Theo put a finger to his lips. I nodded, and we took soft steps toward the other door. Was it a closet or storage space, or did it lead outside? I had no idea.
It was locked with a dead bolt. I bit my lip, my heart pounding, as Theo slowly turned it. There was a tiny click, and I held my breath as he eased the door open.
Daylight and crisp, cool air streamed in. We slipped out and shut the door, but didn’t pause to bask in relief at our escape. Theo grabbed my hand, and we hurried down the alley behind the gallery. Running in heels was not exactly in my skill set, but thankfully, Theo’s grip on my hand kept me steady until we reached the sidewalk.
We slowed to a fast walk and didn’t stop until we got to his truck outside Timeless Beauty.
I put my hand over my heart and tried to catch my breath. “That was terrifying.”
He grinned and pressed his key fob to unlock his truck. “Yeah, but we did it.”
Gratefully, I climbed into the passenger side. It felt safer than being out in the open. As if Curt would come after us like some sort of art Mafia boss.
Art Mafia? That probably wasn’t a real thing, but my imagination was running a little wild.
I pulled off the wig and removed the wig cap Marigold had put on me. My real hair spilled over my shoulders and I shook it out a little.
Theo’s gaze was on me, an intensity in his eyes that made my stomach swirl.
He blinked, and it was gone.
“What does the note say?” he asked.
I took it out of my purse and unfolded it. It looked a lot like the one I’d found before. Written on thick journal paper, in the same slanted cursive, it read:
So sad. So pure. So blue. It will all catch up in the end. And I fear my end is closer than I think.
“Sort of ominous, but it doesn’t tell us much more, does it?” Theo said.
“No, but it’s interesting that there’s more than one note. AndI fear my end is closer than I thinksounds a lot like he’s expecting something bad to happen.”
“Definitely. Which painting was it in?”
I got out my phone and opened the photo I’d taken of the painting. “This one.”
The piece depicted an alpine lake, the mirrorlike surface reflecting clouds in the sky. A cabin stood to one side and mountains rose in the background.
“Does this have anything in common with the painting you got?” he asked.
“Not really. Mine is a creek with a rock formation. No buildings or anything.”
Theo rubbed his chin, and I was momentarily distracted by the stubble on his very chiseled jaw. He said something else, but my brain was still fixated on his bone structure.
“Pen?”
I startled, blinking in surprise. “Sorry, what? I was just…thinking about the note.”
“I asked if you want to swing by Angel Cakes Bakery and get something. Celebrate not getting caught.”
“Celebratory cookies sound great.” My smile slipped a little. “But I feel weird walking around in these clothes. What if Tina or Curt look for us?”
“They probably won’t, but…” He twisted around and reached behind his seat, pulling out a gray plaid flannel. “Here. With this and no wig, you’ll look completely different.”
Theo loosened his tie and lifted it over his head, then unbuttoned his collar while I slipped on his flannel. It smelled amazing. Clean, with a hint of his cologne. Subtle, but so masculine. I resisted the urge to bury my face in it and inhale while Theo took off his suit jacket and unbuttoned the rest of his shirt, revealing a white T-shirt underneath.
I got the silliest thrill from sitting next to Theo in the cab of his truck while he half undressed. Turning toward the window, I reminded myself I really shouldn’t have been thinking like that.
“Ready?” He leaned over to look at his reflection in the rearview mirror and messed up his hair a little.
