by Diane Rapp
Sporadic applause welcomed the gaunt man who stepped to the microphone. “Don’t worry folks, you’ll have time to get a close up look at each painting.” He towered over Millie and pretended to pat her on the head like a child. “I always get to follow Millie. Her impressive work makes people ignore me—but I’m still taller.” Laughter erupted as few could ignore the tall artist. “The first artist I copied was Lawren Stewart Harris. He was a founding member of the Group of Seven—the same group of Canadian artists who discovered Emily Carr. His work is highly valued especially in his home country. When this original painting Nerke, Greenland was auctioned in 2008, it exceeded all expectations by selling for over $2 million. Sotheby’s described the painting as one of the “great masterworks” by the Toronto-based artist. Harris painted this work in 1930, after he returned from a life-changing arctic voyage. The artist died in 1970.
“I was also allowed to copy a painting by another Canadian artist named Tom Thomson. He was good friends with the Group of Seven painters, and historians believe the Group would have included Thomson. Unfortunately he died in a mysterious canoe accident before the group was formed. Thomson, a landscape specialist who developed a strong style of painting with bold color combinations, used expressive brush strokes and unique images of Northern landscapes. His new style of painting was uniquely Canadian. This painting is called Northern Lights, 1916. The artist tried to convey the natural phenomenon unique to the northern climates. Now I’m proud to introduce you to a new member of the Genuine Fakes team. We welcome Jeffrey Miller.”
With curly blonde hair, deep blue eyes and dimples, Kayla decided Jeffrey Miller resembled the actor, Matthew McConaughey. He cast a shy smile at the audience and spoke with a soft southern accent that threatened to make a girl swoon. “When I told my mama that I was hired to paint forgeries, she nearly fainted. I was kinda worried myself, but it turned out to be a hoot. I’m a bit surprised it’s legal and guess it’s better than starvin’ in some French attic.”
The audience laughed and Jeffrey’s dimples deepened as he grinned. “The first painting I have for y’all tonight is called McKinley From Peters Hills. It was painted in 1928 by Sydney Laurence, who lived from 1865 to 1940. We studied Laurence in art school and my teacher claimed he’s the most famous twentieth-century Alaskan landscape painter. In 1904 Laurence arrived in Alaska, set on getting rich prospecting for gold. He was an unlucky miner and nearly starved.” Jeffrey’s broad smile made the audience chuckle. “Well Laurence needed to do somethin’ right quick to make money. Since he studied art in New York and Europe, he opened a photography studio in Anchorage. He painted on the side but his paintings sold better than his photos. Y’all should go see the humungous painting of McKinley in the Anchorage museum. It’s fantastic but a little bit too big to carry onto the ship!
“The second painting I copied is a striking picture by Reginald C. Pierpont. He called it Glacier Blue. Pierpont was a rich fella from England, who was born in 1838 and died in 1915. He studied art in Europe in the late 1850s. He used his monthly allowance to buy art from young artists who later became famous as the Impressionists. When his rich daddy died, Pierpont started collecting art seriously. He traveled to the United States and bought paintings by artists from the Hudson River School. Out west he met John Muir at a lecture about exploring Alaska. Pierpont got excited about painting landscapes in Alaska and hired his own ship to study glaciers. When he returned home he spent the rest of his life painting pictures of glaciers using sketches he made in Alaska. Glacier Blue was painted in 1907.”
When the guards removed the cover from the two paintings, the crowd gasped. Jeffrey grinned and his blue eyes twinkled. “I felt the same way when I caught sight of this here painting. Pierpont painted a series of glacier paintings. He created scenes showing the northern lights as they reflected off various glaciers in Alaska. He got real famous as an art collector and never claimed to be a professional artist. Years after he died critics discovered his paintings and got real excited. They labeled him a Luminist. Pierpont considered his paintings good enough to give as gifts to friends and only kept this one picture in his private collection.
“Although it’s never been offered for sale, the insurance appraiser set the value of Glacier Blue at two million pounds, a nice chunk of change.” The crowd murmured at hearing the large sum, and Jeffrey Miller flashed another megawatt smile. “We’re delighted to welcome Pierpont’s descendant, Sir Cedric Sinclair as a guest on the cruise.” Jeffrey gestured to a distinguished man sitting nearby in his wheelchair. “Sir Cedric spearheaded the museum project that will receive the profits from this auction and intends to donate Glacier Blue to the new museum. It will be the highlight of the museum’s permanent collection.” Jeffrey bowed and handed the microphone back to the George Hamilton look-alike.
“Take your time to examine the extraordinary work of these talented painters. You’ll discover that owning a Genuine Fake might become a valuable part of your own collection. If you haven’t booked your cruise yet, call your travel agent tonight and arrange a berth. All six paintings will be auctioned on the cruise. Thanks.”
Emily watched the guards keep the crowd from touching the paintings, but everything seemed orderly. She sighed with relief.
Kayla chuckled. “You should see your face, Emily. You’d think a master criminal was waiting to snatch those paintings.”
Steven stepped up and said, “Never underestimate the criminal mind, my dear. Emily is smart to worry, but we’ll keep the wolves at bay.”
“Thanks, Steven. I see that Natalia is serving champagne to guests, keeping their hands full and away from the paintings.”
“Jason is delivering canapés. With one hand gripping a glass and another full of crab cake, it’s hard to snatch a canvas.”
Emily glanced at her watch. “Time is dragging. I wish this was over.”
“Why don’t you take a stroll through the museum? I loved seeing the glass sculptures,” Kayla said.
Emily nodded and placed an empty champagne glass on a table. “Maybe a brisk walk will calm my nerves. You two keep a sharp lookout!” She walked through the door leading to the museum gift store.
“Good thinking, Kayla. She distracts me more than a thief might do.” Steven affectionately squeezed her elbow. “Why don’t you secure a glass of champagne from Natalia?”
Kayla wandered through the crowd, listening to snippets of conversation. “I can’t see the point in owning an original when one of these is just as good…Look! I can’t tell the difference except for the old fashioned frames…I could buy a frame at an antique store and pass it off as an original.” Kayla smiled. She recognized an employee of Genuine Fakes spurring on the conversation and felt sure the auction would be successful.
Natalia handed her a glass full of fizzy liquid and smiled. “See anybody to worry about?” Kayla asked her friend.
“No. They’re all slurping bubbly and admiring fakes. I think we’re going to be okay. Oh, no! That drunk is wobbling too close to the art.” Natalia moved quickly and grabbed the elbow of a rotund man just as he started to fall. Two guards helped guide him to the sidelines. Kayla noticed Jason staring at the crowd as the commotion distracted the guards.
“Hi there, Phillip!” Steven’s voice carried over the crowd.
Kayla turned to see Steven shaking hands with an ordinary-looking pudgy man his own age. Steven waved her over. “Kayla, I want you to meet an old chum. This scoundrel is Phillip Portsmouth, a friend from school. He inherited a junk shop from his father.”
“It’s an antiques store now and quite profitable.”
Kayla shook Phillip’s hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Careful Kayla, Phillip is always trying to steal my girl. You stay away from her, you hear?” He chuckled as Phillip turned scarlet and glanced nervously behind him.
“No need to worry, Steven.” A shapely platinum blonde in a slinky gold dress slithered out from behind Phillip as though she was springing a surpri
se at a birthday party. “Pleased to see me, darling?” She grabbed Steven’s neck and planted a sexy kiss onto his mouth.
Kayla bristled. She decided the brassy blonde looked just like Paris Hilton, too skinny and full of herself.
“What are you doing here?” Steven frowned and stepped away from the woman.
“Can’t we act civilized, darling? I’m Phillip’s plus one to your wedding—just couldn’t miss your big event.”
Steven glared at Phillip. His friend offered an apologetic shrug and averted his gaze.
“Is this your intended?” the woman asked.
“Kayla is my bride to be.” Steven wrapped his arm around Kayla and pulled her close. “Luv, this is Cynthia—my ex-wife. I had no idea she would be here with Phillip.”
Visions of Steven kissing the anorexic tramp flashed through Kayla’s mind. She felt like running away but her feet wouldn’t budge. How could Steven ever marry someone like this predatory witch? Maybe I’m being too cruel…no…I can see the woman examine Steven like a prized piece of beefcake. Does she have plans to take him back? Kayla felt like her thoughts were written like neon across her face.
Cynthia slithered closer and grabbed Kayla’s limp hand. “I can give you all the dirt on Steven before you take your vows!” She chuckled and slipped her hand into the crook of Phillip’s arm. “Don’t look so terrified, Steven.” Her smile was outlined in bright red, highlighting recently whitened teeth. Gripping Phillip’s arm, she thrust a manicured hand out and let her large diamond ring flash. “Phillip and I are engaged, so no reason to cast daggers with those gorgeous blue eyes, darling.”
Blushing, Phillip cleared his throat and stammered, “Um…we’re planning to stop in Las Vegas…to get married after the cruise. We’ll all be newlyweds soon.”
Kayla clenched Steven’s hand and forced herself to smile. How could a close friend bring Steven’s ex-wife to the wedding? He must know that Cynthia divorced Steven without a word of warning.
Steven flinched at the pain in his hand and asked, “So, why are you at this particular party?”
Phillip relaxed. “I’m here on business. I plan to buy at least one of these paintings for my shop and start selling art. I understand Genuine Fakes can bring in loads of business.”
“But you own a junk shop, not an art gallery.” Steven chuckled.
Phillip straightened his tie and tried to look distinguished. “Antiques, I sell antiques now. We decided to branch out with a line of fine art. Cynthia works in my shop and gives the place some class.”
“Yeah, odds are she talked you into the art angle.” Steven rolled his eyes. “I remember she always thought she had an eye for art.”
“Don’t talk about me like I’m not standing right under your nose! I do have a flare for art and know value when I see it.” She gripped Phillip’s arm tight. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go look at that glacier painting. It’s such a lovely shade of blue, might match the davenport in our flat.” She dragged him away.
Kayla hissed, “She’s a snake in the grass! What gives her the right to insinuate herself into our wedding?” Her light blue eyes flashed as she folded her arms across her chest.
“Phillip’s not too clever, but he’s ambitious and wants to make the store work. If Cyn’s got her claws into him, I feel his pain. Ignore them! Nothing will interrupt this wedding—I won’t let it.” He kissed her hard, making her wonder if he was overdoing his show of passion.
She glared at the interloper, whose hips swayed like a panther as she walked. “You know, in the west we shoot poachers. She’d better watch out, because I’m a good shot.”
Steven spotted Emily. “We’d better get back to work.” He sounded grateful and steered Kayla toward their boss. “I’ll go find Jason.”
Emily stood near the pavilion sipping champagne as Kayla approached. She took one look at Kayla’s face and handed her a full glass of champagne. “Looks like you need this,” she commented.
Kayla nodded. “See that bleached blonde next to the painting of the glacier?”
“Yes. Who is she and why do we hate her?”
Kayla laughed and turned her back to the crowd. “She’s Steven’s ex-wife, a real piece of work. The guy with her is an old school friend of Steven’s. She says they’re engaged.”
“But you don’t buy her story.”
“No.” Kayla gulped champagne and rubbed her nose from the bubbles. “When Cynthia filed for divorce, she left Steven high and dry—didn’t even tell him she was leaving. Now that he quit working for Interpol, he finally makes decent money. I bet she wants him back and is using his friend to get close.”
Emily stroked Kayla’s arm. “Steven loves you! I can’t believe some conniving little bimbo would have any luck with him.”
“You’re right but this wedding’s got me nervous. You think Shannon has everything covered?” Kayla’s gaze drifted toward Steven and met his piercing blue eyes. His lips curled into a seductive smile as he lifted his glass in a toast.
Emily said, “Shannon’s the queen of party planning. She’s got the whole staff buzzing like little worker bees preparing for your big day.”
“We’re really getting married at Glacier Bay?” She shivered and rubbed the goose bumps on her bare arms. “I hope it’s a sunny day.”
“The gods of rain, snow, and ice would never win against Shannon’s determination. It will be a wonderful day and you’ll be a gorgeous bride. When do your parents arrive?”
“They all arrive tomorrow, Steven’s parents and mine. We’ll pick them up at the airport in the morning.”
Emily clinked her glass against Kayla’s. “Here’s to meeting future in-laws, better you than me.”
Kayla smiled and sipped the champagne, slower this time. “I hope there are no major crimes on this voyage. Steven’s stepfather is a retired policeman. Those two would spend every minute investigating and forget about our wedding.”
“As long as no one steals these paintings, we’ll be fine.” Emily laughed, a bit too loud, and her attention returned to the six sets of paintings under the spotlights. She checked her watch again. “Does that man look suspicious to you?”
Kayla looked at the tall man dressed in expensive western clothes and wearing a black cowboy hat. “He looks like a rich Texan to me. Maybe he plans to buy one of the paintings. See those cowboy boots he’s wearing? Snakeskin and expensive.”
Emily shuddered. “I hate snakes, even dead ones.” They watched Steven move over and speak with the man in snakeskin boots. Both men laughed and the Texan pounded Steven’s shoulder with a meaty hand, adorned with a large diamond ring. “Good, Steven’s on the job.”
Kayla frowned as she watched Cynthia wiggle over and stroke Steven’s sleeve. “I’d better go rescue him. Thanks for the drink and your support. See you tomorrow.”
“We’re planning on playing golf at midnight in Denali,” the rich Texan said. Kayla moved next to Steven, and he wrapped his arm around her slim waist. “We brought members of the Marina Shores Country Club along—sixteen golfers if you count wives.” He laughed. “Although, most of our wives would rather shop than play golf.”
Steven said, “Midnight golf in the wilds of Alaska sounds interesting.”
“You want to join us? We brought our own clubs, but I’m sure you can rent a set.” Kayla decided the golfer looked like Tommy Lee Jones with craggy face and silver hair. His western-style jacket was made of ultra-soft suede and his wife wore an expensive diamond necklace with matching earrings.
Steven shook his head. “I don’t play but watch out for moose. I hear they love to graze on the fairways.”
“We’ll let them play through along with the wolves.” The Texan laughed at his own joke.
The string quartet stopped playing and the announcer said, “Thank you all for joining us tonight. We’ll see you onboard the Aurora at the first auction.”
The departing crowd meandered through doors leading away from the courtyard as staff carefully carried the pain
tings toward a side exit. The Texan downed his drink and shook Steven’s hand with gusto. “See you on the boat. We’ll practice shots off the bow every day. Come along with your pretty little gal, and I’ll give you lessons on how to hit Texas-style.”
Steven grinned. “I’ll be sure to do that.”
Kayla watched Jason and Natalia gather empty glasses from guests and herd people out of the pavilion. “Emily will be relieved that no one stole a painting,” she said.
“It’s early days yet.” Steven’s gaze roamed over the crowd. “I spotted two suspected dealers of stolen artwork among the guests. We don’t have enough reason for an arrest, but I’ll keep tabs on them.”
“Maybe they want to buy one of the fakes. Emily will have a breakdown if she hears about fences attending her party.”
“No reason to alarm her. If they appear on the cruise, we’ll keep a man on surveillance duty. They won’t get away with anything on our watch.”
“Just remember, we have a wedding coming up.”
“Nothing will keep me from our wedding, Luv. You can’t get away that easy.” His sexy smile made Kayla’s skin feel hot. As she turned her head to rest her cheek against his shoulder, she saw Cynthia standing near the exit watching them with a sour expression. A knot formed in her stomach and anger boiled. Am I going to lose another guy just when I thought he loved me? NO! I’m ready to fight back this time.