by Roslyn Woods
He reached in and turned the lock before finding the knob and unlocking it, too. Yes, this was easy.
It was a bit dark inside. Only a hall light had been left on, and he decided it was best to leave the others off. No need to alert anyone outside. He knew his way to the fireplace in the living room even in the low light. There it was, the Rose, perfect and impossibly easy to take. It wasn’t even heavy. He had a moment of feeling thankful that Ed had been fond of simple frames that didn’t compete with the work. Nothing ornate or chunky. He put his hands under the piece and released the museum putty, gripped both sides, and lifted. Easy peasy.
He would carry it out and be gone before the ladies had time to return.
He arranged the Rose under his arm, holding it up by the museum wire as he turned back toward the kitchen—best to go out the way he’d come in, he thought.
“What are you doing here?” a man’s voice thundered.
Armen nearly fell down. Someone larger than life was looming over him in the darkened room.
“What are you doing here?” the man repeated, looking down at him. “Where is Tavy?”
Armen recognized him then. Even in the dim light he could see that he was the cabinet man. Ed had introduced him once, years ago, back when Armen and Cecelia were creating the leaded glass sections of the windows, but what was this man doing here now? Had he been in the house all along, waiting for him? Was he working for Harris?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Armen sputtered. “Where did you come from, anyway?”
“Tavy!” the cabinet man called. “Are you here? Blue! Blue!”
He must have followed him in the back door. He seemed upset, and Armen was upset, too. He thought of making a run for it, but the man looked to be over six feet tall and very athletic. He would easily overpower him.
“I don’t know anything about the women, okay? I came for this painting, that’s all. It’s mine. Ed told me he’d give me a Rose and a Payne—”
“Sit down!” the neighbor ordered. “Now! Tavy! Tavy! Shell!” he called.
“You don’t understand! It’s mine!” Armen argued. “He said I could have a Rose and a Payne, and he really owed me more than that! Why, I’m responsible for all his success! Cecelia and I took care of him when he—”
“What have you done?” the neighbor interrupted, looking confounded. “What have you done with Tavy? I said to sit!” he said, even more forcefully now, and he took a step toward him.
Armen sank onto the couch, his heart pounding in his chest, the painting leaned up against his knee. What should he do now? Maybe he could explain.
“Look, I remember you when you were doing the cabinets. You’re Ed’s friend! So you know, you have to know, that I was his friend, too—”
And then Armen was hearing sirens, loud and insistent, and the pounding of steps on the porch, and the cabinet man was flicking on the lights and opening the door. “Right here, officers,” he said. “Is Sergeant Gonzalez on the way?”
“He is,” said one of the uniformed men as he moved past him. “We also got a tip from someone else about a pending robbery,” the officer added.
Armen could see that there were only two cops, but they were immediately in his face, standing over him, one was holding a gun and the other was getting handcuffs from his belt. “Are you armed, sir?” the cop asked.
“No! Of course not!” Armen answered. “Don’t hurt this painting!”
“What are you doing here, sir?”
And then there was a kid there, too, a girl, coming in through the kitchen door. “Dad, I called nine-one-one like you said. And I told them to tell Sergeant Gonzalez! Where’s Tavy?” she was asking. “Where’s Tavy, and where’s Blue?”
“Honey, you should go home!” the cabinet man said. “It’s going to be okay.”
“But where is she?” she cried, and then Armen could hear the child’s steps as she ran around the house looking from room to room. “She’s not here, Dad!” she said when she returned, tears spilling from her eyes. “Where could she be? What’s going on?”
Armen wanted to cry, too. It was all over now. Now Harris was going to kill Cecelia.
Chapter 59
Thursday, August 13, 8:50 p.m.—Tavy
The first thing Tavy saw was a large portrait of a young girl. It was hung on the wall opposite the door, and even lit by the fluorescent overhead, it was exquisite.
Her hands flew to her mouth, and Shell came to stand beside her while Blue whined and Sadie wagged her tail.
“You were a beautiful little girl,” Shell said quietly.
Tavy was speechless as her gaze traveled from one painting to another. They were numerous and amazing—a lifetime of her father’s work. There were landscapes, still lifes, and street scenes mostly in oil, but there were some watercolors and charcoal drawings, too. There were also framed paintings, leaned up against the walls, the floor marked with labels in front of each group. “This one is for Angus Kerr,” one read. It was a painting of Maddie, her dark hair shimmering in the dappled light that came through the grape trellis, the shadows all shades of violet.
“These two are for Armen and Cecelia,” another label read. Shell examined them. A Guy Rose and an Edgar Payne.
“Oh my God,” she exclaimed. “I just found three Granville Redmonds!”
Tavy recognized the name but didn’t speak.
“And this is a William Wendt!” her friend continued. “A William Wendt! Look at it! It’s magnificent! And here’s another Guy Rose!”
But Tavy couldn’t respond. She was gazing at everything—one painting after another of her father’s. Then she was looking at the paintings stacked against the wall beside her.
“This one is labeled ‘for Florencia’,” she said quietly.
Shell came over to look at the piece placed against the wall. “I think it’s a Franz Bischoff,” she said in awe, bending to examine it more carefully. It was a seascape. “How did he do it? How did he collect all of these pieces?”
“I have no idea,” Tavy answered, shaking her head.
“All I can assume is that he must have begun making his fortune and started buying these back in the eighties when you could get them for twenty or thirty thousand dollars apiece.”
“And what are they worth now?”
“Hundreds of thousands,” Shell answered. “I imagine this William Wendt is worth two million. You’ll need an appraiser. We haven’t even looked through everything! I wonder if your lawyer knows what’s up here?”
“He knows there’s a painting up here for Gus, so doesn’t that make it seem like he knows about the rest?”
“Maybe he thinks there are just a lot of paintings. Maybe he doesn’t know anything about value.”
“I’m pretty sure he knows. He tried to press upon me the idea that I was inheriting a very valuable estate.”
“One thing’s for certain,” Shell said. “This is no studio. This is where your father moved his collection and his completed pieces. So where did he paint?”
“My sunroom?”
“Have you seen any evidence of that?”
“There’s an easel.”
“Any paint spatter? Paints and brushes? Cans of turpentine?”
“A little spatter on the easel. Nowhere else.”
“That’s strange, isn’t it? He may have painted there some, but it seems likely he did the majority of his work somewhere else.”
“I suppose it could have been done at the lake house,” Tavy speculated. “I can ask Florencia about it tomorrow. She’s coming to clean.”
“Yes, she might know. Has your lawyer been up to the lake house to look it over?” Shell asked.
“I don’t know. He called it ‘a little house up at the lake.’ I assumed it’s not worth much.”
“Hmm. Where is it exactly?”
“I have an address. We can check it when we get back to the house.”
“Too bad I have to work tomorrow. I’d like to drive you up there.
”
“Saturday will be soon enough.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’ve waited my whole life for answers about my father. What’s one more day?”
“Sounds like you left your phone in the car, Tavy,” Shell said as they arrived back at the Corolla with the dogs. “And someone’s calling you.”
“Oh, shoot! I thought I’d put it back in my pocket,” she said. “Oh, well.”
By the time the doors were unlocked and the dogs were in the back, the phone had stopped ringing. They got in and buckled up before Tavy picked up the phone and checked the screen.
“It was Maddie,” she said. “I hope everything’s okay!”
Shell was already pulling out of the parking lot, and lightning was flashing in the distance.
“Can you call her back?”
“I’ll try,” Tavy said, just as the text sound dinged.
It was from Maddie. Where are you? We’re so worried!
Tavy quickly texted back. Shell and I went to the studio. We’re on the way back now.
Why were they worried? Gus knew she had company. Wasn’t it normal for a woman to go out with a friend?
It was dark now, and as Shell drove her home Tavy was thinking by turns about Maddie and Gus worrying about her and about the overwhelming discovery that was the studio on Burleson Road. Just as they rounded the corner from Barton Springs Skyway onto Oaktree Hill, something up ahead captured her attention.
There were two police cars in front of her house with red and blue lights whirling, one of them on the pad in front of the garage. Several officers were standing on the sidewalk, plus Sgt. Gonzalez was standing on the front porch, apparently talking to Gus and Madison. Some of the neighbors were standing on the front lawn across the street with their arms folded as they watched what was happening at Tavy’s house.
Shell pulled up behind the police car on the curb and Tavy jumped out of the passenger side of the Corolla. She had hardly taken in the fact that the police car in front of them was occupied by a white-haired man when Gus reached her side. There was no hesitation, no pause, no explanation. He simply wrapped his arms around her and held her.
“I was so scared,” he said. “I didn’t know what had happened to you!”
“I—what’s going on?” she asked.
Madison was there, too, joining in the hug while Shell stood beside the car watching.
“We were so worried about you!” Madison was saying. “I tried to call you four times—”
“What’s happened here?” she asked again, looking up at Gus. He released her and answered.
“The man whose been following you broke in—he’s been arrested. He was trying to steal one of the paintings.”
The rain came down in torrents that night. Tavy and Shell sat up late talking with Gus and Madison about Armen Hanoian and what he had tried to do. They all speculated that the attempted robbery made it seem quite likely that he was the person who had poisoned the gin in Edwin Bishop’s liquor cabinet.
Shell had brought a bottle of wine for dinner, but neither Tavy nor she had felt like drinking it earlier. Now, the three adults drank it while Maddie curled up on the rug with Blue and Sadie. She was sad.
“I hate that man,” she said when the adults’ conversation lulled for a moment. “How did he get in here, anyway?”
“He cut the glass in the back door,” Gus explained. “I met him years ago when the windows were being installed. He and his wife are glass artists.”
“They created the dragonfly windows?” Tavy asked.
“Yes. Cecelia, his wife, did most of it, I think. She’s a bit younger than he is.”
“You knew her?” Shell asked.
“That would be overstating it, but I talked with her a few times. I think Armen went to school with Ed when they were young. When Ed wanted the windows done, he hired them.”
“Do you think he had a key?” Tavy asked.
“Probably,” he answered. “Your dad gave me a key when I was doing the cabinets. It’s not unlikely he gave a key to his old friends when they were working on the windows. Even if they gave it back, they could have copied it.”
“So he could have gotten in at any time,” Tavy guessed. “He might be the one who turned on the gas,” she added.
“Yes,” he answered. “I’d already thought of that.”
“I suppose I can breathe a sigh of relief,” she said. “He’s in custody.”
“Yes. Sergeant Gonzalez told me he’d be questioning him about the murder tonight.”
“Where’s his wife?” Shell asked.
“I don’t know.”
“They live here in Austin?”
“I believe so, but I can’t be sure about that.”
“I imagine Sergeant Gonzalez will figure it out,” she said.
“Yes, I hope so. Anyway, it’s getting really late, and we should probably go,” Gus said, standing up. “Maddie’s mother is picking her up in the morning, and I have meetings at school all day.”
“Yes, okay,” Tavy answered, getting up, too. “You can take Blue home if you like,” she added.
“No,” he answered. “I’d rather she stay with you until everything settles out. It wouldn’t be hard for someone to get in that backdoor with the glass cut out by the locks. This way, you have two dogs to attack intruders!”
“I’ll call someone to fix the glass tomorrow.”
“Good idea,” he said. “I’d do it, but you probably want it done quickly.”
“Yes,” she said, following them through the kitchen and into the sunroom while Shell just gave them a little wave but stayed in the living room.
“It’s good you’re keeping Blue,” Madison added, “She likes being with Sadie!”
“That’s very generous of you,” Tavy said. “I know you miss her.”
Madison hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Tavy,” she said, and she kissed her cheek.
“Good night, Maddie. You want my umbrella?”
“Nah,” Maddie said looking up at her father. “We’ll make a run for it, won’t we, Dad?”
“It’s just a few steps and it’s only sprinkling right now,” he said, looking out. “I’ll probably see you tomorrow, Tavy.”
“Thanks for taking care of everything, Gus,” she said.
“G’night, Tavy.”
“Good night, Gus.”
Chapter 60
Friday, August 14, 8:30 a.m.—Tavy
It rained all night and was still quite cloudy when Tavy went out to work in the garden the next morning. Sunlight was trying to break through to the east as she set out the Food is Free crates beside the beds, and Sadie and Blue wandered around the plants.
“Good morning,” Gus said as he came through the gate. “I’ll get the squash.”
He was in t-shirt and jeans, and Tavy knew that he had a full day ahead and needed to get ready for faculty meetings.
“You really don’t have to, Gus! I know you have to work today!”
“I want to,” he said. “I need a little sanity before Rhoda gets here to take Maddie.”
Tavy wondered if Gus was just nervous about seeing his ex—if he secretly wanted the encounter with Rhoda. Maybe he wished, as she had suggested, that they had never parted ways.
He was already picking the beans as they spoke, and she decided not to argue with him about helping. It was nice and companionable, picking veggies together, filling the crates and thinking of the people who would benefit from the food.
“Would you like coffee?” she asked after a few minutes.
“That’s okay. I’ve had some. Have you?”
“I had coffee with Shell before she left.”
“Early start,” he commented.
“Yes. She was going home to get ready for work.”
“I’m glad she stayed with you.”
“And she’ll be back tonight,” Tavy said.
“Dean called me yesterday.”
“He did?”
�
��Yes. He wanted to know if I thought you and Shell were safe.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him about the locks and the alarm and said I’d be close by.”
“I’m glad you were.”
“Me, too. By the way, he wants me to take Sadie to Schutzhund training tomorrow.”
“Yes, Shell told me.”
“And the two of you are going to the lake house in the morning?”
“Yes.”
“You know how to get there?”
“Google Maps will tell us.”
“Schutzhund will be right near there. One of the club members has a ranch in Volente.”
“You know where the lake house is?”
“Sure. I moved furniture down here with your dad a couple of years ago. I’m sure I could find it.”
“Any pointers?”
“No. It’s just a house near the water. A bit neglected on the outside.”
“Nice inside?”
“If I remember correctly.”
“I’m glad Shell’s going with me, but I hope I can get some sleep tonight,” Tavy said. “The arrest last night really sent me over the top with the insomnia! I’m exhausted. In fact, I think I will get more of that coffee,” she added. “Sure I can’t change your mind?”
“I’m sure,” he answered.
She went inside, a little upset that Rhoda was coming to get Maddie. She didn’t like the idea that she might make a play to reconcile with Gus.
Back outside with her coffee, Tavy observed that Gus worked with lightning speed in the garden. He had nearly filled a crate with cucumbers when all she had done was go into the house to pour a cup of coffee while she tried to calm her nerves.
“You’re fast,” she observed. “It takes me a long time to find all the cucumbers.”
“Lots of experience!” he said with a smile. “I’ll just cut the grapes, now.”
“You know, I could do that.”