Page 31 of The Artist

Chapter10

Peter left to do what he could which was hire a private investigator.He’d used the man before.A.J.Watson was the best at what he did, which was to dig and find the answers Peter had needed.

This time, he needed to find out who torched the gallery and murdered that poor girl.Alexis would always blame herself if they could not find the answers to those questions, even though Beecher’s goons probably did the actual deed.She would blame herself for not being there instead of Heather.

He met Watson at a local bar, The Wapiti.

A.J.Watson was tall and well-built.He was muscular but lean, with the long muscles of a swimmer rather than those of a weightlifter.His brown hair was a little long, reaching past his collar to his shoulders, but it was clean and combed away from his face.His light blue eyes looked stark against his tan skin.

Peter sat next to him at the bar and ordered a bourbon and Seven-Up, when the bartender dropped by.

A.J.didn’t look up.“What do you have, Boss?”

Once he got his drink and knew they were unlikely to be interrupted, Peter answered.“A fire, and what I believe might be a murder.”

The man finally turned his gaze to Peter.“Murder.That’s a new one for you.”

“A friend of mine lost an employee and friend in the fire that destroyed her art gallery.I want to know who started the blaze and I want to know if the woman was dead before the fire.”

“What do you believe?”

“I believe she was.I think she was deliberately murdered to send a specific message to my friend.”

A.J.took a sip of his draft beer.“That’s a serious message.Were any of your paintings lost in the fire?”

“Yes, but that doesn’t matter.You know how I feel about my paintings of late.”

“I do.They are a way to make money, nothing more, because they cause you more grief than joy.”He stated as if by rote.

“That’s right.”

“So what can you tell me about the dead woman?”

Peter shrugged.“Not much.I didn’t know her.”

“I need to talk to your friend.I need more background on the dead girl.”

“Um, that might be difficult.She’s angry with me right now.”

A.J.cocked his head.“What did you do?”

Peter lifted his eyebrows.“What makes you think I did anything?Besides you’re supposed to be on my side.”He took a sip of his cocktail.

“That’s not how it works in this type of situation.I’m on the side of the dead woman.”

“Yes.Heather Brooks.Since I’ve told you everything I know, I’ll see if I can set up an interview with Alexis.”

“Alexis Armstrong, correct?It was her gallery that burned down, right?”

Peter nodded.“Find out who started that blaze, and we’ll have the person or persons responsible for Heather’s death and maybe murder.”

A.J.finished his beer.“Okay, I have enough to get started.Contact me as soon as you have the interview set up.”

“I will.”

The P.I.stood and left the bar.

Peter finished his cocktail and headed out to face Alexis.