Secret Protector by Peterson Ann Voss

Author:Peterson, Ann Voss [Peterson, Ann Voss]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Suspense
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-12-03T23:12:28+00:00

Chapter Ten

“What were you doing in my office?”

Natalie’s heartbeat stuttered in her chest. She tried for words, but she couldn’t grasp any that made sense. Her fallback, the bathroom excuse, obviously wouldn’t fly. She looked past Max and focused on Gray at the end of the hall.

He gave her a tight smile, as if everything was under perfect control.

“No explanation? Then I can only assume you and your friend here are trying to rob me.” Max reached for his phone. “I’m calling the police.”

“Go ahead.” Gray stepped toward Max. At well over six feet, Gray towered over him. “And when you do, ask for Natalie’s brother, Detective Ash Kendall. I’m sure he’d like to know why you vandalized her studio, destroyed half a dozen paintings and stole a couple more.”

Max’s eyebrows shot toward his synthetic hairline. “What are you talking about?”

Natalie looked at Gray as well, waiting for the explanation.

“You broke into Natalie’s house and vandalized some of her paintings and stole others. Don’t bother denying it.”

“Okay, I won’t bother. But then I have nothing to say, because I wasn’t there.”

Gray picked up one of the cartons Max had taken from the office. He reached inside and pulled out a canvas.

Natalie could have sworn Max turned a shade paler. After all the times Max Miles had tried to bully her, she couldn’t help feeling as if she was finally getting a little justice.

Gray turned the canvas around.

It was a painting of a dark figure in a shadowy room. A drapery floated in the background, white and tattered, and red pooled on the floor.

“Where did you get this?” Natalie demanded.

“Demetrius Jones brought it in yesterday. He said it was one of yours.”

Natalie’s face felt hot. She could feel Gray watching her, waiting for some kind of explanation. “Is there another in the other crate?”

Max nodded.

Gray pulled out his phone. “Don’t bother making that call to the police, Miles. I’ll make it for you.”

“Wait.” Natalie held up a hand.

Gray paused, questions in his eyes.

Natalie looked once again at the painting. The dark colors. The shadowy figure just like the one she’d painted so many times. The bright red of blood. “This painting isn’t one of mine.”

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