Behind the Canvas by Alexander Vance

Author:Alexander Vance
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250080257
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

CHAPTER 18

CASH’S GROWL intensified, his eyes fixed on Pim.

“It’s okay, Cash,” Claudia said. “This is who I was looking for. This is Pim.”

Cash barked viciously. “I know who he is. This chump owes me money. Has for a long time.”

Pim looked at Cash skeptically. “Your puppy dog can talk.”

“Watch yourself, buddy. My bite is worse than my bark.”

“I’m sure it would be if you had a step stool high enough to reach anything,” Pim retorted.

Cash crouched and bared his teeth. “Listen here—”

“Cash!” Claudia snapped. “This isn’t helping.”

“Don’t listen to anything he says, kid. He’s a witch-son, this one. Can’t trust him.”

She couldn’t trust him. That’s what her mind told her, too. But her heart needed to hear what he had to say. “Why don’t you give us a few minutes, Cash?”

The dog looked up at her doubtfully.

“I’ll be okay,” she added.

He gave one more fierce growl in Pim’s direction. “This time I don’t let you outta my sight ’til I collect. Right, friend?” He then retreated halfway to the edge of the clearing, where he lay down.

“I see you’ve made some friends,” Pim said.

“I had to. You said you’d be with me the whole way. That didn’t quite happen.”

“No, it didn’t. When I saw you enter the Rubens painting, I knew it would be difficult to find you. For you to have made it this far—I’m very impressed.”

She didn’t say anything.

Pim continued. “I take it … I assume you’ve heard a few things about me.”

She squeezed her fists, poking her nails into her palms. It was time to find out the truth, for better or worse. “Everyone has something to say about you around here. Cornelis, Rembrandt, Cash—”

“Cornelis? You met the three Dutchmen? Well, then you must have quite the picture painted of me.”

“Is it true? The things they say?”

Pim’s gaze wavered, then fell to the ground.

To Claudia, his reaction was as good as an admission of guilt, and like a fist to her stomach. “Why did you lie to me?” she whispered. “Why did you bring me here?”

Pim’s jaw tightened and he closed his eyes. “I did warn you, Claudia. I swear I did.” He looked at her, eyes moist and wild. “I told you not to get tangled up in my story. I should never have let it happen.”

“Are you my friend? Or was that all a lie?” She couldn’t keep a tremble out of her voice.

“Our friendship was never a lie. Never. I only lied to you once. I tried not to. After so long … to be so close … I couldn’t help it. But there are as many ways to lie as there are to mix paint. It wasn’t the lie I told you that made the difference, but all the truths I didn’t tell.”

“What lie did you tell me?”

He ran his hands through his hair. “At Granny Custos’s house. When I told you my story. I didn’t actually…” He took a long breath and began pacing back and forth. “We were painting Nee Gezicht’s portrait, Master Verspronck and I.

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