Page 10 of Close Up

“One more thing, Miss Brazier,” Fenella said.

Vivian hesitated. She really did not want to hear any more about her failure as an artist but running away might make her look like a coward. Her parents had taught her to stand her ground.

“I realize you are somewhat discouraged at the moment,” Fenella said, her voice gentling a little. “I’m sorry about that but I am only trying to give you some advice.”

Vivian took a step toward the door. “Right. Thanks.”

“I suggest you take a look at Bancroft’s Woman in the Window on the way out. If you decide to change your style, I would be interested in looking at more of your work.”

Vivian suppressed the urge to say, “Go to hell.” It would not only be an unladylike response, it would not be very smart. Fenella Penfield, after all, ruled the art world in Adelina Beach and beyond, and she had just said that she would be willing to look at more pictures.

“I appreciate that,” Vivian said.

Clutching the portfolio very tightly, she went briskly toward the doorway. Morris Deverell smiled and got out of her path.

“The world of art photographers is a small one,” he said as she went past. “Wouldn’t it be an interesting coincidence if the killer turns out to be someone of your acquaintance?”

“I don’t think that’s very likely,” Vivian said.

She forced herself to walk, not run, through the showroom of the Penfield Gallery. She did not pause to study the Winston Bancroft photograph.

She did not take a deep breath until she was outside on the sidewalk.

Chapter 5

Vivian could read the headlines on the papers at the corner newsstand from halfway down the block.

DAGGERKILLER APHOTOGRAPHER?

EXTRA:COPSTHINKDAGGERKILLER

PHOTOGRAPHSHISVICTIMS

DAGGERKILLERDERANGEDPHOTOGRAPHER?

She bought a copy of every early-afternoon paper she could find and took them back to the beach house. She sat down at the small kitchen table and read each story with great care, searching for her name. The article on the front page of theAdelina Beach Courierwas typical of the others.

Detective Archer of the Adelina Beach Police Department told reporters that the Homicide Division has a new lead inthe gruesome murders that have claimed the lives of a movie star and two wealthy socialites in recent months. His investigators have concluded the killer is most likely a skilled photographer who takes pictures of his victims.

The detective went on to point out that the three people who were murdered evidently were acquainted with the killer and trusted him enough to allow him into their homes. “There was no sign of forced entry,” he said. He added, “We now know a great deal about the murderer. An arrest is expected soon.”

Vivian put down the last paper and half collapsed in relief. Her name had not been revealed.

But she could not get the memory of Morris Deverell’s chilling words out of her head.“Wouldn’t it be an interesting coincidence if the killer turns out to be someone of your acquaintance?”

After a while she got up and locked the front door.

Chapter 6

San Francisco

Nick Sundridge went to the window of his Victorian town house and looked out at the fog-shrouded city of San Francisco. Mentally he counted backward from ten. When he reached the number one, he went into a light trance.

He was still aware of the room and the scene on the other side of the glass, but he saw the real world in a remote, detached way, as if he was in another dimension. In a manner of speaking that was the case. He was in a waking dream, examining the scene of a murder.

The bride looked at him with her dead eyes. There was a long silk scarf wrapped around her throat. Her gown was drenched in seawater. Her hair hung in wet tendrils.

“The thing about drowning is that there is never any evidence,” the dead bride said, “except for the scarf, of course. And the money. There is always a pattern, isn’t there?”

---