Chapter 32
Interviewer: Sergeant Luke Carter (LC)
Interviewee: Diana Harris (DH)
Location: Saltwater Gallery, Hope Falls
LC: Thank you for your time and for closing the gallery.
DH: I just can’t believe it. Last night she was standing right where you are. It was the best event we’ve had here for years.
LC: Tell me about Eden Fox.
DH: You met her too. She was just a lovely human being, and so talented. Are you sure that she—
LC: How did you meet her?
DH: Well, I didn’t technically meet her until yesterday. Until the actual exhibition. But we spoke on the phone.
LC: Who called who?
DH: She emailed in the first instance. Said she was moving to the area and would I be interested in selling one or two of her paintings.
I confess when I get emails like that my heart sinks.
Everyone thinks they are an artist these days, just like everyone thinks they have a book in them, and most of the time when people get in touch like that the work on offer is mediocre at best. But this was different.
She sent me a link to some of her paintings and I fell in love instantly.
They were all of the sea, and there was something very unique and special about them.
That’s all we sell: art about the sea. Paintings, prints, pottery, greetings cards—
LC: What happened after that first email from Eden?
DH: We had a very pleasant phone call and I offered to take all her paintings. I knew I could sell them when the tourists came back.
LC: The tourists aren’t back yet, and you don’t normally do events out of season. How did the exhibition come about, was it your idea?
DH: No. It was his.
LC: Who?
DH: The husband. He came in to the gallery one day—dressed in a very nice suit, tailored, expensive. He had a good head of hair and nice-looking hands, short clean fingernails. You can tell a lot about a man from his hands.
LC: Good to know. And Mr. Woolf talked to you about his wife?
DH: He said how thrilled they both were that I was going to be selling her work.
Told me that she’d had a really difficult time looking after their daughter and how much me believing in her art had meant to her.
He asked if I might host an exhibition, something to make her feel good about herself, said he’d pay for the drinks and to invite the whole village, but not to tell his wife that he was behind it all.
He wanted her to think it was my idea. Build her confidence.
Apparently she was a bit of a recluse, he said she rarely left the house, though I have to admit she didn’t come across like that last night.
I thought it was very sweet for a husband to want to do that for his wife and I was pleased to help.
Now this has happened. She seemed so happy last night, but do you think it was all too much for her?
The attention and people looking at her work? Is this my fault?
LC: No, of course not. So you never met Eden Fox in real life until last night?
DH: No, but we spoke on the phone—
LC: And you’re sure it was Eden Fox you were speaking to?
DH: Who else would it have been? We only spoke once, I mainly dealt with the husband.
Harrison delivered the paintings, along with all the wine for the event.
He’s very generous and equally charming.
A real gentleman. That poor man, he must be devastated.
Do you think it’s too soon to take him a casserole?
I’m sorry, where are my manners, I didn’t offer you a drink. Would you like a cup of tea?
LC: No.