Rarities Unlimited 03 - Die in Plain Sight

while I check out the upstairs,” Ian said. “The firemen told me there wasn’t any structural damage, but I want to be sure. Then I’ll take photos and board up the broken windows.”
    Numbly, Lacey nodded. The shop didn’t burn down, so just suck it up and stop sniveling. It can’t be as bad as it looks.
    Susa put her arm around Lacey’s waist and hugged her like she was one of her own daughters, silently telling the younger woman that she wasn’t alone.
    Ian came back down the stairs with a carefully neutral expression. “Okay, it’s safe up there. Are you sure your paintings aren’t covered by insurance?”
    “According to the IRS, I haven’t sold enough to move from the hobby category,” Lacey said matter-of-factly. “Galleries don’t want you until you sell, and you can’t sell until you’re in galleries.” She shrugged andstarted for the stairs. “Which is a long way of saying I’m sure my paintings aren’t insured because they have no market value.”
    Susa stared at Lacey’s back. It had never occurred to her that an artist of Lacey’s talent wasn’t represented in galleries. “Well,” Susa said distinctly, “that’s going to change. You’ll be exhibiting in galleries up and down the coast.”
    Lacey stumbled on one of the steps. She looked back over her shoulder. “Excuse me?”
    “You heard me. I won’t have talent like yours hidden in the loft of a secondhand shop.” Susa walked briskly toward the stairs. “Your first exhibit will be called From the Ashes. It will open in the Visions Gallery in Seattle on Thanksgiving and run through Christmas.”
    “What are you talking about?” Lacey asked.
    “A gallery exhibit, what else?” Susa passed her on the stairway. “Put a boogie on it, girl. We only have an hour or so before we have to change and go painting. This gallery owner is one picky bitch. She’ll only want your best work, so you have a lot of painting to do in the next few months.”
    Lacey just stared after Susa.
    “Better hustle,” Ian said, grinning. “Susa on a mission is something to see.”
    “But Visions is one of the most famous galleries in the United States for debuting new plein air artists. She can’t just…”
    “Sure she can. She owns the place.”
    Lacey’s jaw dropped. “Holy shit.”
    He leaned over and kissed her swiftly. “You’re good, darling. Your parents might never get it, but it’s way past time that you do. Now go help that picky bitch do triage on your paintings.”
    She blinked back sudden tears. “Grandpa’s the only one who ever believed in me.”
    “Now there are three.”
    She looked questioningly at him.
    “Susa, me, and your grandpa.” He kissed her again. “Get going before I indulge in a new fantasy of mine.”
    “Which one?”
    “Sex in the mud.”
    She looked around. “It’s plaster.”
    “Okay. I’m easy.”
    She gave him a shaky smile and a big hug. “I’m glad you’re here, Ian. Really, really glad. You make everything better.”
    Before he could respond, she was hurrying up the stairway. He watched her freeze at the top, when she got her first look at what had been her apartment and studio. For a long moment he thought she was going to fold. Then her head came up and she walked into the ungodly mess to see what could be salvaged.

Savoy Hotel
    Late Friday afternoon
34
    T he bellman pushed a large covered cart into the elevator, put in the override key for the top floor, and waited. Several large floral pieces crowded the top of the cart.
    When he got to the top floor he pushed the cart down to the corner suite. Ignoring the DO NOT DISTURB sign, he knocked three times, and said, “Bellman.”
    No one answered.
    He knocked and called out again.
    Silence.
    He pulled a passkey from his uniform pocket and slid it into the slot. A green light blinked, the lock released, and he walked in. As soon as the door closed behind him, he went rapidly through the rooms, including the adjoining suite, making sure they were empty. Then he went through again, collecting paintings. He chose seven rectangles of varying sizes. Any more wouldn’t fit beneath the cart’s stylish rose linen covering withthe hotel’s name embroidered in gold around the edges. He checked to make sure nothing showed, picked up one bouquet, and set it on a bedside table.
    As he went to the elevator, he kept the gigantic floral arrays on the cart between himself and whatever security cameras were in the vicinity. He did the same across