Chapter 37
thirty-seven
AMANTHA
Streetlamps illuminated the affluent Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago.
Either freelance curation was an extremely lucrative field, or Barbara had made a fantastic living from criminal activity.
Her stately home rose two levels, with a delicate wrought iron railing and warm glowing windows spilling onto the sidewalk.
“You ready?” Val finally spoke, turning the key and shutting off the engine.
Butterflies and nausea were in a heated competition for territory in my stomach.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Val moved to get out of the car, but I stopped him. “Val, wait.”
He settled back against the seat, sweeping me with a sidelong glance. My fingers twisted the strap on my purse as I stared into my lap.
“I need to apologize for what I said to you the other night after Stirling’s soirée. I jumped to conclusions and I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”
Out of the corner of my eye, Val’s shoulders sagged against the backrest. “I’m not sure I deserve any type of apology from you, but thank you for saying that.”
I didn’t know what else to say, and apparently neither did he. We both reached for our door handles at the same time, left the car, and walked silently up the elegant steps.
Before he could knock, I grasped his arm. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”
Slight amusement played on his lips. “Amantha, this was your idea.”
“I know, I’m just panicking. What are you going to tell her? About why you’re here?”
Val shrugged. “I’ll tell her we’re friends. Friends hang out. Maybe I wanted to tag along to see Barbara again, you know, for old time’s sake.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
I exhaled a shaky breath and nodded to Val, who knocked.
A few seconds later, Barbara swept open the door with a wide, red-lipsticked smile.
“Amantha! It’s so good to see you again!”
I was again struck at how beautiful she was. Her coiled black hair had been swept low into a bun. Pearl earrings dripped from her earlobes, framing her ebony face, which had barely aged. The ivory cashmere set she wore enveloped me in a hug.
Criminal or not, I couldn’t prevent the wave of affection washing over me. I owed so much to Barbara. Even if she was guilty, could I really send her to prison?
“It’s wonderful to see you, too.” I returned the hug with a soft smile.
“And... My word! Val Russo?”
“Hello again, Barbara. It’s been too long.” Val’s charisma turned on automatically, a charming grin rounding the corner of his mouth.
Barbara laughed and clapped her hands. “What a blast from the past! Come in, come in!” She invited us into an opulent sitting room.
I took in the space. It looked warm and inviting but felt strangely impersonal for some reason.
Settling onto a plush loveseat, I realized it was because there weren’t any mementos scattered about. No family pictures, trinkets, or heirlooms. Barbara had always been private about her personal life, and I had always wondered why. Had she really been alone all these years?
“So what brought you two together?” Her amber eyes shone with curiosity.
Val joined me on the loveseat. “We were coworkers for a while at the museum, but Amantha’s too talented to stay on. So, we’re just friends now.” He rested his elbows on his knees, catching up with Barbara like long lost friends.
How is he so good at this?
I watched Val in my periphery.
Gratitude for his offer to come filled my lungs with relief. His ability to navigate complicated situations was invaluable.
Maybe we could be friends after all? I mean, I could have a sexy man friend that dripped with magnetism and kissed like the world was on fire, couldn’t I?
A small smile lifted my mouth.
“Friends, are you?” Barbara winked at me like she had read my thoughts. She chuckled, “Oh, don’t seem so surprised, Amantha! I’ve seen that look before, remember? Though I’m guessing things didn’t work out with your husband?”
I blushed furiously, both from Barbara’s brash comment and anger with myself for my stupidly expressive face. Ignoring Val’s curious eyes on me, I schooled my expression into a calm smile.
“Um, no, not exactly,” I said.
“I’m sorry to hear that. Boy, was he gorgeous. Of course, no offense to you, Val.” She tipped a wrist toward him with a cheeky grin.
“None taken.” He leaned back against the loveseat’s cushion with an easy smile. Val could have charmed the snake, the basket, and the man with a flute and they’d all still ask for more.
“Well, congratulations! I must say you make an adorable couple.” Her gaze flicked between us, seeming genuinely happy about our “relationship.”
My breath hitched as Val draped a casual arm around my shoulders. We were dating, in this fake scenario, at least. A real couple wouldn’t shy away from some PDA.
I reluctantly leaned my body into his, keeping a soft smile glued to my face.
The familiar weight and heat of him speared through my chest, and I prayed Barbara hadn’t noticed the pain in my eyes.
Barbara relaxed farther into her own seat, smoothing her cashmere cardigan over her matching pants.
“Well, relationships in the workplace never stay secret for long.” She laughed.
“Don’t ask me how I learned that lesson.
Well, Amantha, it makes complete sense why you’re wanting to go a different professional direction.
If you ask me, it’s a smart decision.” Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes now.
“I presume Kendra Steele is still the director?”
I nodded.
“I figured as much, but I haven’t spoken to her since the Andreas gala,” she said. “I’m sorry I rushed off so quickly, Amantha. I regret not saying goodbye to you properly.”
“That’s okay.” The intense look behind her eyes was unsettling.
Barbara sighed, seemingly to herself. “I had higher hopes for that museum than what Kendra’s been able to accomplish. And that new curator they hired is almost laughable. What’s her name again…” Barbara scrutinized the crystal chandelier. “Benson? Barrette?”
“Barlow. Blythe Barlow.” My carefully constructed mask slipped for a moment before Val’s warm hand settled on mine—both a comfort and a warning.
“That’s the one.” Barbara’s rich laugh filled the room. “What a shame. Leave those mistakes in the past, I say. Amantha, let’s go to my office and I’ll gather my list of contacts for you. Val, you’re welcome to come along if you’d like.”
We walked behind her into an open concept kitchen and living area.
No piano in sight.
An edge of panic began to build in my chest. Did Barbara even own one? Had she filmed the video elsewhere?
We began to climb an expansive staircase to the second floor.
I may as well have been holding a dagger to Barbara’s back with how cunning and dirty I felt.
This woman had only ever been kind to me. Unethical, maybe, but kind. And here she was, offering me a helping hand while I planned to slap some cuffs on hers. The urge to abandon the investigation was overwhelming.
Val’s silky voice distracted me as he said, “I’m sorry, Barbara, but would it be okay if I used your restroom? I’m embarrassed to say it was a long drive.” He ducked his head, wearing an apologetic expression.
Barbara paused halfway up the staircase. “Of course! How rude of me. It’s across from the sitting room we were in. Amantha, let’s go ahead and get started. I wouldn’t want to keep you lovebirds too long.”
My heart began to pound as Val covertly winked at me behind Barbara’s back, stepped down the stairs, and rounded the corner. I’d shown him the video in the car, so he knew what to look for.
Please find the piano—we’re so close.
Time ticked by as my lower back broke out in a cold sweat, but less than ten minutes later, Val stepped into Barbara’s office. She seemed none the wiser about our investigation, still jabbering away and enthusiastically clicking through links on her computer.
I jotted down notes and contact info, though my focus was entirely on the handsome man leaning against the doorway. My gaze burned with a single question.
Val gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.
My heart plummeted.
Val slid his phone out of the front pocket of his jeans and began to type.
VAL: I couldn’t find the piano and I was taking too long. Maybe it’s not here?
Simultaneous dread and relief warred within me. If it wasn’t here, maybe Barbara hadn’t been involved at all? But if I couldn’t find the piano, I would never be sure.
Checking that Barbara was still buried behind her computer, I casually typed a response.
AMANTHA: Where have you looked?
VAL: I already searched the way we came, but I found a staircase leading down off the other side of the kitchen. Go now, I’ll stall her.
Despite the dire situation, Val’s brown eyes twinkled with mischief.
His loud voice startled me in the quiet office. “Angel, this is so exciting. These leads sound promising.” His voice dripped with honey, though his lips twitched from the ridiculous pet name.
Barbara beamed at him before dropping back behind her computer screen.
I mouthed, “Angel? Seriously?”
Val’s smirk deepened. I rolled my eyes, though a deep breath filled me with strength.
That son of a gun.
He had used humor to ground me, and it worked. I had forgotten how well he truly knew me, despite our short relationship.
So I brightened my tone to match his and said, “Actually, would it be alright if I use your bathroom too? I’m already dreading the drive back.” I coerced a smile, batting my doe eyes.
“Of course. In fact, we’re pretty much done here. You now know all my secrets.” She chuckled and pushed back from the desk. “I’ll walk you two out.” She started to rise before Val interrupted.
“Actually, Barbara, I was hoping you could help me as well. You see, I’m having an issue with a new museum partner in Santa Fe. It won’t take long, but it would be a shame to leave without your expert opinion.”
The flattery met its mark. Barbara waved a mindless hand at me as she sat back down. “Go ahead to the bathroom, Amantha. We’ll meet you down there in a minute.”
Following Val’s directions to the kitchen, I crept past it to the darkened stairs and into the basement. Room after room of squeaking hinges and rattling door knobs sent my panic rising. Seconds flowed into minutes—too many minutes.
The floor creaked far above me, footsteps beginning to shuffle about. I gritted my teeth and pushed open yet another door.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as I stepped across the threshold into a luxurious music room.
Acoustic red drapery hung across the walls, the floor covered in plush carpet.
Languid rays of light from the chandelier reflected off a gleaming maple piano.
My blood slowed to a stop in my veins as I inched closer to the black frame above it.
Time stopped entirely as I breathed in the beckoning waters of Lake Attersee.
The whimsical lily whispered its secrets to me as its ivory petals ruffled in the breeze. The wooden dock creaked as waves lapped against it, the corner smooth and polished. Layers of oil paint lay atop one another as my spirit soared.
“It’s you,” I breathed. “We found you.”