Chapter 36
thirty-six
AMANTHA
Unexpected tears burned in my horrified eyes.
“That’s my water lily,” I whispered.
I didn’t want to believe it. Couldn’t believe it. Barbara had been my idol. My mentor. She had picked up my rough-hewn skills and polished them. I owed my entire career to this woman.
Surely this was all coincidence. Barbara must own a convincing reproduction of the piece, that’s all. I chewed the inside of my cheek, mind racing.
But Barbara’s timeline alone was incriminating.
“Barbara hasn’t worked here in over two years.”
Two years. Roughly the same time Lake Attersee was archived. The timing of the software update. The date on the condition report. My trembling hand flew to my mouth. Barbara had accessed the storage rooms that week. I recalled seeing her name among the jumbled keycard logs.
Sure, Barbara had approached her career with a competitive nature. She wasn’t opposed to cutting corners, but did that make her a criminal? She was cutthroat, but did that make her a thief?
I thought about the lawsuit Barbara had been facing when I met Ryan. Were her morals really that gray? Horror turned my mind in a new direction.
This video just exonerated Val.
I had thrown him under the bus with not a speck of evidence. Now, I wanted to beg the bus to reverse as I lay down behind it. I had jumped to conclusions and unleashed my inner demons, and for what? To yell at Ryan? To appease my bruised ego? Val didn’t deserve that. He deserved an apology.
Indecision warred between my morals and my pride. Although I had wished every night that Val would show up on my doorstep and beg for forgiveness, I hadn’t even been sure if I could give it. The same went for the apology I now owed him.
Not knowing what else to do, I took a screenshot of the pixelated water lily. Another lead, another subpar piece of evidence—if I could even call it that.
What was I supposed to do, call the police? I cringed at the insanity of it.
“Hi, Officer! My ex-boyfriend and I found a forged painting, and a botched robbery of another that was left in a closet! Oh, and I have blurry pictures to prove it!”
They would immediately swap my orange jumpsuit for a straight jacket.
I screwed my eyes shut in concentration.
Wouldn’t the police require a firmer piece of evidence before they got involved? Surely they wouldn’t start an investigation over a weak insinuation and a pixelated image.
I cracked my knuckles and placed my fingers on the keyboard.
“Don’t you worry, Felix,” I said.
A plan was underway. I was going to solve this mystery once and for all.
“Mom, have you seen my keys?” My loose black pantsuit billowed as I jogged back to my room. Catching sight of my reflection, I paused and tucked a wave behind my ear. I straightened my blazer over the simple, fitted white t-shirt beneath, then touched up my red lipstick.
Come on, confidence. Any time now.
Two nights ago, I had sent Barbara an email under the guise of searching for a new job, which I technically was. She had enthusiastically responded the next morning, suggesting we meet at her place on Friday evening. It felt like no time had passed since I read that email.
Time flies when you’re preparing to meet criminals, I guess.
Barbara seemed thrilled to be in touch again, claiming to have a slew of ideas for me already. I hoped none of them included prison.
Pressing two hands to my racing heart, I took a deep breath.
All I needed to see was that painting. The yellowing water lily. The wooden dock’s smooth edges.
“Keys… Keys…” I patted down my pantsuit and cursed as a telltale jingle smacked against my thigh. “Nevermind, Mom. I found them!” I grabbed my purse, yelled goodbye, and flung open the door.
A pair of surprised chocolate eyes widened down at me, Val’s hand still poised to knock.
“Val?” I breathed, not trusting my sight. “What are you doing here?”
The all-too-familiar scent of him engulfed me, muddling my thoughts and dredging up the past. Whatever Val had prepared to say had long been forgotten.
He shifted awkwardly, pulling at the neck of his short sleeved white button-up.
I would have rolled my eyes at the pretentious shirt if I hadn’t been so stunned.
After fully taking him in, I inwardly groaned, having forgotten just how hot he was.
Val’s chiseled jawline had probably been clean-shaven this morning, but by now, it had begun to shadow.
His dark curls seemed ruffled as though he’d been running his hands through them, only adding to his windswept, rugged appearance. Like a cologne model on a sailboat.
I swallowed.
Time seemed to resume, though words evaded us both.
Footsteps shuffled into the living room behind me. I turned as Mom stopped short at the sight of Val’s tall frame in the doorway.
She gave me a comical “It’s about time” face, turned on her heel, and backtracked down the hall. I would have laughed if my past weren’t still lingering over my shoulder. I stared down the hallway after her, partly wishing I could follow.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call first.” Val’s quiet voice sounded strained over my shoulder. “I wasn’t sure you’d pick up. I went to your apartment, but some guy answered the door and said you’d moved. After that, I figured you’d be here.”
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath. Tonight I had been searching for answers, but these weren’t the ones I had expected.
I braced myself and turned back to him. Remorse was stamped across his face, his eyes pleading and vulnerable.
“Can we talk?” he said.
I bit my lip to keep from kissing his.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure if I’m ready to.” I ducked my head to tuck a loose wave behind my ear, suddenly too cowardly to meet his gaze. “And I’m sorry about that. Really, I am. I know we need to have a conversation, but tonight isn’t good. I’m actually on my way out.”
Val’s face fell, though he masked it quickly. “I’m sorry. It’s a Friday night—of course you have plans with someone.” A sad smile tugged his lips. “You look great. I should have known.”
I softened at the insinuation. “No, Val. It’s not like that. I’m just heading to meet Barbara Gaines to—” I paused, heat pooling in my cheeks. “I’m sorry, this is awkward. Uh, to network for a new job. She’s offered to help me.”
“Oh.” He forced a soft smile. “That sounds… promising.”
Val’s puppy dog expression was wrecking me all over again. Here he stood, the innocent man I had vehemently blamed for a crime he never committed, looking lost and heartbroken. The same man that had broken my heart.
I needed to change the subject before I started bawling like a baby.
“I think I found Lake Attersee.”
Val seemed confused before his eyebrows shot up. “You what?”
“I know where the real painting is. Well, I think I do. I was on Barbara’s website and watched a promotional video about one of her charities. Val, it’s hanging above her piano.”
He gaped down at me. “Are you sure?”
“I can’t be sure until I see it. If it’s only a flat reproduction, she’s clean. But, if it’s textured with real oil paints… Well, it’s too coincidental to ignore.” I nervously glanced down at my kitten heels, tucking my hair behind my ear.
Val’s liquid gaze bore into mine, as though trying to read what I wasn’t saying.
What I wouldn’t say.
“I’m sorry I accused you of being a thief, yes I still love you—and yes, you still suck for breaking my heart.”
I shifted under his scrutiny, fiddled with my keys, and caught sight of my watch. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to be late if I don’t leave right now. Barbara lives in the Gold Coast neighborhood, so I have quite a drive.”
I couldn’t be sure he was even registering my words because his face hadn’t moved a muscle. I opened my mouth to politely excuse myself again, but he interrupted me.
“Let me come with you.” A softness lay under his serious tone. “Barbara and I were always on great terms. Maybe I could help?”
I tried not to melt from the offer and failed.
“Val,” I said gently, “she knows we worked together. If we both show up, it might tip her off.”
“Please.”
That one whisper completely obliterated my defenses.
“Amantha, I want to be there for you if something happens. Barbara may be innocent, but she may also be a criminal.”
Silence stretched on as I considered him.
My cosmic wish had been granted. Val had finally showed up on my doorstep, his tired heart stitched on the sleeve of his insufferable white button up.
I heaved a heavy sigh.
“Alright.” I brushed past him, closing the door. “But you’re driving.”