Page 52 of The Artist

“I came for a lot of reasons, and I hope you’ll hear me out before you throw me out.”

Alexis clasped her hands behind her back, mostly for something to do with them but also so he wouldn’t see them shake.“I’m listening.”

“I brought evidence that my PI gathered against Horace.He’s with me but wanted to give us some space so he stayed in downtown Aspen with my driver.A.J.will find his own way to the hotel and Ron’s wife is picking him up.Anyway, the evidence proves Horace was behind the gallery fire and indirectly responsible for Heather’s murder.Though to be fair, he didn’t order that and was upset because now it’s a murder charge, not just arson.”He paced in front of her.“The sheriff is getting a warrant now to search Horace’s home and any business he has, including the gallery.He wants me to stick close because we both agree you could be in danger.If Horace hears about the raid before he’s taken into custody, then you are definitely in danger.No telling what he’ll do, and hurting you would be high on his list because he’ll blame you for everything.He’ll say all of this could have been avoided if you had just sold to him.But don’t let him guilt you.None of this is your fault.It’s all his.”

I was right.Horace did this.He’s responsible for Heather’s death.“I know but it’s hard not to think that maybe if?—”

He placed two fingers over her lips.“Stop.Nothing you could have done would have changed this.If it hadn’t been this, it would have been something or someone else who he hired.You.Are.Not.To.Blame.Do you understand?This.Was.Not.Your.Fault..”

“But—”

“No.No buts.You are not to blame.Did you want to sell to him?”

She shook her head.

He frowned.“Even if you had and were just trying to get the price up, that’s still not a reason to kill anyone.”

Alexis shrugged.“That’s true.I just don’t understand it at all.”

He placed an arm around her shoulders.“Sometimes, we don’t have to understand.We just have to let it go.”

She leaned her head against his broad chest.“I guess you’re right.We probably won’t ever know what was in Horace’s mind when he ordered the gallery to be torched.Hopefully, when they catch him, he’ll explain, but I’m not counting on it.”

“It’s best not to.Come on.If you’ll let me, I’d like to take you home.”

“I’ll probably regret it, but okay.I don’t want to be alone now, anyway, and we have some things to discuss.”

Peter nodded.“We do.My car is out front.Do you want me to pull around to the back?”

Alexis shook her head.“Yes, please.I’ll leave my car here, lock the front and come out the back.”

Peter walked out to his vehicle and drove around the building.He’d surprise her and help her lock up.

Horace had pickedthe lock on the back door and entered easing the door closed behind him.

The gallery was still being completed, and the only rooms finished were two bathrooms and Alexis’s office.He chose one of the bathrooms, entered, gently closed the door, and locked it.Then he listened.

Once he was certain everything was quiet, he crept out of the bathroom, his hand on the gun in his pocket.

Alexis was coming out of the office at the same time.She saw him and screamed and reached into her jacket’s pocket.

Horace rushed her, attempting to knock her to the floor.

He had a good fifty pounds on her, but there wasn’t much difference in height between them.

She struggled against him, finally got her right arm free and raised it, her hand facing toward him.

He had a split second to close his eyes before the pepper spray got him, and he didn’t make it.

His eyes burned, like they were being burned right out of his head.Horace screamed and released her.“Oh, my eyes.My eyes!”

Alexis scooted backon the carpet and stood.She screamed and ran for the back door.She’d closed her eyes as she sprayed the pepper spray, so it didn’t get directly in her eyes but her nose and throat burned and her eyes still watered.Pushing open the door, she ran toward the first vehicle she saw.“Peter!”She screamed his name when she saw him.

He was just getting out of the car and his head snapped up.He ran toward her.

She threw herself in his arms and sobbed.“Horace assaulted me.”She sniffled.“I pepper sprayed him.”

He wrapped his arms around her.“It’s okay.We need to call the police.”He dug his phone from his pocket and held her with one arm and told his phone to dial 911.