Page 51 of House of Sin
I straightened up. “Hit me.”
“The interesting bit?” Maeve said, slipping in beside me with that foxlike smile of hers. “The sheriff’s wife bought Elona’s sketch, the one of the boy with the wolf tattoo.”
I tilted my head, letting the grin bloom slowly. “Let me guess. Said it reminded her of someone?”
“Ah, she didn’t say a word,” Maeve purred. “But the look she gave it? Like she meant to tuck it under her pillow and dream of it twice.”
I snorted. “Does the sheriff really not know his wife and his deputy are knocking boots? The whole damn town knows.”
Maeve gave a low chuckle. “If he does, he’s playing dumb with real commitment. You’d think the smell of guilt and Marlboros would’ve clued him in by now.” She went on, lips twitching. “Poor lad still wears his wedding ring like it means somethin’.” She paused, then gave a wicked smile. “I’d be happy to take it off for him. . . among other things.”
I gave her a knowing look before I let out a soft laugh. “Well, that’s going to be quite the conversation over dinner. And the weird news?”
Her smile dimmed. “The church crowd’s buzzin’. Father Frederick was found early this morning, kneelin in the alley behind Matthison’s butcher shop. Holdin tight to some poor lad.”
My breath caught. “Dead?”
She nodded. “Knife to the gut. Nobody saw who did it, but folks say the priest was whisperin’ prayers over him like it was the second coming. Said he refused to leave the body until they pulled him away.”
A chill crept along my spine. “What was he doing out there?”
Maeve shrugged. “Not a clue, but here’s the kicker. The dead lad? It was one of the fellas from the bar, the one next to the lad Emil had to toss out on his arse.”
I glanced toward the center of the square. Violet sat on the edge of the fountain, flipping through a notebook with that faraway look she got when she was daydreaming about the future. Elona stood nearby, sketchpad balanced in her hand, already creating something new from the fragments of the day. Pulling beauty from the static, as she always did.
Maeve let out a long breath, then clapped her hands once in mock finality. “Well now, that’s all the wicked gossip I’ve got for you today,” she said brightly, brushing imaginary dust from her coat. “Come back tomorrow and I might have a scandal or two more, if the town doesn’t burn itself down before then.”
I chuckled, the tension finally easing from my shoulders. Maeve stretched, her eyes following my gaze, and grinned. “Should’ve come with a bottle in hand.”
I gave a small smile. “Let’s go get some wine. Elona’s art sold out, and that deserves a proper toast.”
But my eyes still drifted toward the alley. Toward where Maeve said the priest had been seen. A man dying in the dirt, his last breath caught between heaven and hell, and Father Frederick there to cradle it. Something in this town was shifting, but for tonight, we’d let it wait. I turned toward the street, brushing dust from my skirt. “Come on,” I said, voice light. “Let’sgo celebrate Elona.”
34
TO GREAT TITS AND SUCKING DICK
The back room at The Oily Cat was filled with the warmth that a long-overdue celebration brings. This dinner wasn’t just any meal, it was in honor of Elona’s success at the art fair. The table was crowded with dishes: hearty beef stew rich with tender meat and root vegetables,buttery garlic mashed potatoes, a vibrant salad dressed in tangy vinaigrette, and flaky golden biscuits that melted on the tongue. Soft shadows played along the aged wood on the walls, and the scent of slow-cooked meat, fresh herbs, and baked bread wrapped around us. It was the perfect ending to a moment years in the making.
The art fair had been a resounding success, well beyond our wildest expectations, and while Elona’s art had been the centerpiece, it was the people gathered here who made the moment whole.
Her charcoal drawings, those intricate portraits of men and women, had captivated the townsfolk. I’d watched as passersby stopped in front of her booth, surprised, even humbled, to find something so raw and powerful in the heart of their market. The same people who once dismissed her, now gathered around, curious and intrigued, begging for commissions and offering prices they wouldn’t have imagined paying to someone like her. Now, we were here, her family, gathering to celebrate her success. Violet, Maeve, Nell, myself, and Emil, whose brooding silence filled a room louder than most voices. I found myself watchingElona, the soft look in her eyes, the quiet awe on her face. She deserved every bit of this.
“So, Elona,” I began, “I believe it’s safe to say the people of Butte now know what true talent looks like.”
Violet, sitting beside me, grinned. “They didn’t have a clue before, but they sure do now. Next time, they’ll be lining up just to catch a glimpse of her magic.”
Elona flushed slightly, a soft smile tugging at her lips. She was never one to take praise easily, but tonight was different. I could feel her joy in knowing her work had touched people. “I don’t know about all that. It’s just ... more than I expected. I never thought . . .”
“You never thought the town would recognize what it’s been too blind to see?” Maeve cut in. “Told you. They just needed someone to show them what real art looks like, not that painted shite hanging in their parlors.”
“And the best part,” Violet added with a smirk, “is they still don’t know who the artist is. Mystery in the air. I think they’ve all fallen in love with the ‘anonymous genius.’ Which is justperfect.”
Elona grinned, her hand resting on the rim of her glass. “I owe a big part of it to all of you.” She looked at me. “You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
Nell, who had been quiet throughout much of the meal, glanced up from her plate and smiled. “We’ve always known your worth, Elona,” she said. “It just took the town a little longer to catch up.” She raised her glass, voice rising as she added, “To you, Elona. To art, to beauty, and to knowing the world isn’t always as blind as it seems.”
Then Emil let out a low chuckle. His gravelly voice breaking the quiet with an easy charm. “I’m proud of you all,” he said, eyes sweeping the table. “You’ve built something here, and I think you’ve shaken this town up more than you know.” He turned to Elona, giving her a rare wink. “But I’ll admit, I didn’t thinkyou’dbe the one to win them over.”
