Page 6 of Little Twisted Things

“You look like you’re in deep thought,” he said.

“Maybe a little.” A small smile fell upon my lips.

“You’re going to do great at the gallery. Don’t give it another thought.” He walked over and kissed me.

“Do me a favor,” I said.

“Of course. Anything.”

“Talk to Kevin again and tell him to stop seeing his assistant. Tell him that his life would be ruined if Kris found out, not to mention his daughters’ lives.”

He frowned. “You’re still thinking about that?”

“I am. As annoying as Kris can be sometimes, she’s a good person. She’s a good wife and a good mother. I’d hate to see her broken over his infidelities.”

“Okay. I’ll have a chat with him later. I’m heading to the university. I’ll see you later. Good luck today.” His lips met mine one last time before he walked out the door.

I walked into the gallery with confidence in my tailored black suit and heels. My hair was left down today, cascading over my shoulders in waves.

“Good morning. Welcome to your first day.” Tess grinned.

“Good morning.” I smiled.

“I stopped on the way and grabbed us a coffee. You like coffee, right?”

“Yes. Caffeine is one of my many addictions.”

“I just got it black because I wasn’t sure how you took it. But we do have creamer and sugar in the backroom.”

“Black is fine.” I took the cup from her hand. “Thank you.”

My eyes wandered to the wall that had been bare yesterday. But today, a new painting was hung, and the moment I saw it, everything else disappeared. Eyes Without a Face.

“That wasn’t here yesterday,” I said to Tess.

“It came in after you left. What do you think?” She placed her finger on her lips and walked over to the painting.

“It’s extraordinary.” I stood and studied it, although I’d seen it many times before.

“You’ve seen it before?” she asked.

“Years ago. It’s beautiful.”

“Honestly, I think it’s unsettling. It was delivered with some other artwork. What do you think the meaning is behind the artist’s work?”

“Honestly?” I glanced at her. “It reminds people of something they’d rather not admit.”

“And what’s that?”

“That evil doesn’t have a face,” I said.

“Gah, I knew I hired you for a reason.” She placed her hand on my shoulder.

She walked away while I stood and stared at the painting I’d already seen a million times.

Most people believed that a person’s eyes revealed everything. Truth. Emotion. Intent. They couldn’t have been more wrong. The most dangerous people I’d ever known had the kindest eyes. Brian. Oliver. The cheating men I’d killed in New York. Kevin.

I inhaled a breath and walked away from the painting that had me in its grip since I’d first seen it and went about my day.