Page 86 of Ruthless Cross

"Did you know about the room off the guest bedroom downstairs?" he asked, not wanting to waste too much time in case Juliette suddenly decided not to talk.

"What room? The bathroom?"

"No, it was through the closet in the downstairs guest room at the end of the hall. Callie said Arthur used to take calls in there."

"Yes, he did. We didn't always get reception in the rest of the house."

"Well, Callie and I discovered a secret room off that guest bedroom."

"A secret room?" she echoed, bewilderment in her eyes. "I don't understand." She looked at her daughter. "What is he talking about, Callie?"

"Arthur had created a room for art," Callie said. "It was downstairs, in a basement, but it could only be accessed through a hidden panel in the closet wall. Did he ever talk to you about wanting to keep his paintings in a safer location?"

"No. He didn't even want to take his more valuable paintings down there. He said it wasn't safe because we weren't there all the time. He also thought art should be appreciated, not sealed away in some bank vault. I can't believe he would set up a secret room to hide it all away. But maybe that's why he wanted to go down there so often. I had the idea that he might be using the house for an affair with that Gretchen woman. But maybe he really was just buying art."

"Did Arthur ever tell you that he thought someone was watching him?" he asked.

She shook her head, more confusion in her eyes. "No. He never said that. Why? Did Arthur tell you that?"

"He did. He asked me to meet him at the museum Friday night. He said he needed my help, but I never heard what he needed. I think whatever he was worried about was what got him killed."

Juliette stared back at him. "I know that he was upset with that young painter, Marcus Vitelli. Marcus was at the museum last week when Arthur was picking me up. They ran into each other in the hall, and Arthur told Marcus that he wasn't going to continue to support Marcus's work if he didn't finish his painting. Marcus said he was having trouble. He was blocked. Arthur told him real artists paint through the block and their emotions make their work better. Arthur could be impatient at times, especially when he thought someone was just being lazy. Marcus did not appreciate his comments."

"Did anyone else hear this conversation?"

"Do you think I'm making it up?"

"I don't. I just like to have multiple witnesses to corroborate stories. It helps build a case."

"You don't think Marcus killed him, do you?" Juliette asked. "I can't imagine that. Even though Arthur was annoyed with him, he was willing to buy his work."

"I understand."

"I think Victoria might have heard part of their conversation," Juliette continued. "She came into the hall as they were finishing their discussion. I know she told Arthur at some point that Marcus had a great talent and it needed to be nurtured. He couldn't produce on demand. He was a true artist."

"Did Arthur and Marcus talk again after that?" he queried."

"Yes, a few days later. Arthur told me that Marcus was painting again. He was happy about that, and I was relieved, because Victoria is my boss and Arthur is my husband. I didn't want anything to be awkward between the three of us, and I knew Victoria had taken Marcus under her wing." Juliette took a breath, glancing at her daughter, then back at him. "Callie says that I'm a suspect. But I didn't kill Arthur. I loved my husband. And our argument was not that big of a deal. It was just about a trip. I'm not crazy. I'm not a violent person. I wish you could see that."

He could see that Juliette was starting to get agitated.

Callie stood up, obviously thinking the same thing. "I think that's enough, Flynn," she said. "You can talk to my mother again tomorrow. She needs to rest now."

"I am tired," Juliette said. "But I do want to help you find Arthur's killer."

He nodded, thinking that Juliette was nowhere near as easy to read as her daughter. She wavered between weak fragility and stubborn anger.How far would she have gone if she thought her husband was having an affair?

And he couldn't forget that Juliette couldn't seem to remember trying to throw herself off the balcony. Maybe she'd blocked out what she'd done to Arthur, too.

Not that he wanted her to be guilty. He didn't. That would hurt Callie, and that's the last thing he wanted. He got to his feet, giving them both a smile. "You should rest," he said. "We'll talk again another time."

"Thank you for being understanding." Juliette's gaze sharpened as it moved between him and Callie. "I must say, you and my daughter seem very friendly. She called you by your first name."

"I've been trying to help Flynn find Arthur's killer, Mom. So that no one has to suspect you for something you didn't do," Callie explained.

"You're always fighting for me," Juliette said, giving her daughter a loving smile. She looked back at Flynn. "Callie is special."

"I think so, too," he agreed, not just because he was talking to her mother, but because he believed it.

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