The Fine Art of Deception: Undoing Time by Alyssa Richards

Author:Alyssa Richards [Richards, Alyssa]
Language: ara
Format: epub
Published: 2015-01-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Ellen eyed Otto behind his desk as she tentatively entered his office. “You needed to see me? I got your text.”

“Oh, Ellen, I didn’t think you’d be here so early this morning. Come in and shut the door.”

“I was just catching up on some things before next week’s auction—”

“I’d like you to have this painting moved into the vault either late tonight or tomorrow before we open for business.” Otto pointed at the painting of Madonna and Child. “From now on, only the replicas are to be exhibited in the office. Originals will be held in the vault until they’re moved out.”

Ellen’s stomach clenched. A thread of fear snaked its way through her vocal chords, effectively closing her throat. Otto was fanatical about surrounding himself with the best of the best. If he was putting the replicas up, something serious must be going on.

“I won’t be able to get the movers here until tomorrow, but I’ll take care of it.”

Otto smiled reassuringly at Ellen, then walked around his desk and dialed a number on his cell phone. “In fact, after you put that one away, why don’t you bring out an entirely new piece?”

“Of course. Which one would you like?”

“Surprise me.” Otto crooked the phone against his shoulder, opened the small drawer on the left side of his desk, and popped a small pill into his mouth.

Ellen walked to her office, sat at her desk, and closed her eyes. She could spot the telltale signs. She could see it in his eyes, feel it in his mood. He had a new plan he was about to put in play. The feel of it was eerily reminiscent of earlier plans that had gone wrong.

She remembered when Otto had met someone whose knowledge and passion for art rivaled his own, someone who had a gift for seeing things that other people couldn’t. Someone he fell in love with from the near moment he met her.

Now, as before, Ellen could see the characters and situations begin to take shape. She could feel it.

The past had started to repeat itself.

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