For every evil, p.26
For Every Evil,
p.26
“I don’t believe in fate,” said Sophie.
“Neither do I,” said Rudy.
Sophie cocked her head. “What do you mean? If you don’t believe in predestination, how can you believe in prophecy?”
“Oh, no!” shrieked Bram, covering his ears with his hands. “Not another religious discussion.”
“Get used to them.” Sophie smiled, then rose and walked into the kitchen. She shouted over her shoulder, “Once we’ve settled all that, we’re starting on Minnesota politics.”
44
On Monday morning, Ben rushed to the door, a towel wrapped around his waist. He’d just gotten out of the shower. Rhea was in the bedroom getting ready for her class at the dance studio.
“Morning,” said a Federal Express driver as Ben opened the door. “Got a package here for Ben and Rhea Kiran.”
“I’m Ben.”
“Okay. Sign this.” He held the clipboard steady. When Ben was finished, he handed him the parcel and said, “Have a nice day.”
“You, too.” Ben took the package and shook it next to his ear.
“Who was that?” asked Rhea, breezing out of the bedroom and ducking immediately into the kitchen. “Breakfast should be ready in ten minutes — that is, unless you want to reconsider and settle for toaster waffles.”
He turned up his nose. “I’d rather eat sawdust.”
“No, you wouldn’t.”
She was right. He wouldn’t. He stepped into the kitchen and watched her at work next to the sink. She was chopping peppers and onions. God, but he loved her. He never wanted her to go away again. But what could he offer other than a bunch of unpaid bills and worthless dreams? “It was Federal Express.”
“What was?”
“The guy at the door.”
“Oh.” She turned. “Something important?” He could see the look of worry on her face. “I don’t know.” He opened one of the drawers and removed a sharp knife, making short work of the wrapping. “It’s … a painting.” He turned it around, so Rhea could see, giving her a puzzled shrug. “Is there a note?”
“I don’t know.” He rummaged through the paper. “Yes. It’s a letter.”
“Well, open it up.” She moved closer. “It’s from … Louie Sigerson.” He gave her a bewildered look. “Who the hell is Louie Sigerson?”
“You know. That guy we met at the Micklenberg party. He’s a lawyer. A friend of Ivy’s.”
“The drunk?”
“He’s not a drunk, Ben. He was just sad that evening. His wife had just died.”
“Oh. Sorry. I didn’t know.” He returned his attention to the paper, reading out loud:
Dear Rhea and Ben.
Here is a small gift. It’s a painting I’ve never really liked. I hope it will bring you more joy than it ever has me. I have it on good authority that it’s worth money, though I have no idea how much. Sell it or keep it, whatever you like, but put it to good use. I know you will. By the way, Rhea, I tried talking to Charles Squire about that little matter of rehiring Ben for the shoot. I’m sorry to say, I struck out. I guess I’m hoping this gift will make up for my failure. I don’t like feeling useless. This way, maybe I’ve helped you after all. I wish you both a wonderful life.
With all good thoughts,
Louie
Ben looked up. “When did you talk to him?”
“Early last week.”
“You asked him to call Chuck Squire?”
“I thought maybe he could help.”
Ben shook his bead in amazement.
“You’re not mad?”
“Of course not At this point, I’d take help from anyone.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek and then returned his gaze to the letter. “Can you beat that?”
Rhea lifted the painting off the table, examining it with growing interest “Ben?”
“Uhm?” He was reading through the note again.
“Look at the signature on this.”
“What’s it say?”
“De Kooning.”
“Is that good?”
She took hold of his arm to steady herself. “Very good.”
“How good?”
“I’m not sure, but I think we’ve just been handed a fortune.”
He took die painting and stared at it “Why would a man we hardly know do something like this?”
“I don’t know. We’ve got to call him right away and thank him.”
Ben set the painting on the table and then held her shoulders. “All right. But first, I have a question.”
“What?”
“You have to answer honesty.”
“I’m always honest.”
He narrowed one eye. “All right. Do you love me?”
She gazed up into his handsome face. “You know I do.”
“Then whatever this picture means, for better or for worse, we’re together. A team.”
“Yes, Ben. We’re together.”
He crushed her in his arms. “All that’s left is to make it official.”
“What are you saying?”
“I refuse to live in sin any longer.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“It’s time to go find a ring.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “Again.”
“Do you think we should?”
“Why not?”
“I don’t mind living in sin.”
He thought for a moment. “You afraid to make a commitment?”
She backed up a step, yanking off his towel. “Do I look like a woman afraid of commitment?”
“No, actually you don’t.”
“Then it’s settled.”
Very gently, he touched her cheek. “You won’t regret it.”
“I know,” she said, leaning against his bare chest. “This time, no matter what it takes, we’re going to get it right.”
About the Author
Ellen Hart is the author of twenty-six crime novels in two different series. She is a five-time winner of the Lambda Literary Award for Best Lesbian Mystery, a three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award for Best Popular Fiction, a three-time winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award, a recipient of the Alice B Medal, and was made an official GLBT Literary Saint at the Saints & Sinners Literary Festival in New Orleans in 2005. In 2010, Ellen received the GCLS Trailblazer Award for lifetime achievement in the field of lesbian literature. Entertainment Weekly named her one of the “101 Movers and Shakers in the Gay Entertainment Industry.” For the past fourteen years, Ellen has taught “An Introduction to Writing the Modern Mystery” through the The Loft Literary Center, the largest independent writing community in the nation.
About the Cover
Custom ebook cover design created by Kathy Kruger, the Main Mouse at Whistling Mouse Illustration & Design. Contact Kathy at http://www.whistlingmouse.com or whistlingmouse@earthlink.net.
Also by Ellen Hart
The Jane Lawless Mystery Series:
Hallowed Murder
Vital Lies
Stage Fright
A Killing Cure
A Small Sacrifice
Faint Praise
Robber’s Wine
Wicked Games
Hunting the Witch
The Merchant of Venus
Immaculate Midnight
An Intimate Ghost
The Iron Girl
Night Vision
The Mortal Grove
Sweet Poison
The Mirror and the Mask
The Cruel Ever After
The Sophie Greenway Mystery Series:
This Little Piggy Went to Murder
For Every Evil
The Oldest Sin
Murder in the Air
Slice and Dice
Dial M for Meat Loaf
Death on a Silver Platter
No Reservations Required
Table of Contents
Cast of Characters
Epigraph
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
About the Author
Also by Ellen Hart
Ellen Hart, For Every Evil
