Page 19 of When You're Lost

She led them down a hallway past a row of offices, each door bearing a nameplate.At the third door, the plaque read “Archival Records.”Inside was a compact space lined with filing cabinets and a pair of desks.A single overhead light buzzed faintly.David Smythe—the name printed on a small sign at one of the desks—glanced up from a laptop, startled at the visitors.

He was in his early forties, short hair combed neatly to one side, dressed in business-casual attire.A friendly smile crossed his face.“Oh, hi, Mary.Everything all right?”

Mary nodded quickly.“David, these are the police consultants I mentioned this morning.Mr.Finn Wright and Dr.Matthews.They need the old exhibit list—the one from a few weeks ago that featured The Cornfield.”

David stood, offering a warm handshake to Finn, then Eleanor.“Pleased to meet you.I’m David Smythe, one of the gallery's administrative staff.Heard about the dreadful murder…” He trailed off with a note of concern in his voice.“I...I really liked Victoria.”

Finn thought David's manner seemed pleasant, maybe a bit shy."Nice to meet you, David," he said."We appreciate the help.Unfortunately, there has been another death.An Edmund Garner."

“My God...”David said quietly.

“Did you know him?”Finn asked.

"Not to talk to," he answered."But he was a well-known collector in the community."

Mary opened a filing cabinet, rifling through folders.“I’ll find the relevant paperwork.Might also have digital copies, David?”

David nodded.“Yes, they’re on the server.Let me pull them up.”He tapped at the laptop’s keyboard, face illuminated by the screen.“Harrison was big on thatShared Viewsexhibit, insisted we highlight iconic works from multiple eras.We had curated prints, historical notes, and a few actual smaller pieces on loan.It was quite a show.”His eyes flicked to Finn, sincerity coloring his expression.“I do hope you find whoever’s doing this.”

“The truth will out,” Eleanor said softly.

Mary handed a thin stack of papers to Finn.“Here you go.This is the official list of items showcased.As you’ll see, we had a few items on loan from the Rijksmuseum and the Guggenheim, but most were sale items: paintings, sketches, unfinished works.We had a lot of interest, both at the gallery and from overseas buyers.”

Finn scanned the paper, noting familiar titles:The Cornfield,The Blue Boy, and a dozen or more from various centuries—Constable, Gainsborough, Turner, Millais, Rossetti… “This is helpful,” he said.“Thank you.We might need to follow up if anything else stands out.”

Mary managed a small smile.“Of course.”

Eleanor shifted, turning to Mary and David both.“We appreciate the cooperation.By the way, we saw Harrison storm off earlier.He seems… under a lot of strain.Has he been under a lot of stress lately?”She tried to keep her tone neutral, but curiosity laced her words.“Has he been erratic?”

Mary hesitated, glancing at David.“He’s just anxious about the opening, that’s all.Everything’s behind schedule.”

Finn caught the subtle concern in her eyes.It was time to push a little and see if they would say something useful.“He’s looking pretty suspicious, you know.Anger issues, connections to both victims.If we find more evidence of him threatening people—”

Mary’s cheeks reddened.“I… I don’t believe he’d ever do something violent.I think he just doesn’t handle stress well.”

Before Finn could press further, Mary’s phone chimed.She glanced at the screen and pursed her lips.“Excuse me.One of the caterers needs me.”She turned to David.“Will you show them out if there's nothing else?”

David offered a quick nod.“I’ll walk them back.”

Mary gave Finn and Eleanor a brief goodbye, hurrying out.The office door drifted shut behind her.For a second, they all stood in awkward silence.David tapped a pen on his desk.

“Well,” he said, forcing a smile, “I hope that list helps.If you have any other questions, let me know.”

“Thanks,” Finn replied, folding the papers.“We might.For now, we’ll be going.”

He and Eleanor headed to the corridor with David trailing behind.As they stepped back into the main gallery space, the buzz of last-minute preparations resumed.A couple of staff members wrestled a tall sculpture onto a plinth.Finn prepared to say a polite goodbye, but David abruptly cleared his throat.

“Can I talk?”David’s voice sounded unexpectedly urgent and hushed.“Not here.”

Finn nodded.

They headed outside the gallery’s doors to the sidewalk.The sky overhead was dull, threatening rain.Finn turned, brows lifted in question.

David glanced around, as if checking who might overhear, then spoke in a low tone.“I—I don’t want to cause trouble.But you were right...Harrison’s been acting strange.More than usual.”

Eleanor exchanged a sharp glance with Finn, then asked, “Strange in what way?”

David ran a hand through his hair.“He’s always been temperamental.But since that fiasco with Victoria Palmer—when she suggested a painting was a forgery—he’s been erratic, angry.That day, he practically shouted her out of the gallery.I overheard bits… it sounded borderline threatening.Mary doesn’t see how bad it’s gotten.She has a blind spot for him.”

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