Fit of Tempera by Mary Daheim

Author:Mary Daheim [Daheim, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mary Daheim, Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2010-03-22T04:00:00+00:00

TEN

JUDITH WAS FRESH out of advice. All she could do was ask for an explanation.

“It’s simple,” Iris replied, now more glum than sulky. “Dewitt came to get the painting yesterday afternoon.” She paused to let the meaning of her words sink in on the cousins. “Riley stalled him, according to Dewitt, saying that Clive had to be on hand to broker the deal. But Clive didn’t show, according to Dewitt, so he told Riley he’d come back later. Which he did. You know that—you were there. But, of course, Riley had given you the painting by then. You didn’t know it was Dewitt’s, and then it was taken from here.” She jerked her head in the direction of the cabin at her back. “I can’t imagine why Riley pulled such a stunt, but he did. The canvas he gave you has to be ‘Spring River.’ Nothing else is missing.”

Not for the first time did Judith try to think of a plausible reason why Riley would give her a painting he’d already sold. Again she failed to come up with a credible answer. “So Dewitt wants to sue for breach of contract?” She asked.

Iris seemed close to tears, though more out of frustration than sorrow. “Something like that. The man’s a snake. Riley didn’t like him, and it had nothing to do with the fact that Dewitt married his ex-wife. If I hadn’t known Riley better, I would have thought he was afraid of Dewitt. But I can’t think why.”

The frogs had chanted their last encore; the brief silence was broken only by the sound of the rolling river. “Does Dewitt have that much influence in the art community?” Judith finally inquired of both Iris and Renie.

It was Renie who answered. “No. I can’t think of any one person who has serious clout. We don’t live in that kind of visual arts environment in this part of the country.”

Iris was nodding agreement. “In fact, Erica is probably more influential than Dewitt. But Riley had no qualms about her. As far as I’m concerned,” she went on a bit heatedly, “he was far too kind when it came to Erica. If she hadn’t been such a rotten wife to him, he wouldn’t have turned so sour on marriage.”

“Have you talked to Clive?” asked Renie. “Not only was he here last night, but so was Dewitt.”

“Really?” Iris turned from cousin to cousin. “Maybe Dewitt stole the canvas while Clive was passed out. But what does he do with a stolen ‘Spring River’?” Apparently stymied, she twisted her hands together.

Judith slouched in her place on the steps. She could think of nothing to say to comfort Iris. Frustration hung on the night air, heavy as the mountain dew.

Iris sighed. “I can’t believe that Clive would resort to chicanery. Why should he? If the canvas is sold, he gets his commission. I’ve always trusted Clive. Except…” She ran a hand over her sleek dark hair. “I trusted him because Riley did. But I know he’s been actively, even aggressively, seeking new clients to represent.

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