Page 22 of Deadly Charade

The butler ushered in a man in a tailored suit, his fingers weighted down by oversized gold rings. Kira gasped—soft, almost imperceptible, yet he caught it.

Okay then.

The man had spooked her, and he didn’t think Kira scared easily. Who was this guy?

“Sorry for my tardiness,” the newcomer said. “DC traffic is a nightmare.” The accent hinted at Russian. His dark eyes and broad shoulders gave him an imposing stature.

Alex waved his guests toward the dining room. “The chef has made my favorite, beef stroganoff. Let’s eat.”

Bryce offered his arm to Kira and leaned in, enough to whisper in her ear. “What is it?” An intimate gesture for a couple and necessary for him to figure out what had thrown her off. They followed their host into the main hallway, toward the back of the brownstone, into a windowless formal dining room area.

“Gallery guy,” she said and kissed his cheek.

Gallery guy? Bryce replayed her visit to the gallery. There was the attendant Vince, the security guard, and—

No. It couldn’t be. The man she chased down an alley? The one who had hit her in the head with a frame? The murder suspect?

And why was his cheek burning?

6

KIRA DID HER BEST to keep her game face on and reassure herself that if Bryce hadn’t recognized her disguised identity at first glance, the man she’d chased from the gallery wouldn’t either. Right?

They gathered around the table. Kira loosened her grip on Bryce’s arm while the Russian man sat across from her. Alex and Sophia claimed the seats at either end of the table. Kira tallied every possible escape, didn’t like her chances, and chose to strike first. She matched the man’s gaze, hoping nothing in hers gave her away. “Hi. I don’t believe we’ve met. I’m Katrina and this is my husband, Brian. We’re new to the area. Do you live in the neighborhood too?”

He held her gaze beyond the point of comfort before responding. “We’ve not been formally introduced before, but you seem familiar. Maybe our paths crossed in the past. I am Ivan Sokolov. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

Oh boy. Was that a hint that he recognized her?

The man was tall and thick. She guessed his age to be late fifties, based on the gray hair peeking around his temple and his salt-and-pepper goatee.

The server placed a bowl of soup in front of Kira.

“Brian is in town to acquire new pieces for a private collector,” Sophia said. The two exchanged a look—Kira couldn’t quite interpret it, but she suspected Sophia wanted the man to inquire more about Brian’s employer.

Ivan smiled and maintained eye contact with Kira. “Well, you’re in luck. The Dominiks are the quintessential connoisseurs of fine art. I’m sure Sophia can give you some great tips and places to visit. Have you visited District Gallery yet? I’ve heard they have a fascinating new exhibit.”

Kira’s pulse pounded in her ears. Was the guy baiting her? To see if she recognized him? “That one is on my list. Great tip.”

Alex stood. The white creamy liquid in his glass sloshed as he raised it. “I’d like to say a few words.” Their host made eye contact with Kira, and she resisted the urge to look away. If Ivan remembered Kira from the gallery, she was toast, because it would be only a matter of time before Alex discovered her identity. Maybe he’d wait until dessert was served before revealing there was a traitor in their midst.

“It’s always nice to meet new friends and old acquaintances. I trust we will be seeing more of each other in the coming days as we welcome the Becketts to the neighborhood. It will be nice to have fellow art lovers nearby. Za vashe zdorovye. To your health.”

Everyone raised glasses in a toast.

Ivan’s gaze landed on Kira. “Yes, welcome. Are you sure we’ve never met?” He raised his eyebrows.

Alex took his seat but looked between Ivan and Kira, as if expecting an answer.

Kira huffed. “Please. Don’t all New Yorkers look alike? I come from a large family and am related to half of Manhattan and a few of the other boroughs.”

“Ah yes,” Ivan said. “I’ve spent a lot of time in New York. I guess you just have one of those familiar faces then.”

Alex and Ivan exchanged a glance. This couldn’t be good.

Once their host and hostess took a bite of the soup, they all began eating.

“Wow, this soup is amazing.” Bryce dipped his spoon in the bowl for another bite. “Ivan, did you say you lived in the area?”