Page 36 of Caper Crush
Black coffee. Blegh.
“I’ll help you in the kitchen,” I say. As I follow behind Vinnie, I wave at William to go. The app is on, so William can hear our conversation remotely.
I ask Vinnie about the art market, probing to see how his business is doing, as he makes tea and coffee. I put the large cookies on a plate and cut them into quarters.
We head back into the living room.
Vinnie stops short. “Where’s William?”
“Maybe he’s in the bathroom. His stomach was acting up while we were driving.” If only I could see William’s face as I say that.
I open up my art portfolio. “I was hoping I could show you some of my work. Could you suggest some other shows? The Vertex Art Exhibit may still work out, though.”
“I doubt it.” He shakes his head. “I can’t help you.” His tone is dismissive, final. He places the tray on the coffee table and distributes the mugs. Then he lounges back in his chair, his arms crossed, his eyes narrowed, watching my reaction.
My stomach twists. “But you can at least look.” I can’t help it; a pleading note quivers in my voice. My shoulders curve forward.
“No one is going to touch you. You’ve just had to pull out of this one because of a ‘stolen painting.’” He actually does air quotes with his hands.
I scoff. “It is stolen. You know that.”
“I know that. ButThe Squirrelis implying otherwise. And what art dealer is going to take that kind of a risk—that they build some show around you and then you flake out?”
My chest tightens. I sputter. “I’m not flaking out. I’ve never flaked out.”
“I’m not saying you are.” He leans forward, then shrugs. “There are a lot of artists out there, and art dealers are going to go for the sure thing.”
“I thought they were supposed to go for visionary.”
“Only in the books, dear.” He sits back and sips his tea.
My throat closes up. I hold tightly to my portfolio. I have to keep the conversation going. I have to ask again. Even though I’d like to walk out right now and say your loss. I clear my throat. “Are you sure you don’t want to—”
“Sorry I took so long,” William interrupts as he enters the room. I blink my eyes and stare at some painting of a boat being tossed by high seas. I wipe away a tear.
William heard the whole thing. I should’ve turned off the app.
“Did you already finish showing your portfolio?” he asks. “I wanted to see it.”
He knows Vinnie doesn’t want to see it. It’s a bit cruel to ask Vinnie to explain again why he doesn’t want to see it.
“Especially that new piece that Jade was raving over.” William winks at me.
He remembered my art dealer’s name. He sits down next to me and picks up his coffee. I can’t tell if he was able to check out all the rooms. I didn’t provide him much time.
“Jade was raving over a piece?” Vinnie asks. “I might as well look over your portfolio since you’ve come all this way. But really, you should have let me serve as your mentor when you were in college. You showed such promise. Such …” He smacks his lips, leaning forward, putting his hands, palm down, on the table between us.
William tenses next to me. I place my hand on his knee. I can handle this.
“I could have opened a lot of doors for you back then if you’d been more receptive to my advice.” Vinnie leans back, crossing his arms, a slight smile hovering on his lips.
“Maybe we should go.” William stands, towering over Vinnie.
I’d rather not show Vinnie either, but what’s important now is figuring out who stole the paintings. I pull William back down to sit next to me.
Vinnie still resents that I turned him down.
I open up my portfolio, the thick, leather case feeling solid in my hands. I’ll pick the last painting as the one Jade was raving over. “Yes, Jade loved this one.”
