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Within two hours, the plane touched down at the Asheville Regional Airport. Another town car was waiting to bring her to the Stillwell Art Center. She had hired it for the entire day. The minute she got in the car, the driver started babbling. “So, y’all going to that new art center?” He looked up into the rearview mirror.
“Yes.” Nothing more. Rowena thought that if she kept her shades on, he would not engage any further. She was wrong. He kept prattling about all the excitement of the new place and how they had raffled off a Lincoln, and who won and on and on. It became white noise in the background until he pulled up to the main entrance, and shouted, “I asked if you wanted me to wait outside, come back in an hour? You tell me, miss.”
“I’ll call you. What’s your number?” He rattled off the digits as she plugged them into her phone.
“Got any idea?”
“Not really.” She sat there until he got out to open her door.
Rowena entered the Stillwell Art Center, turning heads from all parts of the courtyard. She almost looked like a movie star. Almost. Or one might guess a high-class hooker, which would not be all that far from the truth. In spite of the amount of money she was wearing on her body, there was something about her that saidfraud. Her clothes were authentic couture, but there was something about the way she walked into Silver & Stone that immediately got under Chi-Chi’s skin.
“Good afternoon. Thank you for visiting my shop. I handmake all the items you see. All are authentic stones.” Chi-Chi swept her hand across the room. “Please. Look.”
“Uh. Thank you.” Rowena couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous jewelry, but she was on a mission. “Everything is beautiful.” She pretended interest in a large amethyst piece. “That’s awesome.”
“My friend is very fond of it, too.” Chi-Chi was getting a strange vibe from the woman. She retreated to the other side of the shop, trying to be inconspicuous.
The woman in white turned and said, “Thank you,” and left the shop. Chi-Chi coolly watched the woman make her way over to Cullen’s showroom. Chi-Chi knew that Cullen was on an errand, so thefemme en blancwould have to speak to Luna. Chi-Chi snickered to herself.If that woman is up to no good, Luna will suss it out.
She saw the woman stop in front of the glass door of Cullen’s showroom. Cullen’s sign was hanging in the window, indicating that people should go next door to the Namaste Café for information. The woman went inside the café and looked around.
Luna walked up to the striking woman. “Hello. Can I help you?”
Rowena gave Luna the once-over. Big mistake. Luna caught every nuance and cocked her head, as if to say,So?
“Oh, hello. I’m browsing for restored furniture.”
“Anything in particular?” Luna asked.Most people were much more specific. I’m looking for a mid-century desk, or I’m looking for a sideboard.Luna was immediately suspicious.
“Oh, you know how it goes. You look around until something grabs your eye?” Rowena hadn’t rehearsed her spiel. She didn’t think she was going to have to go through a watchdog first.
“My brother is running an errand. You are welcome to wait here. May I get you a cup of tea? Coffee?” Luna asked cordially.
“Thank you. I’ll have a cappuccino, please.” Of course, Rowena would request something that took a little extra time. Not much, but just enough. She didn’t even like cappuccino. She just liked the idea that someone was doing something for her that took time and effort.
Luna offered the woman in white a chair. “Coming right up.” As she turned, she caught Chi-Chi on the other side of the courtyard staring in her direction. Chi-Chi gave Luna an odd nod, but Luna got the message. Something about that woman. Luna had felt it the second Rowena had walked through the glass doors.
“Is this your first visit to Stillwell?” Luna asked loudly over the machine while she frothed the milk.
“Yes, it is.” Rowena didn’t want to offer too much information.
“Are you from around here?” Luna was pretending to make small talk.
Rowena wondered,Which one is this hippie-looking chick supposed to be, Cagney or Lacey?She almost laughed at her own joke.
Luna caught the snicker. “Sorry? Did you say something?”
“No. No. I thought I was going to cough.” Quick save.
Luna brought the steamed coffee over to Rowena and set it down. “Can I get you anything else? Scone?”
“No, thank you.” Now Rowena was thinking,This one is more like Aurora Teagarden from the Hallmark Channel. Sweet, librarian-ish.Rowena’s polar opposite.
Luna decided to take the matter into her own hands and stood on the opposite side of the table from where Rowena was sitting. “So, I’m an artist. I do sketches.”
“Uh-huh.” Rowena was trying to avoid Chatty Cathy by blowing across the foam on top of her coffee.What’s with people wanting to yack? Don’t they have any friends?
“I couldn’t help but notice your profile.” Luna was about to go into her supercharming mode. “You have a very regal look.”
