Maximus’s voice was growing more irate, and David was attempting to placate the situation. Rounding the corner in a hurry, I was met by Charlie who was mid-text, his hands shaking as he typed. He did a double take when he saw me, a sense of relief flooding his frantic eyes. Behind him, Maximus was gesturing widely at the artwork displayed on the main wall, and when I saw the reason behind his anger, I froze in horror. Maximus and David turned to me.
“Gemma!” Maximus barked, stalking forward and stopping just shy of my face. “When I signed the contract to exhibit here I was told security was tight, and there was nothing to be concerned about.”
“I don’t know what—”
“Who the fuck would do something like this? I mean…” he laughed from shock, “… look at what they’ve done.”
We all stood in line facing the destroyed artwork. The canvas had been ripped multiple times, long vertical slashes tearing through the woman’s face. She was no longer beautiful. Recklessly taken to with a knife, she was now wearing permanent scars.
“Do you have anyone in acquaintance who would do such a thing?” David asked, working on a process of elimination. “Any enemies who knew you were exhibiting here? It seems very targeted.”
“Even if I did…” Maximus turned to my boss with a condescending tone, “… your security cameras should have been functioning at the time.”
“The cameras weren’t working?” I asked, perplexed. They were always operational.
David shook his head in resignation. “The early morning storm must have caused a blackout. The tapes stopped running at 2:25 a.m. and didn’t reboot until 4:50 a.m.”
It was time to employ what David had been lacking. Empathy. “Look Maximus, this is an incredibly frightening situation, and I cannot fully express our sincerest apologies. Not that it’s any consolation, but it’s the first time we’ve been targeted since we opened, and usually, our security covers every corner of the exhibition rooms. Our insurance will take care of the damages to your artwork and—”
“What?” Maximus’s eyebrows shot up in amusement. “Just one artwork or all of them?”
I’d been in such shock, I hadn’t looked further than the outside wall.
“Go. Take a look.” He gestured for me to pass into the exhibiting room. I glanced at David, his jaw twitching in agitation. Charlie cleared his throat nervously, wishing he could be anywhere but here.
I left the others, rounding the feature wall, my heels clicking on the tiles, adding to the tension. When I saw it, my heart froze, a cold shiver working up my spine. The walls were closing in, trapping me in a world of subconscious debauchery and benevolent threats. A world I had tried so desperately to escape.
A voice murmured next to my ear, startling me back to the present. “I don’t think this has anything to do with me, do you?” Maximus asked quietly enough so only I could hear.
Reluctantly, I scanned the photographic portraits. One after another, I read ‘Truth or Dare?’, the words carved violently across their faces. “Now tell me…” Maximus continued, “why would anyone go to such lengths to desecrate my art over an obscure question?”
“I don’t k-know,” I stammered. My heart thawed and was now galloping, my head spinning. Wiping sweaty palms on my skirt, I turned to Charlie. “I need you to call the police, so we can attain a case number for insurance.”
He gave one quick nod in response and disappeared down to reception, no doubt elated to be out of the firing line.
David cleared his throat. “I’m going to contact the commissioners who purchased last week and let them know there will be a slight delay in delivery. Gemma, can you work with Carleen in handling social media and the police when they arrive?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
David left without another word. While he remained somewhat stoic concerning the whole debacle, I knew he would be entering damage mode with the gallery’s reputation on the line.
I turned back to Maximus who suddenly appeared calm and rational since David left. “I truly am sorry for everything. This is such an anomaly, and I’m sure it wasn’t aimed at you—”
Maximus raised his hand to stop me. “Please, Gemma. I am a hundred percent certain this has nothing to do with me.”
I swallowed, my throat dry. “What makes you say that?”
Holding my gaze, he handed me a folded-up piece of paper that had my name scrawled on the front. “I found this on the floor in the middle of the room. It’s evident whoever came with a message wasn’t aiming it at me. I won’t show the police because it will jeopardize any insurance claim if it at all appears personal.”
“What does it say?” I asked, almost too scared to look myself.
“Open it.”
Unfolding the paper my blood ran cold. “Jesus!” I read the note a fourth time, my hands trembling.
Forget everything you think you saw.
“I don’t know what’s going on Gemma, but I hope for your sake you can end it before you get hurt.”
I was lost in a barrage of memories. Six words had catapulted me into a time I would rather forget. Except it was ten years later and the threat was still real. My past had become my reality once more.
~
Slumping into my office chair, I heaved a heavy sigh. My chest hurt like it had been repeatedly pummeled and my stomach knotted with fear-induced anxiety. If only the detectives had let sleeping dogs lie this wouldn’t be happening. But it was happening, and the threat was real. Mason Carter was watching, and it was clear his malicious and dangerous behavior had only worsened into adulthood.
But then there was the flip side of the coin.
Reaching into my purse, I retrieved Detective Walsh’s card and leaned back in the chair. I rocked gently, contemplating my next move. If I cooperated with the detectives and divulged everything I knew, however helpful it might be, perhaps Mason would no longer be a threat. If, however, I was no help at all with my information, I would only have increased the target on my back.
An obnoxious trilling cut through the silence causing me to jump and curse.
“Pull it together,” I willed myself. The red light on the phone blinked signaling reception on the line.
Pressing the speaker option, I answered, “Hi, Carleen. What is it?” I didn’t intend to sound so terse.
“Ahh, there’s some detectives here to see you.”
“Right. Send them through. And if Maximus is still in the building can you send him my way?”
“Yes, but—”
“Thanks, Carleen.” I ended the call and straightened my still damp blouse. Less than a minute later there was a slight rap on the door, and Detectives Walsh and her partner wandered in.
I expected detectives, but not them.
I could feel my face pale. Surely they weren’t assigned to the vandalism case? “What are you doing here?” I asked, fearing the repercussions if Mason were to learn of their involvement. “You have to leave!” I stood, pointing to the door. They remained stationary, staring at me with an odd curiosity.
“Is there a problem?” Detective Walsh asked, her head tilted to the side.
Yes! And you’re only making it worse.
“Yes, I’m waiting on the NYC bureau to get here.”
“And why is that?”
My shoulders sagged a little in defeat. They weren’t going anywhere until they got what they came for. “We were broken into last night during a power outage, and some artwork was damaged.”
“Sounds expensive.” They both glanced around my office taking in every detail.
“I’m reasonably snowed under at the moment, so is there something I can help you with?”
Walsh nodded.
“Take a seat.”
The detectives claimed the chairs in front of my desk and waited patiently for me to sit. When I finally did so, a small smile played on Walsh’s thin lips. “Ms. Sinclair, we need to move forward on a case we’re investigating and to be perfectly honest, we’re not willing to wait until you feel you want to talk.”
“You haven’t even told me what the case is about and I’m sure whatever it is, I have nothing to say.”
“I highly doubt that, but since you are so unwilling to discuss Little Valley on your own accord, how about you just answer the questions we have for you?”
I opened my mouth to object, but she cut me off.
“So…” she began, leaning forward and interlacing her fingers, “… let’s cut straight to the chase. How well did you know the Carter brothers?”