Page 70 of Last Seen Alive
“She started off as a sticker girl.”
“A… You’re going to have to explain that one for us.” Trent smiled with his request.
“We often host galas at the gallery to showcase newly acquired items, and Claire would put a sticker on the artwork labels as they sold.”
“That’s the plaque posted next to the display listing the specifics of the piece?” Trent asked.
“Uh-huh, that’s right.”
“Did she get promoted from that?” Amanda asked. “We understand she worked here thirteen years.”
“For sure. She started off part-time, doing the stickers and other entry-level tasks when we needed extra staff. Once she turned eighteen, she became full-time and was given more responsibilities, even dealt with some clients and helped advise them and their curators.”
That would put Claire in a good spot to identify targets and potential buyers. It would also seem Claire had a natural gift for understanding the art world. There was no record of formal education past high school, and if she was at the gallery full-time, she’d have little hours left to devote to academic studies. “Claire lived in Dumfries as a minor, about an hour away. Do you know how Claire even came to work here?”
“Someone recommended her, but after all this time I couldn’t tell you who. I do remember the manager helping the girl out with transportation. She’d pick her up or arrange for someone to if she couldn’t.”
“Wow, that seems like a lot for a manager to take on.” Amanda couldn’t imagine any bosses from her part-time jobs as a teen going to those lengths. “Do you remember their name?”
“Rita Cartwright.”
Rita…Tingles spread down Amanda’s arms. It wasn’t exactly a common name.
Trent glanced at Amanda. “How long did Ms.Cartwright work here?”
“She was here a bit. Say about seven years. She quit about fifteen years ago.”
That would have made Rita twenty when she had started the gallery. And she was a manager by the time Claire was hired two years later. Rita had climbed the ladder fast. But that might not mean anything. Then there was the fact Rita had quit around the time of Lawson’s murder. It could have been coincidental, but Amanda wasn’t a huge believer in coincidence. “Why did she quit?”
“She found work teaching art history at a university. The pay was much better than here, of course.” She gave the school’s name and added, “A job there is the equivalent of winning the lottery.”
“It’s not easy to be hired there?” Trent asked.
Louise shook her head. “Usually you only get in if you have connections to someone on the board.”
“Did Rita?” Amanda didn’t even know where this would take the case, but she’d keep tugging on strings until something came loose.
“Not that I know of, but we weren’t close. She was also a very private person.”
Rita Flynn was a university professor. Was Cartwright her maiden name? If so, the answer of how Rita and Claire met was answered. It didn’t fully explain what had led to the two bonding—it could just be their relative proximity in age, perhaps compared to other staff at the gallery, but Amanda had other suspicions. “How would you describe Ms.Cartwright’s relationship with Claire Ramsey?”
Louise’s lips tightened, then relaxed. “Rita seemed to watch over Claire.”
“Like a big sister?” Amanda asked.
“No, I wouldn’t say that. More like she didn’t really trust the girl.”
Interesting that Rita would let Claire continue to work at the gallery then. That didn’t gel with what Austin had told them about the women’s friendship. Had Rita been involved in the heists too, as she and Trent had considered before? That could be the bond they shared. And had Rita kept Claire close not because there was friendly affection between the two, but because Rita had Claire on a leash? Rita was six years older, a full-grown adult who could hold sway and manipulate a teenager. “If I told you Rita got married and had Claire as her maid of honor, what would be your response to that?”
“Surprise.”
“You’ve been terrific and a big help.” Amanda handed Louise her card and told her if she remembered any more about Rita or Claire to call her. “Malachi was to get a list together for us before we left. Could you follow up with him?”
Louise flushed. “I’m sorry, but I’d prefer not to interrupt him with Ms.Wimbledon in there. What was the list? Maybe I could help.”
“He was to get us a list of the employees who worked here during the time Claire Ramsey was here,” Amanda told her.
“No, I’m sorry, but I don’t have access to that part of the system.”
