Page 28 of 3rd Tango
My morning has been entirely disjointed; I rub my temples where I feel a headache brewing at this left turn in the conversation. Mom may not be the only one with a migraine.
“I can’t believe people are so into that,” she continues without waiting for an answer.
Matt props his hands on the back of a chair. “What’s wrong with it? Taylor loves some of that stuff. She’s always making me go to that shop off the interstate with the chubby chic stuff. The owner buys antiques and paints them.”
“Shabbychic,” Meg corrects. “You never know what kind of energy you’re picking up. Who knows what’s been done on those tables, or in those chairs?”
My sister has a thing about energy and transference between people and things. Matt just glances at me and lifts his brows.
“We’ve seen many violent crime scenes,” I tell him. “Lots of blood and other…you know. Tables, chairs, couches, beds, you name it, they’ve either been used as weapons, or have caught the brunt of violence that occurred.”
Meg’s nodding. “Remember the trunk you found when you were still at the Bureau? The one with the bones in it of that missing teenage girl?”
It’s a case I’ll never forget, although I wish I could. “What better way to get rid of DNA evidence than to strip furniture and refurbish it.”
At this, Matt appears mildly contemplative. “Maybe Gayle is a serial and that’s why he refinishes furniture.”
Meg whirls to stare at me, as if Matt just shed light on a whole new convincing angle. “Oh my God, Matt’s right.”
Either the heat or this morning’s revelations are starting to make me dizzy. I motion at Meg to move away from the fan so I can get more air.
“Let’s put that on the back burner for the moment.” I need to make sure my little sister isn’t going to do something crazy, ranking up there with our mother. “What’s your plan to get a look at the back of that canvas?”
She claps her hands and rubs them together. There’s a gleam in her eye and I have a sneaking suspicion I’m not going to like it. “We,”—she points at me then back at herself—“are gonna get in there when they’re gone and have a good look at that portrait.”
Now, I’m the one who needs clarification to make sure I’m on the right train. “You want to break into Gayle’s garage to see the name on a canvas Marie painted?”
“Yes!”
I glance at Matt for confirmation she sounds like a lunatic, but he straightens and stretches his arms overhead. “I’ll be the lookout. How will we know when they’re gone?”
My head pounds. “You can’t be serious. We can’t do a B and E on Gayle’s garage.”
Meg and Matt ignore my protest, excited, like we’re going to their favorite restaurant for lunch. “I’m onto something,” Meg says. “I can feel it, Charlie. I don’t know about the serial killer stuff, but Marie and these paintings? That portrait? It’s fishy.”
She faces Matt. “Mom’s watching the house. Gayle is already out, and she’s gonna call if she sees Marie leave.”
Matt checks his watch, sauntering to the door. “Alert me when you get the word, but we really should wait until dark, regardless of whether they’re home or not.”
He walks out, leaving me and my sister to look at each other. “You think I’m crazy, don’t you?” she accuses.
At this point, I’m starting to think the whole world is, and it’s not just because of the heat. “If we’re doing this, I’m gonna have to change,” I tell her. “And Matt’s right. We wait until dark and the two of you will do exactly what I tell you to. Got it?”
The expression on her face, and the smile she gives me, is priceless.
12
Meg
Three people dressed in black is never good. In my mind, it means a funeral or an amateur break-in.
In our case, given that it’s one in the morning, it’s the latter. Well, in my case, at least. Charlie, I’m not sure about. My sister is ballsy. I could see her popping a lock every now and again and helping herself into a residence.
Matt?
He’s definitely a pro. He calls these events sneak-n-peeks. I’m not sure how comfortable I am with his casual attitude regarding burglary, but whatever. It’s not for me to worry about.
Frankly, he should be the one going inside rather than being the lookout, but I know which painting we want and where it’s stored so we’ve made the joint decision it’ll be faster if I go in with Charlie.
