of mystery about them.
It was spectacular, though I must admit, my judgment was colored by Brendan standing at my shoulder, telling me how fantastic it was. I brushed him away. I like to make up my own mind about art.
But it was very cool. The scene was a valley with a stream flowing through it, and a hazelike cloudshovering over the ridge. It was so dramatic. And at first I wasnt sure why. But then I realized the artist had painted it from above, looking down on the ridge from an even higher point, and I dont think Ive seen a lot of watercolors like that. At least not by plein air artists.
Sounds like something that will be worth seeing. You could be an art critic, Willow, Ben said. Fine job. So . . . are we set then for the showing? Id like to take a look, too. Willow has piqued my interest.
Im in. Izzys hand shot up. Itd be a shame to let them slip through our hands and not at least get a look at them. Well probably be reading about them in the
New York Times
when some art dealer pays a zillion dollars for them. And well be able to say we were there when they were just little paintings in a crate.
Ben laughed. My sentiments exactly.
Maybe seeing the paintings will help us all get our thinking straight. Seeing the paintings is important. Its what this is all about after allor might be, anyway.
Okay, so its a date?
They all signed on, with promises to call around to see who else might want to see the impromptu exhibit, and while Ben cleaned up the coffee cups and Izzy and Willow went off to shower, Nell called Natalie to tell her she just might have a crowd.
But the word crowd set Natalie in high gear. Her voice lifted in sheer joy. Of course. Shed have her reception after all.
Six thirty. The Sobel residence.
It will be small and intimate, she told Nell. Just our friends.
And, dear Nell, Natalie had added before hanging up, her mind already on to the flowers shed need to order, would you be so kind as to bring wine and hors duvres?
Chapter 31
N
ell wasnt sure how it happened. It just did. And Natalie wouldnt take no for an answer.
But one by one everyone tried to tell Nell why it was a horrible idea. Seeing the paintings was great. But a festive affairnot so great.
Jane and Ham couldnt believe that Nell would cancel Friday night dinnerthis Friday of all Fridays, when they needed her cooking, their good friends, and Bens martinis, almost more than life itself.
Izzy was about to rebel. Not another evening over there, she moaned. Havent we paid our dues?
Sam was more circumspect. Hey, the ladys lonely. Itll be one hour out of our lives.
Sometimes I hate you, Sam Perry, Izzy had retorted. This is no time for good sense and compassion.
But Nell would take
no
from none of them. They would all go. It was important that they be there. But at that exact momentif they had asked her whyher answer would have been ill formed. A feeling. A deep, strong feeling that she couldnt shake.
Even Willow expressed some regret over the evenings plans. She showed up on the deck, after coming up from the guesthouse, and plopped dejectedly on a chair while Nell finished a phone call. What is it? she asked, snapping the phone closed.
Brendan is furious.
Why? And then Nell thought better of the question. Of course hed be furious. Someone had to move those paintings. And move them with great care. And that someone, of course, would be Brendan. I wonder if Natalie considered how much work this would be for Brendan.
I dont think so. And Brendan sees no reason for it. A quick pass through at the gallery would be plenty for everyone.
If truth be known, hes probably right.
Im going over there now. I told him Id bring him coffee and one of Harrys cannolis.
A perfect mood-altering treat.
I hope so. Natalie is working him too hard. Hell be glad when this is all over. Hes been a little tense these past couple days.
After Willow left, Nell finally made her way upstairs to the shower. Her thoughts were heavy as she stepped into the bracing pelt of warm water. She lifted her face to the spray and welcomed the cleansing wash. She needed to jar herself, to shake the uncomfortable feeling that she wasnt seeing something that was right smack in front of her nose, begging her to look at it.
It was a niggling thoughtsomething that was stuck in the back of her mind. That pesky fly that wouldnt give up.
Ben had shared a similar feeling with her before he went off to help Sam work on the dock in front of his new home. But I feel were close, Nell, hed said. Im going to call Jerry when I get to Sams and see whats new on his end. He promised hed pick up some cheese and be home early.
Nell had barely dried her hair and slipped into cotton slacks and a loose scooped-neck top when Birdie appeared in the kitchen, a frown as deep as a Cape Ann quarry creasing her forehead.
She set an empty cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee on the counter, then pulled herself up on a stool.
Did you ride your bike holding that coffee? Nell asked.
No. Cup holders. Just like on baby strollers. My bike may be old but its accoutrements are up-to-date. Nevertheless, I spilled most of it.
Does that frown say youre not pleased about Natalies art gathering, as she is calling it?
No, I want to go see the paintings, so Ill go. The frown is frustration. This whole thing is frustrating, but seeing those darn paintings may be the best thing to do. They may stand up and tell us who did it. Its one of the few stones we havent turned over.
My thoughts exactly. Theyd talked about the paintings for weeksthe source of the animosity between Aidan and Billy. And not one of themexcept Willowhad even glimpsed them. Nell hoped they would speak to them, even if what they said wasnt what she and the others would want to hear.
Birdie shook her head as if she could clear it all away. She took a drink of her now-cold coffee and set it down again. So maybe tonight will be worth it. Maybe when we see the paintings, something will connect.
Nell nodded. She glanced at the clock. It wasnt even nine, but she felt like shed put in a whole day.
Birdie, are you up for some coffee? Bens is hours old and I am in need of a good strong cup.
The crowd at Coffees had thinned as people left for jobs. Nell and Birdie had their choice of tables outside, and they picked one right beneath a small red maple. Mary Pisano sat nearby, her ever-present pad and paper on the table in front of her. She waved at Birdie and Nell and urged them to join her.
Nell and Birdie both found Mary delightful. Her husband had been a working fisherman for nearly twenty-five years, and Mary filled her many hours of alone time by recording just about everything that went on in Sea Harbor.
Im just sitting here watching the world go by, she said cheerfully, her dyed-brown curls bobbing as she talked. Large round sunglasses shielded her eyes from the glare.
And writing it all down to put into that column of yours, Birdie said, pulling out a chair. Just be sure you say I looked youthful and spirited as always.
And you certainly do, Birdie. Now both of you sit and tell me what is up that I dont already know about.
Nell laughed. That would be a short list. As a matter of fact, I need to ask you something.
Mary leaned forward, interested and her fine brows lifted.
That column you wrote after Aidan died . . .
The night someone broke into his house. Yes, I remember. The same night Tommy found Willow Adams and Brendan Slattery rummaging through the Aidans gallery.
Willows gallery, Birdie corrected.
Yes, I suppose. That will take some getting used to.
Mary, who saw someone that night? Nell asked. How did you know about it?
Mary looked around to see if anyone was listening; then she looked back at Nell. Nell, you know I cant reveal my sources.
Of course not. I just thought that, well, its over now, so maybe it wouldnt matter.
Marys cheeks turned pink. Well, it was me. Ed was gone that whole week, and I thought that things were about to pop in Canary Cove, so I strolled on over there.
It was late.
I keep my mace and whistle at hand. Im nobodys fool.
Of course not.
And what did you see? Birdie prompted.
I saw a beam of light in Aidans housethe room right in the front of the house, just inside the front door. And then the light went out and someone slipped out the doorI was in the garden, so I was close enough to hear the door click and lock shut.
So it wasnt a break-in.
Mary shook her head. I dont think so. The person was medium tall, and headed up through the woods, along that path that Aidan tended. Then disappeared. I thought it had to have been Willowexcept then I saw her the next day. Shes a little thing. And the person I saw was much taller.
You dont know who it was?
