Page 25 of The Artist

Mr.Burley climbed behind the wheel.

Peter headed for the passenger side.

The wiry man pushed him to the back.“You sit in the backseat.”

“Fine.”Peter climbed in and buckled up.Given the condition of the roads, he wouldn’t be surprised to have an accident, and he wanted to survive it.

They drove out to the main road.Instead of taking a left and heading toward Aspen, they took a right and headed farther into the mountains..

Peter was beginning to think that he was in real trouble here.They could find lots of places to dump his body along this road and it wouldn’t be found until spring…if at all.Just as he was wondering about this the burly man made a right onto a long driveway.Peter saw a large log home at the end of the driveway.

“Who lives here?”

Mr.Burly never looked away from the road.“You’ll see soon enough.”He pulled up to the front of the house and killed the engine.“Get out.”

Peter unbuckled his seatbelt and exited the SUV, while looking around for an escape, but he saw none.

Mr.Wiry and Mr.Burly came around the vehicle and escorted him up the stairs then the big man pounded on the door.

Peter’s jaw dropped when he saw the man who answered.“Mr.Beecher?You could have just called or come by yourself.You didn’t have to send your goons to get me.”

“I wasn’t sure you would agree to see me.I thought it was best for myassociatesto collect you for our little chat.Please, come in.”Horace stood back so the three men could enter.Then he walked forward.“Walter, close the door behind you.”

The wiry man, apparently Walter, did as he was told.

Peter looked behind him at the two men who brought him, then back at Beecher.“Do you need yourassociatesto stay while we talk?”

Horace lifted a brow and then nodded.“You two wait outside the library until you’re called.

When the door had closed behind them, Peter realized escape was impossible, besides where would he go?He turned his attention to Beecher.“What do you want to discuss that is so important?”

“Have a seat Mr.Kincaid.”He pointed toward the sofa in front of the fireplace.

Peter couldn’t stop himself from admiring the room.The walls were a pale tan which perfectly complimented the abundance of wood trim.The fireplace was stone, not brick with a large screen television above it.In front of it was a sofa and a recliner on the end facing the TV.A reclaimed wood coffee table was in front of the recliner and the sofa.At the other end of the room was a large mahogany desk with a leather Queen Anne chair in front of it.

Peter sat in the chair.

High tables graced the walls—some with flowers and some with artwork.He looked back at Horace as he sat behind the desk.“You have a lovely home, from what I’ve seen.”

“Thank you.Now, down to business.I want you to leave Alexis and her gallery alone.I have plans for both that don’t include you.”

Peter crossed his legs and did his best to look nonchalant.“And if I don’t?”He was a tiny bit grateful they were discussing Alexis and not a kidnapping for ransom.

“Then something very bad could happen to you.”

“You don’t scare me, Beecher.You won’t touch me and you know it.”

Horace’s eyes narrowed.“Perhaps you’re right.And in that case something bad could befall Alexis.Is that what you want?”

Peter clenched his teeth and controlled his anger, his desire to leap over the desk and end Beecher and his threats, now.“You won’t do anything to her.”

Now, Beecher leaned forward and placed his hands, palms down, on the desk..He looked ready to jump over it and throttle Peter.But he stopped before he did, seemingly taking control of his anger.“You won’t anger me and force me to kill you.I need you to persuade Alexis to sell me her gallery.Aspen has more than twenty art galleries, but it’s too small for two fine art galleries.She knows this but won’t give up.You need to convince her if you want her to live.”

Seething with anger, Peter leaned back in the chair and did his best to remain calm.“And what will you do to her if I can’t?She’s a very stubborn person.”

Beecher straightened and turned toward the fireplace.When he turned back, his expression was hard and ungiving.“I’ll eliminate her.There won’t be any choice then, so you’d better be persuasive, for all our sake.Mr.Avery come in please.”

The door opened and the man entered.