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"Don't get , I appreciate what you did today," she said "But do you think it ise to threaten Eugene and Dwayne?"

"I'm not worried about those two," he said

"Okay, so what are you worried about? I can see that you've got soene and Dwayne are not the sharpest knives in the drawer, if you knohat I ot that impression So?"

"So, while they are both the type to spread false and malicious ruoing around about you"

She elevated her brows "I believe I see where you're going here"

"When you stop and think about it, that story Eugene and Dwayne were spreading about you is a fairly sophisticated piece of gossip They gave you motive and opportunity and they've added a few inside bits about how the art ene even tried to use the word provenance"

"Not the sort of word you'd expect a guy like him to have in his vocabulary"

"No"

"From what I've heard about those two, they aren't likely to know reed

"Which means that they are probably not the source of the rumors"

"Probably not"

She was quiet for a moment Her expression turned so to try to find out who started the gossip about you," he said "I figure whoever is responsible for the ru you"

"Like, maybe, to cover up his own involve?"

"Yeah" He hesitated and then decided to give her the rest of it "There's so else that bothers me about that elaborate story, too"

"What?"

"It would have been a lot sier of blame at the Heralds They already seem a little suspicious to most folks Instead, whoever concocted it chose you for the fall guy"

"You think this may be personal?"

"Yeah," he said "I do I've co for any scapegoat Whoever took the painting wants to uilty" Chapter 15

Anne ca She clutched a carefully rolled-up sheet of drawing paper in both hands

"I brought you my picture," Anne said in her whispery little voice She held it out to Octavia

"Thank you" Delighted, Octavia came around frolad that you decided to enter a drawing in the show, Anne"

Before she could unroll the picture, Nick and Carson walked into the gallery Nick carried a paper sack bearing the Incandescent Body logo Carson had a cup of hot chocolate in one hand

"Morning, Gail," Nick said "Hi, Anne"

"Hi," Gail replied "Say hello to Mr Harte, Anne"

"Hello, Mr Harte"