Through the Glass (25 page)

She returned to her desk and stared at her phone. Who could she trust with this? She snorted. Of course,
Jim
would be the only one she would trust with this kind of thing. He was sensible and level headed.
He
would know what to do. She picked up the receiver but immediately put it back down. She couldn’t just call him out of the blue. That would be ridiculous. She felt like she was ready to scream.

She surmised that Chester was somehow involved but couldn’t prove that yet. Considering she was an Oxford graduate from Hampshire, this kind of thing was relatively new to her, and she had not one single clue as to how to go about solving such a crime. She was no detective. And she could be implicated in this, too, if the criminal behind it found out she knew. This was not good.
So
not good.

Suddenly, Lia breezed in. “Hey there. Brought you a cupcake from the little bakery across the street. They are sooo delicious.” She rolled her eyes as she spoke.

How sweet
. Lia had worked here awhile. She would know wouldn’t she? If dodgy dealings were going on? Or would she? She had been sympathetic to Chester before. But she was so nice. Maybe she just felt sorry for him? She couldn’t possibly be aware. “You okay, Felicity? You don’t look too good. You’re…real pale.” Lia’s eyes showed her concern.

“Erm…no…I don’t
feel
too good. I think I have a migraine coming on.” She rubbed her temples.

“I have some pain pills.” Lia stepped closer to Felicity’s desk. “I could bring them to you.”

“That would be great… Yes, please, Lia.” Felicity nodded but it hurt to do so. Lia disappeared and quickly returned with the tablets and a glass of chilled water. Felicity downed two of the tablets and took a large gulp of water. “Thank you so much.”

“Maybe you should go home… I mean back to the hotel? You look so very pale. We can manage here. It’s been quiet all day.”

As much as Felicity hated to admit it, Lia was right. Plus she needed to distance herself from her discovery for a while and think. Formulate a plan. She stood and wobbled, the pain in her head causing the dizziness and a wave of nausea to wash over her. She grabbed her bag by the strap, but everything fell out as she did.

“Here, let me help you there.” Lia crouched to put the items back in Felicity’s bag. “Come on, I’ll walk you out and hail you a cab.” Lia put her arm around Felicity’s waist.

“You’re being so lovely. I do appreciate it.” Felicity smiled.

“Hey, that’s what friends are for.” The two women walked toward the exit.

Lia hailed a yellow cab and waited until Felicity got inside okay. She instructed the driver where to go and waved goodbye to Felicity. “I’ll call you later,” Lia called with the look of concern still in place. Felicity held her hand up in a wave but was struck by dizziness again as she turned her head.

Back in her suite, she sunk onto her bed, not really knowing how she managed to coherently pay the driver and make her way up to her rooms. The events of the day had just about knocked her sideways, but she couldn’t think about it now. She decided to let sleep take her and she would think more tomorrow. Thankfully sleep came quickly as the pain pills kicked in and she drifted off.

~~~~~

A phone was ringing somewhere. Felicity opened her eyes and carefully sat. She realised it was her cell phone that was in fact making the noise. She clambered of the bed and stood. Her head felt much better but there was still a dull ache at the back of her skull that reminded her of why she was here and not at work. The room was dark apart from the light of the lamp in the corner. She fumbled around and managed to find what she was looking for.

“Hello?” she croaked.

“Finally!” Lia sighed heavily at the other end of the line. “I was getting so worried, Felicity. I was ready to send for paramedics or something. How’re you feeling?”

“Oh…you know…fair to crap.” She yawned.

“Well, do you want me to come over and look after you? I have nothing planned. I could bring you some food up?”

Bless her
. “No, no, it’s fine, Lia. Probably better if I get some more sleep. I feel completely drained.” She rubbed her head again. “What time is it?”

“It’s after eight. I wanted to give you long enough to sleep off the migraine. Do you get them often?” Lia’s question stopped Felicity for a moment.

“Do you know… I don’t remember the last time I had one. It’s probably over a year ago now.” Felicity actually
knew
the last one she had was on the day she left Jim.

“Well, something must have triggered it. I think you should consider seeing a doctor. I can recommend one if you’d like me to. But for now, get some more sleep and stay home tomorrow if you feel bad. Honestly, Felicity, we can manage without you for a couple days.”

“That’s very sweet, Lia, but I have a serious job to do at that gallery. I can’t afford time off.”

Lia sighed. “Okay, you’re the boss. Sleep well. You have my cell. If you need anything just call, okay?”

“Okay, thanks again, Lia. I really appreciate it.” She hung up.

~~~~~

The next time Felicity awoke it was to the sound of her alarm clock. With trepidation she lifted her head, anxiously awaiting the thud, thud, thud of her headache. Thankfully it didn’t happen. Pulling herself to a sitting position, she suddenly remembered what had caused her headache to get so bad in the first place. She let out a long groan. She had to
really
think through what to do next about their little stash of art forgeries, and to ensure it was dealt with as soon as possible but without any innocent parties being implicated.

She climbed into the shower, turning the dial as hot as she could stand it. Maybe she could scald some ideas into her brain and wash the remnants of the issues down the drain? Neither of those things happened.
Dammit.
She readied herself for work, blow-drying her blonde hair roughly and pinning it up into chignon. She applied a little makeup and put on her charcoal grey pantsuit. She was ready.

When she arrived at the gallery, Sarah was already there, making a pot of fresh coffee. She smiled at Felicity as she arrived. “Good morning, Felicity. Kyle called. He’ll be a little late in.”

“Okay. Is everything alright?” Felicity enquired.

“His daughter is running a fever and his wife is suffering with morning sickness, so he has to run his daughter to see the paediatrician.”

“Oh dear. I hope she’ll be okay.” Felicity’s concern was fleeting and she felt a little guilty. But she needed to get into her office and formulate some kind of plan.

Lia arrived carrying her staple take out black coffee and a bran muffin in a brown paper bag. She poked her head around Felicity’s door. “Hey. You’re looking much better today.”

“Thanks I feel it. Lia…can I speak with you for a moment?”

“Sure…this sounds ominous. You look serious.” Lia’s brow furrowed as she walked in and began to walk over to the chair opposite Felicity.

“Close the door first please,” Felicity requested. Lia looked very worried.

“Uh-oh…am I in trouble?” Lia placed her cup and bag on the desk.

Felicity smiled as warmly as she could. “No, nothing like that. I need to speak to you in confidence. A serious matter has come to my attention.”

Lia frowned. “Oh? What serious matter?”

“Lia…you know the storeroom at the end of the break room?”

“Yesss? The
damages den
as I like to call it…what about it?” Lia looked confused.

“I went in to assess how many damaged pieces there are. I’m trying to get a very broad picture of what needs to be dealt with…you understand?”

“Yesss?” Lia was still looking confused.

“I made a rather startling discovery,” Felicity informed her.

Lia’s mouth dropped open and she leaned forward. “Really? How much damaged stuff was in there?”

“None. Not one damaged thing, Lia.”

Lia touched her hands to her face. “What? I don’t understand? Where’s it all gone? Chester said it was in there—” Lia now looked panicked. Her face had coloured up red.

“No, no there
were
pieces in there. Just not…
damaged
ones.”

Lia shook her head. “I’m sorry, Felicity. I don’t remember Chester dealing with them
all
before he left. I may be coming across dumb here, but I don’t get—”

“Forgeries, Lia.”

“I’m sorry? What?” Lia’s face paled, and her eyes widened like a startled animal.

“I found row upon row of forged pieces. Copies. I know this because there were several copies of
Jagged Heart
by Edward Vincent, a one off piece that I sold in London to a very private millionaire businessman and
that
one was the original. I took delivery of it in person from the artist himself.”

“Are…are you accusing
me
of having some kind of involvement in this?” Lia’s face continued its colour journey, this time it went white and her eyes became glassy.

“No! God, Lia no don’t be silly! Not at all.” Felicity shook her head vigorously, and Lia heaved a sigh of relief.

Lia visibly relaxed. “Phew…I really thought I was in seriously deep shit for a moment there.”

“No. But I think I
do
know who is involved.”

“You do?” Lia looked inquisitively at Felicity.

“I think it may be Chester.”

Lia laughed loudly. “Chester? No way! He was so…
straight laced
. Honestly. He would never do something like that, Felicity…I swear it.”

“Think about it, Lia. He was letting the pressure get to him. He was making lots of mistakes. He was in over his head. I think we need to speak to Franco.”

“No!” Lia spat making Felicity jump. “I-I mean, no, he wouldn’t do that.” Desperation filled her voice. “There must be a mistake. Why don’t we do a little bit of detective work? We could figure it out between ourselves, then decide what to do? I’ll help. Wouldn’t it be better to go to Franco with more evidence than a room full of fakes?”

Felicity thought about it for a moment. Admittedly, it would be better to go to Franco once they had more evidence. And she couldn’t just go accusing someone simply because he was suffering with his health. Perhaps Lia was right? They could do some digging around and see what they could find out.

She sighed. “Yes, maybe you’re right. Maybe we should do a little digging. I don’t really know where to start.”

“Okay, look, I know Chester. We worked together a hell of a long time. He was a good friend. I could, you know, do a little subtle digging with him. I could arrange to go see him.”

Felicity shook her head. “No, Lia. I can’t risk you being in any danger.”

“Look, like I said, I know him very well. He’s
not
a violent man. He’s sweet, gentle, and kind. He wouldn’t hurt me. I promise you that.”

Felicity pondered again. “Okay…if you’re sure you know him well enough.”

“I do. Leave it with me. If he is in on it, I can assure you that I’ll be able to tell.” Lia seemed determined to help Felicity get to the bottom of this.

“Great. Well…let me know when you’ve been in touch with him, okay?”

“Sure.” Lia stood. “Oh, I’m sorry is that all?” Lia asked turning back to Felicity.

“Absolutely. I think that’s enough drama for one day, don’t you?” Felicity rolled her eyes, trying to make light of a very dark situation.

Chapter 21

March 2012 — Three Years and One Month After the Break-up

The art forgeries weighed heavily on Felicity’s mind and somehow the whole situation made her homesick. Being in New York wasn’t all it had been cracked up to be. Since discovering the stash in the storeroom, Lia had been meeting with Chester to try and wheedle information out of him. Her reports back to Felicity were telling her that things were on track. Felicity wanted things to move along faster as this matter needed to be dealt with and over.

Soon.

“Look, I can’t just rush in there and say,
Hey Chester, were you selling knock off art work when you were at the gallery?
He would run for the hills and then where would we be? If he
is
involved we need to be gentle, Felicity. He isn’t well and he needs to be treated with kid gloves.”

“I know…I get it…I do. I’m just worried that the longer those things are here, the more chance there is that we could
all
be implicated too.” Felicity shuddered at the thought.

Lia nodded. “I know. But that’s why we need the evidence to stack up. So
we
are
not
implicated.”

Felicity felt like a schoolgirl sulking because she wasn’t allowed to tell a secret. What Lia was saying made sense. She just wanted the matter out of her headspace.

“I’d better go. I’ll be late for my appointment with the realtor.” Felicity stood to leave.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come along? I know the best places to live and if the realtor tries to rent you somewhere gross or in a bad area I could be there to get your back?”

Felicity shook her head and smiled at the gesture. “I’m a big girl, Lia. I think I can handle apartment hunting.”

~~~~~

Maddison Kennedy met Felicity outside the first apartment block. It was an older building but not quite as old as some of the buildings in London. It had character but she just wasn’t sure. Although she did need somewhere to live. She decided it would be best to keep as open a mind as she possibly could manage. After walking up two flights of stairs, Felicity realised just how unfit she had become.
Why…is…there…no…elevator?

“And here we are. Number two fifteen. Come on in.” Felicity followed the petite redhead into the flat. She had to stay a couple of steps away so as not to be knocked out by the overpowering perfume that Miss Kennedy wore. “As you can see it’s open plan, much the same as most of the apartments in the city. It has that old world charm, don’t you think?”

“Erm…yes…I suppose so.”
If by old world charm you mean wallpaper that Noah himself could have chosen, wiring of death, and a peculiar smell of cabbage.
 She walked around the room. The kitchen area was small and dingy. Someone had painted the cupboards in a dark green for some strange reason. The lounge area had fitted bookshelves, which were probably the nicest thing about the place. There was only just enough room to put a small table by the window.