‘Do yourself a favour and leave the general web search. Instead click on “News” at the top of the page.’
Beth returned to the search bar and immediately found what Jodi was talking about. With shaking fingers, she clicked on ‘News’.
And there it was. The answer. A single news story.
The headline of theNew York Times article was dated almost two weeks ago and read: ‘Venetian History Exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Features Famed Monet Painting’.
And that painting wasSan Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk.
It was currently on display here in New York for the holiday season. Part of a display featuring the history of Venice.
There’s this great new exhibition at the Met…
Ryan had talked about that very same exhibition earlier, had even asked her if she wanted to come along! Did he realise that she was having trouble figuring out the clue, and that the penny would drop if she saw it at the exhibition.
And when that happened, he would be right by her side…
It reallywasRyan, Beth realized. He had arranged this whole thing; the current clue as well as his words this morning merely hammered that home.
‘Jodi, you’re brilliant,’ she gasped breathlessly, feeling true admiration for her friend as another feeling blossomed in her chest. And Beth knew exactly what the feeling was.
She was about to discover all the answers. She just knew it.
The hunt was coming full circle.
‘You can say that again, Sherlock. Get yourself together. Dr Watson will meet you there.’
‘Follow the signs…’ Beth whispered to herself, as she got ready to head to the Met.
Chapter 33
Beth wasn’t sure how Jodi was able to accomplish it, but her Bronx-based friend had actually beaten her to the Metropolitan Museum of Art by the time Beth’s cab pulled up in front of the famous building located at 1000 Fifth Avenue. But then again, she’d probably just come from Trevor’s on the Upper East Side.
Jumping out of the cab, Beth glanced down the street and realized that they had literally only been blocks away the evening before, while in Central Park searching for this clue. Indeed, Bethesda Terrace emptied out onto East 72nd Street, and here she was ten blocks north of that.
Ten blocks – and something big is going to happen in there. I just know it. I feel it in my bones, Beth thought. She peered up at the building.
Once I walk those stairs and go inside, there is a good chance I might come out a different person. My destiny lies within the museum.
Her hands shook at the thought.
Destiny. She could almost hear the movie soundtrack swell in the background.
‘Come on, Beth, what are you waiting for? I already bought our tickets. The suspense is killing me,’ cried Jodi as she jogged down the stairs, watching her step carefully as her heels were not made for jogging. She rushed forward and thrust an admission pass into Beth’s hand and then grabbed her by the elbow. ‘Seriously, let’s go. I would have thought you would be moving faster. After all, this isyourtreasure hunt and—’
‘Jodi, hold on a second,’ said Beth, pulling back from her friend’s grasp. She stood unmoving, staring up at the museum’s façade. ‘I need to catch my breath – just for a second.’
Her friend turned to her with a quizzical look on her face. ‘Are you having second thoughts about going in? But if you don’t, you won’t be able to locate the next clue.’
Beth bit her lip and considered Jodi’s words, unsure as to whether or not she should tell her she was now almost certain that it was Ryan. ‘I think this might be it. I think this is the finale.’
Tilting her head in confusion, Jodi said, ‘What do you mean, the finale? You mean the end of the hunt? What makes you think that?’
Beth swallowed hard. ‘I just have a feeling that this is it. That whatever is waiting for me in there is going to change things. Ryan said it himself – there are no coincidences. I think I know what I’ll find in there; I think I’ve known it for a long time.’
Jodi folded her friend into a hug. ‘You don’t have to go in then. Not if you’re scared. Not if you don’t want this.’
Beth accepted the embrace but shook her head. ‘It’s not that I’m scared. That’s not it. It’s something else. Excitement? Yes. Trepidation. That, too.’
