Page 108 of Over Her Dead Body

“Emma flew in yesterday,” Reid says.

We all turn toward him.

He steps beside me, looking pleasantly concerned. I have seen that expression before. It generally means I am about to dislike the next thing out of his mouth.

“She’s jet-lagged. Took a spill, too.” His attention drops briefly to my hands. “I suggested she take the morning.”

“I’m quite all right, thank you.”

“Of course you are.”

He says it kindly.

He has apparently decided I am the sort of woman who needs to be reassured in front of other people. I hope he remembers I put a pen through a man’s eye yesterday.

“It’s just paperwork,” he tells Marta. “Emma likes everything accounted for. Give her the records and she’ll feel better.”

Marta’s posture eases.

That is almost worse than what he said.

He has spent half an hour pretending to work for my auction house and already promoted himself above me.

I close the database and open an email to Celeste. I give her the collector’s name and a description of the painting, and ask for the latest valuation and any record of a sale or transfer.

Beside me, Reid asks Marta how long the family has owned the property.

She begins telling him.

I send the email.

“I’ve asked the office to pull the relevant documents,” I tell Marta.

“I’ll have the rest of the family’s records here tomorrow. Perhaps we should continue then.”

“I’m happy to look at the other works today.”

“You’ve had a difficult arrival. We would prefer you rested.”

I look at Reid.

He has developed an interest in the ceiling.

“Tomorrow, then.”

Marta is already moving toward the door.

“I’ll have everything here in the morning.”

My car is waiting at the bottom of the steps. The driver starts around to open my door. “Give me a minute,” I tell him.

I wait until Marta closes the door and then I turn to Reid.

“What the fuck was that?”

“A good time to leave.”

“You don’t get to decide that.”