"I'll give it to her. I promise. Today was about you seeing Becca. We needed to get confirmation first."
"Why isn't everyone together?" Elizabeth questioned. "Where's Annabelle and Eli?"
They stood on the front porch now as the night sky blanketed the city.
"I'm going to find them, too," Jesse promised. "Go inside and get some rest, okay? I'll call you when we get back to Virginia tomorrow. Next time, I'll bring prints of the pictures we took today. We'll spend Christmas together."
"You too? You'll come back for Christmas?" Elizabeth flicked her gaze to Hunter and Becca, then back to Jesse.
Hunter held Becca close to him. "I'll bring her back for Christmas, and any other time you want. I'll fly her here myself soon. You'll always be able to see Becca."
Dark eyes stared at him. "Your mama and daddy were good people, helping my baby the way they did. I'm sorry you lost them too soon."
Hunter swallowed hard. "Yeah, they were. The best."
She finally went inside, followed by Jesse. Hunter breathed a sigh of relief. Today went rather well, considering. "Shara got back to me," he said quietly to Becca. "Nothing looks out of the ordinary in the house at all. How the hell did that painting manage to be taken out of there without us knowing, I don't know. You didn't get ahold of Brock?"
"No. He's out of town this weekend, according to the person I spoke to." Becca shuddered. "I didn't want anyone to see that painting. It was a dark moment for me. Today was so many things, but it shouldn't have been a day to be afraid! Hunter, we have to figure out who's behind this strange messaging going on here!"
"I know. I'm going to call Joe and Vince, and we're going to try to piece this together for answers."
"If it's Sylvia, we need to move fast. There's no telling what she'll do, especially now that I've found my family." Becca's voice came out hoarse.
"I know," he repeated, feeling the dread. Hunter wrapped his arms around her, holding her close until Jesse reappeared on the porch.
"Okay you two, what the hell is going on?" He asked. "I've been wanting to ask, but not in front of Mom. I didn't want to alarm her."
"Our secret text messaging enemy strikes again," Hunter growled as he filled him in on the latest.
*****
"I'm so sorry, Becca. I had no idea! One of my assistants said someone left it here with a note they thought was from me to display. I wasn't available, so they did exactly what they thought I wanted them to." Brock was perplexed on Monday afternoon when Becca and Hunter entered the gallery.
"This was never meant to be seen by anyone. I surprised myself when I painted it, but I was in a rough place." Becca paced the room, wondering how this could have happened.
"It's down now. Again, I'm so sorry." Brock frowned.
"Do you happen to have that note still?" Hunter asked.
"Let me go check on that." He scurried away.
At home, nothing looked out of the ordinary at all. Nothing was out of place. No important papers missing, and no jewelry or electronics taken. They'd combed through the house three times searching for anything off. The only thing wrong was the missing painting. They found no evidence of tampering on locks or windows. Did someone forget to turn on the alarm one day? How in the world was this possible?
"Here you go." Brock returned, holding out a small note. Handwritten, Becca could tell that right away. She took the paper from his hands and stared at it.
A new piece from Becca Lange. Please display this one on the main wall.
Hunter peered over her shoulder. "I don't recognize the writing, not that I figured I would," he muttered. "Do you have any surveillance cameras around here? Any idea of when this was delivered?"
"My assistant Janine said when she walked in here Saturday morning, it was set in our back room. She told me she thought maybe I left this out in a rush with the note before I left. I do have security footage, so let's go on back and look at it. I can't imagine how someone could get in and out of here with a piece like that without getting noticed, but it obviously happened." Brock led them to the back room.
Becca stood behind him as he settled in a chair, then pulled up the footage on his computer. Hunter clasped Becca's hand. They all leaned in close.
"Let's go ahead and start midday Friday and fast forward. It's going to circulate from different angles. If you see anything out of the ordinary, tell me to stop," Brock instructed.
"Right there. Someone's walking in, making sure to look away, holding a painting. They're walking up to the desk." Hunter pointed.
Brock stopped the footage and zoomed in on the figure. "They definitely made sure to avoid looking around. I think it's a female. Whoever it is has on a shawl over their head. It was rather cold that day."
"It's Becca's painting. I can see the last part of it." Hunter leaned closer.
"Let's see what happens next." Brock zoomed out and pushed play again.
After the woman behind the desk spoke to the newcomer, she moved on to speak to someone else. And there it went. The stranger taped a note to the back of the painting. She stuck it behind the desk and darted away, keeping their head down.
"Damn. The woman she spoke to just went on vacation. Friday was her last day for two weeks, and I'm not sure if I can reach her to get a description of the person." Brock pushed away from the desk, causing Hunter and Becca to back away quickly.
"I think we might know who it is," Hunter said gravely. "Now we just need to figure out where the hell she's been hiding and what she plans to do next."
Sylvia.
It had to be.
"Becca, I know you're uncomfortable with this painting, but can I say something?" Brock pointed to it.
She sucked on her lower lip. "Sure."
"I like it. It represents a lot. I'd love for you to give some serious consideration on putting this out. Maybe for your art show. I like that your work shows different sides of your feelings. It's dark, at least by your standards, but you captured some strong feelings there."
"I- I don't think I could."
"Give it some thought. No pressure at all. I'll see what more I can find out about the person who brought it in."
"Thank you. I appreciate it." She picked up the frame. Hunter took it from her gently and headed out toward the car.
*****
"Mom called me in a frenzy today. She didn't remember us being there Saturday." Jesse heaved a sigh. "This happens every time I leave. She forgets the good day we had and goes back to the past."
"If this wasn't going on with these messages, I'd say you both move here and stay with us indefinitely." Hunter wished they could do that without putting anyone else in harm's way.
"I do want to bring her to Virginia. Now that I've found Becca, I don't want to move back to Maryland. I'm in limbo with everything right now. I'm actually surprised I still have a job, considering how much time I had to take off when she had her stroke." Jesse rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head.
"Hey Hunter? I found something you might want to see!" Shara called from upstairs. She'd come over once they arrived home after visiting Brock's gallery. Becca left a little while after to drive Cherie and Henry to the hospital to visit the baby, since Cherie wasn't able to drive yet.
"That doesn't sound good." Hunter and Jesse exchanged a worried look, then both charged up the stairs. They found Shara in the art room. She held out something in her hand. Something shiny. "How did we miss this before?"
Hunter plucked the ring from her fingers and raised it closer to his face. It was an old ring, a man's. Wedding maybe? "Where did you find it?"
"Right here, next to this broken chain." Shara pointed to a spot right by the edge of the rug.
Hunter stared at the spot, then studied the ring again. "Hold on, there's some sort of inscription on the inside." He raised the ring toward the light and squinted. R + A. Together forever.
R plus A. R plus A.
It dawned on Hunter almost immediately. "I think this is Rusty Lange's wedd
ing ring. Question is, does the A stand for Amelia or Anne? Either way, this proves that Sylvia's been in this house."
Chapter Twenty-Six
"She's getting bigger and stronger." Cherie's voice was full of pride as Becca returned them home two hours after picking them up. "She doesn't look as fragile any more. I can actually hold her!"
"Maybe by Christmas, you can bring her home. Speaking of Christmas, how would you all like to spend part of Christmas day with Hunter and I?" She couldn't imagine how their first Christmas without Cherie's husband and Henry's dad would go, and Becca wanted them to know they weren't alone.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to impose."
"You wouldn't be," Becca assured her. She hadn't brought this up to Hunter yet, but she knew he'd be in. Shara and the Sundstroms would be there, and she wasn't sure about Joe and his wife yet, as Hunter still hadn't said much to him after the Thanksgiving fiasco. Rissi and family wouldn't be able to make it out, but Becca would go visit them soon, especially once she made the trip to her grandparents, er, the Langes to tell them the truth about what their son did. Maybe it would help them, too. Who knows?
"Can we, Mom? I want to see Hunter again too," Henry asked from the back seat.
"We'll make dinner and play games, or watch a movie. It's my first Christmas with Hunter here in Virginia. I'm excited." Becca pulled up in front of Cherie's house.
"Oh, your first? I couldn't-"
"It would be a pleasure to have you both by. Completely up to you. Think about it." She smiled over at the woman.
"Thanks, Becca. Hey, congratulations on your first sale! I forgot to say that earlier." Cherie grabbed her purse, then pushed the door open.
"I couldn't believe one sold so fast!"
Henry climbed out of the car and ran to the open window to give Becca a hug. "Tell Hunter hi for me."
"I sure will. You and your mom have a good night, okay? See you soon." She smiled, watching the two walk inside. They were going to be okay.
When Becca arrived home, Hunter, Jesse, and Shara were in the living room. The expression on their faces alerted her that something was wrong.
"What's going on?" Becca dropped her purse on the table and ran toward them. She stood before the coffee table. She didn't like the hesitance and wondered why no one said anything.
"You might want to sit down," Hunter said softly. "Shara found something in your art room today."
"What? I showed you guys all of my paintings already, even the dark ones!" Becca sat beside him. Did he go looking for a new one to see how she'd been feeling?
"This isn't about any paintings. Well, I guess it kind of is. You don't by chance recognize this ring, do you?" Hunter placed something in her hand.
Becca held it up, turning the ring with two fingers. "No... Should I?"
"We aren't sure. I found it in your art room doing another check on things," Shara said. "There was also a chain which must have broken."
"There's an inscription with the initials A + R." Hunter gently took the ring from her and pointed it out.
"What?" She did not hear him correctly. No way! That meant ... What the heck did it mean? "Sylvia. She's been in this house. In my room! What does she want? This has to stop!" Becca jumped up from her seat, feeling the anger and fury take over. She clutched the ring in her hand until the edges dug in her skin and cramped her hand. "She did it. She took the painting. But why is she messing with us in eerie ways?"
"I don't know, angel. I don't know what the hell her game is, but I do know we've got to step up the ante and find her."
"So she starts with notes, then comes out in the open last summer. Now it's texts and things like this? I swear this chick and her crap reminds me of Pretty Little Liars." Shara also jumped to her feet.
"What?" Hunter asked.
"It's ... never mind. A show I watch. The girls always get texts from someone anonymous, they have for years. It reminds me of what Sylvia is doing, or whoever this is."
"Umm, okay. This woman is obviously off her rocker." Jesse piped up. "Sylvia. Not you," he added when Shara glared at him.
"How is it she's wanted by the police, but eludes anyone finding her? If that was her in the video at Brock's studio, she's really pushing it. How is it she's right under our noses? In our house! Have either of you gotten any texts?" Becca fumed. Both Shara and Jesse shook their heads no.
"So it's Joe, Vince, you, and I." Hunter's tone was thoughtful. "All of us who had a part in the plane crash, then the lawsuit. And she's finding things that weren't even discussed before, like Joe's connection to Nathan, and Vince's admission about why his niece was in an accident to begin with. I don't get it."
Becca looked at the ring again. "Should I email a picture of it to Amelia and ask her if it was theirs? I don't know if it's the one Rusty wore when he was married to Anne." She doubted it. Rusty should have died with that ring on, unless Sylvia took it. Ugh, just that thought alone made her insides twist.
Hunter nodded. "Might not be a bad idea. Good thinking, Bec. You do that, and we need to figure out a time to meet with both Vince and Joe."
She wasn't looking forward to either encounter, but if it meant putting an end to these messages and other things, she'd do it.
*****
"Joe, I wish you'd call me. I know we didn't part the best when you went home after Thanksgiving, but please don't disappear like this. I'm sorry I was so upset. There's a lot to tell you. I miss you. Please give me a call." Hunter disconnected the phone and dropped it on the bed. Why wouldn't he answer? Why didn't he call? He hoped everything was all right with Joe and Sandra.
Becca appeared in the doorway of their bedroom, her face twisted in a worried frown. "No answer again?" She made her way to his side and leaned in for a kiss.
"No. Granted, this is only the second time I've called him since he left, but it worries me. Is he done? Did he give up because of what I said to him? I know there's a lot of mistrust, but Joe was family to me. I thought..." He shook his head. "I don't know. I figured we still had a shot to make amends, you know? It hurts, especially because he said my dad would hate this between us. He's right. Whatever Joe did or didn't do, I just want to know he's okay."
"I'm sorry. Maybe he's avoiding you because of the way I acted." Becca sat on the bed, pushing his phone over.
"I don't think so. We were pretty harsh that night, and then the next morning. I should have tried. Why did I let him walk out of here without at least putting some anger to rest?"
"Don't do that, Hunter." Becca tugged on his hand, guiding him to stand before her. The fear was in her eyes. "We're not supposed to do the should haves, remember?"
Knowing and doing were two different things. "We're so close, Bec. So close to putting this all behind us, but the one person we want to find is toying with us. What if she got to Joe and Sandra? What if we're next?"
"I keep thinking the same things." A tear slid down her cheek. Hunter brushed it away gently. "I want to be free of the fear. We're getting married next year, I have my family to get to know. We're making new friends like Cherie. It's like normal is almost upon us, but Sylvia's got the puppet strings. Did you try calling Vince?"
"No. I'm looking forward to that even less." Hunter frowned. "Should we leave it quiet about Stuart Ellis? How do you feel about all that?"
Becca shifted her feet and looked away. "I don't know. If Vince killed him, he shouldn't get away with it. But it's going to dredge up a lot of things. Then I think about how it's an open case, and if Mr. Ellis has family, they deserve to know. What do I do? Go to the police and give them a tip? Tell them who I am and my connection, or leave it anonymous? It makes me wonder how Sylvia found this out and why she wanted it out in the open. I'm afraid, Hunter. Even talking to someone about everything, I still have so much confusion."
He held her hands in his and eased her to stand. Kissing her temple, Hunter held her close. "I know, Bec. I know. Hold on a little longer. We're getting there." At least, he hoped they were. "I'm goin
g to double check all the doors and windows again."
Becca exhaled. "Okay."
He sensed her hesitance. "I'll be right back. I'm being extra cautious, I know."
"I'm just as cautious. Hurry back." Becca let him go.
Hunter went through every room. Nothing had changed in the hour since he'd last checked. He ran into Jesse at the bottom of the stairs.
"Heading to bed?" Jesse asked.
"Yeah. Hey man, I'm sorry you're being dragged in all of this. I hesitated before for this reason, but I wanted you to have a place to stay and not have to freeze in your truck."
"You know, if it weren't for her, I might not be here. But I don't want to give credit to someone who obviously has it out for my sister and the people she loves." Jesse made a sour face.
"She's been in hiding for months, ever since she jumped from the plane. To this day, I still don't know what her plans were with Becca. I have nightmares of her on the island from twenty years ago, but I can't trust that they're accurate. Sylvia's the last missing piece to understanding what happened back then."
"I still wonder, if she hadn't overheard anything, if I would have reunited with Becca earlier. Guess it doesn't matter twenty years later, does it?" Jesse shook his head, running a hand through his hair. Hunter guessed that to be his nervous habit, as Jesse did that a lot since being here.
"No, I guess not. But you're like me, playing the game of what if all the time." Hunter headed to the front door to get a visual that all the locks were in correct position. He checked the back doors. All was well. This paranoia was going to get to him, but knowing someone had been in the house wreacked havoc on his mind. He wouldn't be satisfied until Sylvia was found and locked away so she couldn't play her sickening games any more.
"Before work tomorrow, I'm going to talk to the police. Doesn't matter whose ring that is. It was in my house when it shouldn't have been. We're going to get to the bottom of this." Decision made, Hunter said goodnight to Jesse and headed upstairs to go to bed with Becca.
A Forever Masterpiece (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 3) Page 26