Page 18 of Go Now
‘I asked about progress, not leads, Kate.’
Kate rolled her eyes at Marcus.‘Yes, ma’am, I understand, but -’
'I'm not chewing you out, but I'm getting serious heat from upstairs.There's a bill going through the Senate right now, targeting religiously motivated violence.If it looks to the world like the FBI can't successfully prosecute crimes like that… I don't need to say more, do I?'
‘No, ma’am.’
'It's all about politics in the end,' Winters said cryptically.'Always.'
A click, and then she was gone.
+ + + + + +
The Hauptmann Gallery was pure Upper East Side: cologne in the lavatories, skinny women in short black dresses, reminding Kate of a row of crows on a telegraph wire. A pianist played Chopin's Andanteand the guests drifted round the paintings – all miniature oils - in syncopation.They'd arrived in the midst of a daytime viewing, and it was obvious who the artist was.He was a tanned, tubby guy with long hair tucked into a red beret and his jacket sleeves rolled up, a la 1985.He'd clearly mistaken Kate and Marcus for Press because he made a point of standing close by them, smiling in a manner that was probably meant to seem inviting, but, through no fault of his own, wasn't getting results.
‘These are good,’ Marcus said.‘I like the irony: all miniatures, all things that are huge in real life.’
There was an elephant, a blue whale, a number of bridges, the Chrysler building, a California redwood… all executed in miniature form.‘I hadn’t realised,’ Kate said, feeling foolish.
‘Who’s your favourite artist?We’ve never talked about it.’
‘I don’t have one,’ Kate said.‘I like drawings, photographs.The rest doesn’t do a lot for me.’
This comment had the twin effect of disappointing Marcus and dispersing the painter.
‘Are you serious?’
‘Afraid so.Mom and Dad loved it.When I said I wasn’t interested, I think they thought it was a kind of teenage rebellion.But I was just being honest.’
‘Cheryl hates it.She thinks it’s all pretentious.She thinks I just pretend to like it because I don’t want people to think I’m a meat-head.’
Kate looked directly at him.‘That sounds like quite an unkind thing to say.What’s been going on with you two?’
Marcus gave a deep sigh.'A month ago, she called me.We were supposed to be going out – see a gallery, get something to eat - but she asked if we could skip the gallery.I don't know why, but I made a big deal out of it.I don't know why.I mean, I do really.I just got sick of going to those things on my own.I wanted to share it with her, y'know?It's something that matters to me and I felt like… Well, like she could make an effort for me.That's how I saw it.Anyway, we didn't go out at all in the end. Next day she said she wanted to put the brakes on the wedding.'
‘So it’s not really over then?’
'Officially, it's not even postponed.When I called the venue, the manager said we'd lose our deposit, so I left it where it was.Feb 14thnext year.Do you want to get married?Get married and you can have my wedding slot.’
‘It’s going to beyours, Marcus. I know it will.You’ll get through this,’ Kate said, squeezing his arm.
Marcus didn’t look reassured.‘About a week after that ruckus, my buddy, Chas, saw her coming out of the hospital.He works there.’
‘Chas is the ICU nurse, right?’
‘That’s it.He’s my Best Man.Well, he was going to be.’
‘He will.Be positive.’
‘He calls out to her. She clocks him, then she runs away.Literally, vamoose.She’s known him for years.Why would she split like that?’
‘That sounds weird.But maybe she was just, y’know, having a moment.We don’t always feel up to a chat, do we?’
‘But the hospital.I’ve been driving myself crazy, Kate, trying to work out what it could be.I sent her a ton of messages, but she won’t reply.’
‘Okay, well don’t send her any more messages.She knows where to find you.But listen…’
Before she could continue, a woman in a gaily-colored poncho and tan boots approached them.
