And something else was apparent to her.
Thereissuch a thing as coincidence. Ryan’s presence here alone was the biggest coincidence of them all. Granted, it was his day off too, this new exhibition was being promoted all over the city, and it wasn’t unreasonable for someone new to New York to want to visit one of its famed museums, but still…
If Ryan wasn’t the one who’d set up the treasure hunt, then his being here at the museum was immaterial.
And perhaps more importantly, Beth concluded then, it meant that the search was not yet over.
Her mind spinning with questions, Beth allowed Jodi to deal with Ryan, and slumped down on the bench directly in front of the Monet. She looked up at the painting and considered it. Real versus fake.
Feeling lost in a sea of confusion, she was summoned back into reality when Jodi sat down heavily on the bench next to her.
‘I got rid of him. I don’t mind doing your dirty work, honey, but I think you will probably still need to call him later. He’s really confused and, to be frank, completely love sick over you,’ her friend said.
Beth put her head in her hands and groaned. ‘I can’t believe I got thissowrong.’
Jodi stayed silent and Beth was glad that for once she’d decided not to offer her opinion. She already felt like enough of an idiot as it was – she didn’t need Jodi hammering it home.
‘Well, you know what this means then, don’t you?’ her friend said, nudging her, clearly wanting Beth to snap out of it.
She groaned again. ‘Of course I know what it means.’ She looked up at Jodi and forced a smile. ‘There’s must be another clue. This thing isn’t over yet.’
Chapter 35
Beth continued to sit on the bench in confused silence while Jodi worked through the possible options. Indeed, at that moment it was her friend who was more engaged in the treasure hunt because Beth was struggling to figure out how she felt, let alone what she should do next.
If Ryan hadn’t set this up, then who had? And why? Billy? If so, then wouldn’t he be here? As far as Beth knew he was still at his post in Gold Street, and would be all day.
Which left only one realistic possibility.
Danny’s name automatically popped into her brain, but she couldn’t fathom how – or why – he would do such a thing, given his recent preoccupations. Or was there a chance she’d got all that wrong too?
‘Hey, Beth, come on now, snap out of it,’ Jodi chided. ‘Let’s get on with this. You said it yourself time and time again. You need to finish this.’
She shook her head. ‘I don’t know. I mean, what’s the point? Andwhothe hell is behind this? If it’s not Ryan – and it really couldn’t be Danny – then why should I press on with it? You said it yourself; who else would do it? Who would go to this much effort?’
Jodi shrugged. ‘I don’t know, honey, but I am betting it’s someone who knows you and cares about you. There’s no other way to explain it. Obviously Ryan didn’t know enough to do this for you. He cares about you, but he doesn’tknowyou. But someone else sure does.’
Beth shook her head. Needless to say she had absolutely no interest in Billy, and would be mortified if this had anything to do with him. She was prepared to admit to herself now that part of the reason she’d pursued this so doggedly was because she’d suspected Ryan from the very start, and for as long as she was enjoying their flirtation, was only too happy to go along with it.
‘This is nuts. I can’t keep up with it.’ She turned to Jodi and for the first time in the entire quest, realized she felt angry. ‘You said it yourself. This isn’t a romantic Christmas movie – some merry romp across New York City – and no matter what I might have believed, things don’t always work out for the best. You were right all along.’
‘Stop it, Beth. That’s not you. You don’t believe that. And I know what I said before, but I don’t wantyouto be that way. I don’t want you to turn out like me, all bitter and angry. Don’t be like me,’ Jodi repeated quietly, the last words catching in her throat.
Undeterred by her friend’s pleading, Beth carried on. ‘No, I’ve decided. That’s it. I walked into this museum believing that something incredible was going to happen, that it would be… transformative somehow, and do you know something? Regardless of what has happened in this room – and what has happened up until this point – I’m going to stay true to that. Iamgoing to leave this museum a new woman. I’m going to start afresh. No more fairy tales and make-believe for me. I am going to see everything through a lens of clarity. I am going to be firmly based in reality and live my life knowing that movies are just pure fabrication. Nothing that happens on the silver screen happens in real life – at least not to most people.’
Jodi reached out and touched her friend’s arm. ‘OK, that makes sense, but what about the rest of the hunt? I’ll still help you, you know. We can find the next clue, see this thing out and—’
‘And then what?’ Beth questioned, cutting her friend off, her voice growing louder, angrier and more heated. ‘What’s next? Another clue, and another and another? No thanks, I’m finished. No more – you’re probably right too, Jodi. This could be the work of a stalker and I am not going to be some victim…’
Bethwasfinished. She was angry, confused and she was alsoincrediblyfrustrated. She banged both hands against the bench in irritation.
‘Whoa, Beth, calm down,’ Jodi gasped, just as a loud thud came from under the seat, as if it had been cracked in two.
Shocked because she hadn’t intended to break the bench, Beth looked around to see if anyone had noticed what she had just done. Indeed, the noise had attracted a few stares from other people in the gallery. She looked down at the bench, her face heated with mortification. ‘Shit, did I break something?’ But the seat seemed intact.
Jodi chuckled. ‘This is pretty solid wood, Wonder Woman. I don’t think so. But seriously, no more going all Avengers-like on me – we’re going to get kicked out of this place. And quit the stroppy toddler act too.’
This elicited a laugh from Beth and she finally began to feel her spirits lift. ‘All right, point taken. Come on. I need to get out of here. Preferably before they throw us out.’
