After She Wrote Him by Sulari Gentill

Author:Sulari Gentill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2020-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

A Pursuit of Justice

The gallery was in the process of bumping out the Willow Meriwether exhibition before hanging the next. Paintings were being taken down for packing and shipping to the art lovers and dealers who’d acquired them. The process was one of organised activity, bubble wrap, and paperwork.

Willow was watching as her grand debut was dismantled when Edward came in. A concerned curator intercepted him and asked his business.

“Ned! Hello!” Willow intervened and introduced Edward McGinnity. “Ned is my very dear friend. He’s come to support me. It is so very emotional watching one’s work come down.”

The curator smiled, mauve lips, bright, even teeth. “You should be delighted! I don’t know of many people who sell out their first exhibition.” She whispered, her hand splayed beside her mouth. “I believe your agent is being inundated with offers to host your next show.”

Willow managed to blush. “Yes, Adrian would be furious if he knew I was here and not at home painting. Still…” She gazed beseechingly at the curator. “Someone should be here to see the exhibition off.”

Eventually, the curator was persuaded that the show needed some sort of farewell. She handed Edward a security pass and waved them in.

They wandered amongst the activity, Willow telling Edward who had purchased each of her paintings: several private collectors and a corporate entity. Chearles Pty Ltd had acquired the majority of the works for what Edward presumed a tax-deductible display in a boardroom or foyer. Soon the artist and her ‘emotional support person’ became unnoticed as the curators worked to restore the gallery to pristine emptiness. As soon as Edward sensed that they were no longer of any interest, he guided Willow towards the fire stairwell in which Vogel had died. The police cordon had been removed and the landing cleaned.

“What are you doing?” Willow asked.

“I just wanted to have another look.”

“Why?”

“I’m trying to get it clear in my head how Vogel might have been lured into the fire stairs and murdered without anyone noticing.” Edward scanned the stairwell. “You know, it’s almost ironic that they don’t put fire alarms in the fire escape.”

Willow looked up at the ceiling several floors above. “You’re right, there’s no alarm.”

“Vogel was a smoker, wasn’t he?”

Willow nodded. “Yes. He used one of those Bakelite cigarette holders. Do you think he came in here to smoke?”

Edward started down the stairs. “He might have joined his killer here for a covert cigarette.”

“That might explain why no one noticed him being forced into the escape—he snuck out voluntarily.”

“So the killer could be someone he knows.”

“Who smokes,” Willow added.

“Could be.” Edward ran his eyes over the recently scrubbed landing on which they’d seen the body, not really sure what he was looking for. “Do you have a guest list for the opening, Will?”

“I could get one.”

“Would you, please?”

“Of course. But why?”

“It’s a place to start. I presume there’ll be names we can eliminate straightaway, and we’ll look through the others for those who Vogel might have joined for a cigarette.”

“So you’re…investigating?”

“Just looking into it.

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