His bloodied hands.
But the one that has always worried me, made me question my own sanity, is the face in profile where drops of red come from his mouth and stain his white shirt. That one stays inside the room’s closet; it’s never to be seen by anyone but me.
Looking down at Mr. Pickles, I arch my head toward the unfinished one where the man I’m calling the “Gate’s Keeper” stands at the top of a mountain of bodies, no faces on any of them. “You think this would scare Theodore if he saw it? Too much for a show?” His answer is a bark, a deep one that shakes his little body. “I agree. This is morbid.”
Then why do I keep coming back? Why would I even consider this? Questions I have no answer for. I’m also not ready to stop.
Something beckons me. Something controls me.
Another yip and I look down, bending a bit to scratch his head.
“Sticking to the original thought it is, then.” Standing back to my full height, I grab the half-done painting and place it against the farthest wall with the others before I start doing inventory. The Astor Gallery wants seven, and I have everything I need except a few paint supplies I need to stock up on. “Feel like going for a ride, or being lazy on the couch?”
As the last word leaves my mouth, my stomach rumbles. It’s already a little past five by the time I finished with today’s mission, and when I turn to head toward the door, my dog takes off like a bat out of hell.
His growls lead me to the kitchen where he’s standing in front of the back door, scratching at it.
“What the heck is wrong with you?” I’m rushing toward him when the doorknob jiggles and my instincts kick in. “Who the hell is there?” I yell out, and the movements stop and a few seconds later Mr. Pickles relaxes, sitting with his back facing me. A protective position. “It’s okay, boy. Let me just check.”
There’s a small window at the door with a roman shade that gives me privacy, and I pull it up, giving me sight to the vast backyard. There’s no one there, but I do find a note on the ground. It’s made out to me in that same stationary that Elise uses and I find a little tacky.
Why was she here?
Opening the door, I find the keys I’d given her half broken in the lock. She’s been trying to come inside. Makes me wonder how many times in the past she’s done this too.
I pick up the note and open it, reading the two lines that make my blood go from ice to pure fire.
Congratulations on signing yesterday, Gabriella.
Smart move on your behalf.
I’ll be in touch for both my payment and your help with Theodore.
Best Friends For Life.
XoXo
I’m on autopilot when I walk back inside while pulling out my cell phone. His number is the one I click, and it’s his voice that picks up after the second ring.
“I didn’t think I’d hear from you today, Gabriella.” Theodore’s voice comes through the line, his timbre always smooth as whiskey. “It’s a nice surprise.”
“I wish it was under better circumstances, but this isn’t a friendly call.”
“No?” There’s rustling on his end, a door opening and closing. “Are you okay?”
A deep sigh escapes me, and the note crumbles in my grip. “Yes and no.”
“Explain.”
“Do you have a company you trust to change some locks for me? I know it’s late in the day, but maybe you have a locksmith on file who takes emergency calls?”
“What happened, Gabriella? What aren’t you telling me?” It sounds like car keys jiggling on his end, and the wind has picked up too.
“Elise has keys, and I want everything changed.”
“Then I’ll be there in forty and with the locks in hand.”
“You’ll be here?”
“I think you should know I’m quite handy, Miss Moore.”
Only he could make me laugh right now, and I do. A giggle slips through without my approval. “Is that right? A regular old Handy Manny?”
“More like jack of all trades and master of all.”
“We’ll see about that.” My dog whines then, his body looking between me and the outside. He’s needing to go out and see for himself that it’s safe. “I’ll see you when you get here. Just come around to the back. I’ll be back there with Mr. Pickles seeing if she left anything else behind—”
“Anything else?” This leaves him on a low growl, and my brows furrow. Why does that upset him? He isn’t aware of our fight a few days ago, just my reservations after the disastrous brunch.
“Elise left a note.” There’s an uncomfortable feeling in my chest, this pressure that comes and goes as it pleases, and no amount of medical test over the years have found anything wrong with me. And yet, when I’m stressed, it makes its presence known like now.
“About?”
“A personal matter. Please leave it at that.”
“As you wish, Miss Moore. I’ll be there soon.” The dial tone greets my ears a minute later, and guilt grows right after. I shouldn’t feel that way, but I do, and I’m left stewing in my emotions while my dog runs around the yard.
