AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Bella was kind and thoughtful,” Sophia responded as she linked her hands together. “She had a passion for art, and she was always eager to help artists who struggled to get their work shown. Never once did she make them feel as if they weren’t good enough to have a showing of their own.”
“Would you happen to know anything about her personal life?”
“This is Harbor,” Sophia said with a wry smile. “No one has a personal life. Everyone knows everything, which is why we were all shocked when we found out that she was murdered. It had to be someone from out of town, because no one here could have done something like that. Besides, everyone loved her.”
“Was Bella seeing someone?”
“She had an on-and-off relationship with Michael Davis. He’s a mortgage lender at our local bank, but he never really understood Bella’s passion about the art world. Let’s just say that she was completely through with him after he was caught cheating on her with some stripper in Baltimore.”
“What about friends?” Theo asked, all the while noting the way in which the art had become more eclectic as they made their way around the elegant gallery. “I know the two of you worked together, but were you close friends outside of work?”
There was a slight hesitation in Sophia’s response. By this time, they had come across a rather disturbing piece of art. It wasn’t that there was anything specific about the oil painting. It was merely a mixture of very dark colors, but the blood red streaks embedded to the right side of the canvas gave an ominous attribute to the work.
“No. Bella and her family are from here. I am, too, but my family…well, my mother worked for the Kingston family,” Sophia replied as she tilted her chin in defiance, as if Theo would think less of her. It was the exact opposite. “You might say that we ran in different circles. Anyway, I went to the community college for an associate degree in business, but I couldn’t turn down the chance to apply for the gallery after Felicia got married and moved to Annapolis with her new husband.”
Theo made a mental note to reach out to Felicia. Bit would be able to ascertain the woman’s last name, but it sounded as if she worked longer with Bella than Sophia.
“This is…” Theo was at a loss for words as they still stood in front of the disturbing painting. “Unsettling.”
“Lauren Kim,” Sophia responded with an understanding nod. “Believe it or not, she has quite the following. Bella discovered her a few years ago, and—”
“Sophia, I have a meeting with—” A man in his mid-forties had stepped out from a backroom, which Theo presumed was an office of sorts. Maybe a storage room. “I apologize. I didn’t realize that you were with a customer.”
“Maxwell Vanderbilt, this is Theo Neville.” Sophia introduced the two of them as she stepped to the side so that they could shake hands. Maxwell didn’t veer his gaze away from Theo’s patch. If anything, there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “Mrs. Jameson has hired a private firm to investigate Bella’s murder.”
Maxwell had short-cropped hair and wore a pair of silver-rimmed glasses that did nothing to hide the thickness of his brows. He was dressed impeccably with a black wool coat thrown over his left arm.
“If Lorelei and Robert hired you, I can only presume that your firm is the best,” Maxwell said with a tinge of remorse. “Horrible tragedy. We all loved Bella. She had a gift for finding new artists, and she was always so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the art that we chose to display here at the gallery. Robert was right when he said that I wouldn’t regret hiring her.”
“Is that how Bella came to have the job as art curator?” Theo asked with interest. Lorelei hadn’t mentioned that small fact to Brook. Whether it had any bearing on the case remained to be seen. “You make it sound like you’re more than acquaintances with the Jamesons.”
“Oh, Robert and I go way back,” Maxwell said as he slipped his arms through the sleeves of his coat. “Our families have been friends for as long as I can remember, and I didn’t hesitate when Robert asked me to interview Bella. While she wouldn’t have been my first choice given her inexperience, I didn’t regret hiring her. She went above and beyond to bring in unique artists and their work.”
“Can you tell me anything about Bella’s life outside of the gallery?” Theo asked as he observed Maxwell smooth the lapels of his dress coat before fastening one of the large black buttons. “Friends, relationships, any problems that she might have been dealing with before her murder?”
“Bella always had a smile on her face,” Maxwell replied as he glanced toward Sophia as if seeking her agreement. “I don’t recall her saying anything unusual back then. She had broken things off with Michael Davis that year, but it wasn’t like her decision to do so upset anyone. Bella was too good for someone like him, anyway. Although, I do recall Bella avoiding a call from an old classmate of hers. Oh, what was her name…”
“Are you thinking of Rachel Lee?” Sophia asked with curiosity. “Rachel was just being Rachel. She gets very attached to her friends, and Bella didn’t want to go down that road.”
“Jealousy would be a more accurate term,” Maxwell replied wryly before looking at his watch. “Although Sophia does have a point. I don’t know Rachel personally, but I have heard that she can be one of those suffocating people who needs to be in your business twenty-four-seven.”
“Anyone else?” Theo asked now that the two of them had provided some substantial information. He pulled out the small notebook and pencil that he always carried with him when he was out in the field. He jotted down the names that he would need to research after returning to the cottage. “Had Bella ever mentioned receiving hang-up calls or maybe name someone specific who made her uncomfortable? Maybe a customer? Artist? Delivery person?”
“No, not that I can think of,” Maxwell responded as his cell phone alerted him of a text message. Theo had noticed the way that Sophia had frowned slightly upon the man’s answer. Since Maxwell’s phone was clipped to his belt, it didn’t take him long to read the display. “It looks as if my meeting has been canceled. Since I don’t have to go out, Sophia, would you mind making a delivery for me?”
“Of course,” Sophia replied with a tight smile.
“Do you have any other questions for us, Mr. Neville?” Maxwell asked, efficiently bringing Theo’s visit to a close.
Theo purposefully took his time storing his small notebook and pencil back into the pocket of his dress shirt underneath the lapel of his coat. He’d exchanged the items for two business cards. Sophia’s gaze remained locked with Maxwell’s stare, and there was clearly some information that the two of them were holding back.
“Not at the moment, but I do appreciate the two of you taking time out of your day.” Theo shook their hands once more before handing them each his contact information. “Please reach out to me if you recall anything of importance in the days leading up to Bella’s murder.”
“Of course. Anything we can do to help you catch Bella’s killer.”
Theo offered both of them a polite nod before making his way toward the exit. The cold air hit him, but the weather could have been worse. The bitter temperatures might have arrived for the winter, but the East Coast hadn’t really been gifted any significant amount of snow as of yet.
Seeing as the art gallery was located on the corner of an intersection, Theo assumed that Sophia and Maxwell parked on the side street to give customers easier access to the storefront. Once he turned the corner, he walked far enough to where he could lean up against the brick wall. Sophia clearly hadn’t agreed with Maxwell’s answer regarding Bella being uneasy around a customer, artist, or delivery person.
