CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“One more,” said Eric. “With Edie Rose done, we just have Morgan Segal to figure out.”
“We’ll get there,” said Cassidy smiling at her friend. Cade was beside her, holding her hand, Eric and Joseph in the front seat. Lily was in the third row. “I’m glad you all came with us today. I don’t know why I’m nervous.”
“That makes two of us,” said Lily. “I get the feeling that this might be the most important painting we do.”
“They live on the top floor of this building,” said Joseph as they pulled up to the valet.
“Isn’t this where Morgan was first spotted in the bus?” asked Eric.
“Pretty damn close,” frowned Joseph.
The lobby of the high-rise building was opulent. Tiled with an intricate pattern of varying colors of marble, the walls were covered in dark wood and brass. There was a small seating area for guests who might be waiting or for delivery people.
“Mr. and Mrs. Cordel said you can go on up,” said the doorman.
“Thank you,” nodded Eric. They took the elevator to the seventeenth floor and when the doors opened, they realized they were walking right into the apartment.
“Hello,” smiled a beautiful woman in her mid-forties. “You must be the replacement portraitist.”
“Not me,” smiled Eric. “This is Cassidy and Lily. They’re the artists.”
“Oh, well you must be very important to have three very large men with you,” she said grinning.
“Actually, Ms. Cordel, we were hoping to ask you some questions about Morgan. We’re investigating her death,” said Joseph.
“Please, come in. We’ll have some tea and get to know one another and then I’ll introduce you to your model,” she smiled.
They walked down a long hallway and into a massive, open living area. The ceilings were at least fifteen feet high and the plush Turkish rugs brought color and texture to the room. They took their seats on various sofas and chairs while she sat down.
A few moments later, a woman came in with a cart filled with tea, cups, and a variety of cookies. When she left, a man joined them.
“This is my husband, Knox. I’m Blair.”
“Nice to meet you,” said Eric. “I’m Eric. This is Joseph, Cade, Lily, and Cassidy.”
“Cassidy Norgenson,” he smiled. “We own two paintings that you’ve done. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a portrait by you.”
“First, thank you very much. I love knowing who has my artwork. Second, you’re right. I don’t normally do portraits but I’m happy to take this one on.”
“Mr. and Ms. Cordel,” started Joseph.
“Just Blair and Knox,” smiled the man.
“Alright. Can you tell me about your first meeting with Morgan? Did she appear upset at all?”
“She was quiet,” said Knox. “We met her at a restaurant in the Quarter first just to get a sense of what she was like. We were familiar with her work and had several of her pieces already. We explained that we wanted a portrait of our son and why, and she said she would be happy to take it on.”
“When did you see her next?” asked Cassidy.
“It was a few weeks later. We were out of town and kept missing one another. She said she wanted some photographs of Fletcher first and they would help her should he not be able to sit for whatever reason.”
“And did she take the photos?” asked Joseph.
“Yes. Although, she seemed very nervous. I mean, we understand that but there was no reason to be nervous,” said Knox. “She took the photos and then came a few days later and started painting. She didn’t get very far but said she would come back soon.”
“I’m sorry, I’m confused,” said Cassidy. “Why would she be nervous about taking the photos? And I was under the impression that she would have people sit in her studio. She didn’t like going to people’s homes.”
“Ours was a different situation,” smiled Blair. “Come with me.”
The woman stood, her husband taking her hand as they led the team down another long hallway. In the distance, they could hear the sounds of medical equipment.
The door to the room was double the size of the doors throughout the rest of the home. When they reached the room, they knew why.
Lying in a hospital bed was a tiny figure, a boy, connected to more medical equipment than any of them had seen in their entire lives.
“Everyone, this is our son, Fletcher. Fletcher, these nice people are going to complete the painting that Miss Morgan started on you,” smiled Blair.
Joseph stepped forward, the boy turning his head in a jerky, awkward motion. He smiled down at him, then realized he must appear gigantic to the small boy. He knelt beside the bed, touching his hand.
“Hello, Fletcher. My name is Joseph. It’s very nice to meet you,” he smiled. Joseph smiled at the race cars on the boys sheets and turned to Eric. “You see my big friend back there? He loves race cars. He had sheets like this when he was a little boy.”
Fletcher made some gurgling sounds, a half-attempt at a smile breaking their hearts.
“May I ask his condition?” asked Lily.
“He has a form of muscular dystrophy and it’s advancing fast. We don’t have much time left and we just wanted a painting to re-remember him by,” said Blair.
“Hello, Fletcher. My name is Cassidy,” smiled the young woman. Cade stood behind her and he saw the boy’s eyes grow wide. He couldn’t help but chuckle.
“I look like a giant, don’t I?” he smirked. “Me and my friends probably look that way to you. We’re just really tall, and big.”
“Fletcher? Would you let me paint your picture?” asked Cassidy. The boy laughed, gurgling again and Cassidy smiled at him.
“Time for your nap, young man,” said the nurse. “I’m sorry. He takes medication at this time and it makes him sleepy.”
“It’s alright. I’ll see you soon, Fletcher,” said Cassidy. They followed Knox and Blair back to the living room, taking their seats, refreshing their tea.
“I take it you didn’t know about Fletcher,” smiled Knox.
“No. But it doesn’t matter to me,” said Cassidy. “I’d love to finish what Morgan started. You know, we also have some pretty amazing doctors at our clinic. We could ask them to take a look at Fletcher.”
“That’s very kind of you,” said Knox giving a sad smile to his wife. “Unfortunately, we know that Fletcher only has a few weeks. His internal organs are shutting down and he’s in pain. We can’t see him in pain any longer.”
“Of course,” said Cassidy. “I’ll get started right away. Let me get the canvas and everything I need and I’ll be back here in the morning at nine.”
“That’s perfect,” said Blair. “We have a video call with his doctor’s at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis at eight. I’ll make sure they know downstairs.”
The silence in the car ride back to Belle Fleur was suffocating. Lily could barely hold back the tears, Cassidy seated beside her, holding her hand. When they pulled up to Belle Fleur, they’d hoped to not see Morgan, or at the very least that she was verbal.
She was not.