Found [Baxter 8] by Karen Kingsbury

Author:Karen Kingsbury
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Fiction, Christian, General
ISBN: 9781414349787
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 2006-01-02T00:00:00+00:00

Inside the gallery were group

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ings of artwork broken up by display cases of eclectic odds and ends. The place smelled of strong spices and incense.

An older woman worked the counter. She seemed distracted, placing price tags on a stack of candleholders. “Hello,” she said and smiled at him for a moment before returning to her work.

Dayne relaxed some. This was going to be easier than he thought. He tugged the bill of his baseball cap down lower on his forehead. “The paintings out front, the ones by Ashley Blake…”

“Yes.” The woman made a dreamy-sounding sigh. “The girl is absolutely brilliant.

I sell more of her work than anyone else’s in the gallery.”

He had thought about getting only one of her pieces, but it was impossible to decide which one. Each of them held a piece of his sister-a sister he would probably never know. If he couldn’t have a relationship with her, then he could have her paintings at least. He placed a credit card on the counter. “I’d like all three, please.”

“All thr-” Her tone changed. “Sir, have you looked at the price? Those paintings are eleven hundred dollars each. The frames are an extra two hundred and fifty each.”

“That’s fine.” Dayne casually turned from the register and began looking at a display a few feet away. He kept his face from the lady. He couldn’t afford to be recognized now, not when he was buying Ashley’s paintings. If the woman knew who he was she’d tell Ashley for sure. Dayne Matthews was here, and he bought three of your pieces!

The woman was punching in numbers on the register. “Okay, get ready for this.”

She punched a few more times. “Four thousand, three hundred and thirty dollars.

Including tax.”

He barely glanced over his shoulder. “You can use the card.” The Visa was perfect for helping him keep his cover. Like his driver’s license, it was issued under his middle and last names. Allen Matthews. A name common enough not to stir up attention.

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Dayne pretended to be studying an iron sculpture. “Oh, I need them shipped to IA. Is that okay?”

“Definitely.” She began pulling packing supplies from beneath the counter. “I’ll need you to fill out a shipping label.”

He did as she asked-using the mailbox he had in the San Fernando Valley. The postal service company knew him and were unaffected by his star status. They allowed him to have anything shipped there-no matter the size of the package.

Just before he took his card and receipt, the woman hesitated. “You look familiar.”

Dayne’s answer was quick. “My brother’s in here all the time. College kid at IN.” He raised his hand. “Gotta run. Got a plane to catch.”

“But aren’t you … ?”

He was out the door before she could finish the sentence. She wasn’t one to chase him down the street. Still, she was close to figuring it out, and that bothered him. If she told Ashley, she’d have to wonder. Or maybe she’d think it was because he’d given her a ride home one night.

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