Beyond Secrets, The Art of Murder: A Madison Hart Mystery (Madison Hart Mysteries Book 1)

by DB Jones

  She finished her glass of wine and decided to have one more. She pulled back the curtain and started to open the fridge when she glanced out at the parking lot. Just as another crack of lightning struck, she thought she saw someone. There were no lights on inside or out, but she walked over to the window to see what it was. There were no other cars in the lot, but when the lightning hit again, she saw nothing. “Funny how images can appear after a glass of wine and a lightning storm.” She got her wine and went back to bed.

  It was still raining when Madison awoke the next morning, but the lightening storm had passed. The sound of rain was calming and relaxing, yet she was eager to get back to the case. She had her first good night’s sleep in a while and felt rejuvenated, and her mind was clear.

  The mounting clues were leading in only one direction, and Madison couldn’t wait until Josh showed up so she could run a new timeline by him. If they could determine where each person of interest was on the days the women disappeared, then they could bring someone in for a more in-depth interrogation. Up to this point, they had to tread lightly with their questions and interviews.

  If only she could talk to Aspen about what happened that night, the process might go a lot faster, but the doctors said she was still having difficulty talking. Never the less, Madison was determined to see if Aspen had anything to offer.

  Josh walked up to the door with his hands full. He brought them coffee and donuts from Krispy Crème. She saw him with a hand full. “Perfect. That ought to get us rolling.” She quickly ran to the door and swung it open before Josh tried his juggling act with the coffee and donuts to open the door.

  “I see you’re ready to go. Sleep well last night?” He set the coffee and donuts down on the table in front of the board.

  “First good night’s sleep I’ve had since this case started. How about you?”

  “Never better.”

  “Did you have an opportunity to talk to Kincaid?”

  “I did, but he was either purposely evasive or self-absorbed. He said he couldn’t remember the last time he saw his models. However, Kim gave me some insight into the man and his fans. She told me that the women who posed for him felt there was more to their relationship with him than just artist and model. I wonder if he was the secret they were keeping from everyone?”

  Madison reached for one of the coffee cups. “He just might have been. If that were the case, then he certainly would be someone they would leave with; someone they trusted enough to take them to their place of death. He may be full of himself, but something’s not right. He doesn’t come across as a guy whacking off his models just to get rid of them. However, I would still like to know where he was on those dates. If he can’t, or won’t tell us, maybe Kim will.”

  Josh took a sip of his coffee. “Kim is very devoted and loyal to Kincaid, so we can’t come across like he’s a suspect or she’ll close down on us.”

  “I agree. What kind of donuts did you bring?” She reached into the bag.

  “Oh, I thought you wanted bagels,” he snickered.

  “Bagels? Do I look like I need something healthy?” She tore open the bag. “Damn, you had me on that one.”

  “I knew you loved their donuts and we needed a sugar rush today. I have a list of things I’d like to check out. I’m sure you want to get back to the hospital to see if Aspen can tell you anything.

  Madison took a sip of her coffee and grabbed the crème filled chocolate donut. She attacked it like she hadn’t eaten in a week. Before Josh could get one, she was ready for another. “Maybe I should go buy more before we get started,” he laughed as he leaned over and wiped some chocolate off her chin.

  “No. This will be fine for now.” All she could think about was how close they were to finding their suspect, and there were still two missing women. But she suspected they had met the same fate as the others. They definitively had established that the missing women were, in fact, Tyler Kincaid’s models from his exhibit.

  Madison crossed a few things off of the board and added the facts they learned the day before. She turned to Josh, who was wolfing down another donut. “I wonder if we could find out the locations where Kincaid painted? Do you think Kim would have privy to that information? I know she handles a lot of his details.”

  “I’ll see what I can weasel out of her today. When I was talking to her the other day, she seemed to think I would be upset with you posing for Kincaid. I think I’ll approach her with the idea that I may want to purchase one of the paintings of you before it goes on display, and then see where that leads. She may open up to me more if she thinks I’m a fan.”

  “Why would she think you’d care who I posed for?”

  “I take it since we’ve been hanging around a lot lately she probably thought we were a couple. You know how small town gossip starts. Hell, by the end of this case, you’ll be pregnant with my child,” he said chuckling.

  “Yeah, like that’s going to happen.” Madison didn’t find the humor in that as he did.

  I wish she’d lighten up a little. We could have a lot of fun.“Okay. I was just trying to lighten the mood around here,” he groaned.

  “I’m sorry. It’s just a little hard for me to joke when we have young women being killed who will never have that opportunity to have a family. Josh, I warned you that I take my work very seriously. I can’t relax until the case is solved.”

  “I get it, and yes you did warn me, so let’s get the bastard.” Josh stepped up to the board. “Okay, I see we have two things that leave a hole on this board that we need to fill in. First, the whereabouts of our artist during the times the women came up missing. Secondly, where are the locations of the sites of each painting? You see what you can find out from Aspen, and we’ll catch up later. I’m going back to the center. Kim did mention that a few of Kincaid’s fans were fanatic about owning a piece of him. Let’s see how fanatic.” He quickly washed down the last donut with his coffee.

  Madison called the hospital to see how Aspen was doing and the nurse told her that Aspen was doing well and if she continued to improve they were planning to move her from the ICU into a private room in the next day or two. Madison was glad that Aspen was out-of-the-woods, but if anyone found out where she was, she could be in danger. She called Josh and asked if they would make sure she was safe. “We were updated on her condition, and the chief has assigned someone to her as soon as they move her, so she’ll be safe.”

  “Thanks, Josh. I’m headed over there now.”

  Madison entered Aspen’s room where her mother was asleep in a lounge chair beside the bed. Madison startled her at first, but then she got up and hugged her. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered. Mrs. Chambers held onto Madison’s arm. “They say she’s doing better, but her mind doesn’t seem right. I hope that will improve as she heals.”

  “I’m sure it’s all the blood loss and just being so weak.”

  “Madison, is that you?” Aspen mumbled as she turned her head towards them.

  “It sure is. How are you doing?”

  “They tell me I’m going to make it, but it’s going to take some rehabilitation before I’m strong again. I’m afraid I’m going to have to turn down Tyler’s offer. I hate that. I don’t want to let him down.”

  “I’m sure he’ll understand.”

  “He hasn’t come by or called since I’ve been here. I hope he’s not mad at me.”

  “I doubt that he’s mad at you. The doctor has limited your visitors until you get well enough. Just family and the police can know you’re here until we find out who did this to you. Do you remember what happened?”

  “What do you mean, what happened to me? I thought I must have gotten dizzy again and had a bad fall.”

  Madison walked over to the edge of the bed. “What is the last thing you remember?”

  “I remember you and me coming home from Tyler’s exhibit and feeling very sleepy.”

  “Anything after that?”

  “No. Not until I woke up here.
Madison, what happened to me?” She clutched Madison’s arm.

  Madison turned to look at Mrs. Chambers, who had tears streaming down her face. She leaned in close to Aspen. “You were very seriously injured. You’ve been shot,” Madison said carefully.

  “Shot? You mean with a gun?”

  “Yes.”

  “Who shot me and why?”

  “That’s what Detective Logan and I are trying to find out. But you’re going to be fine now, and no one can hurt you here. You just concentrate on getting better. If you remember anything and I mean anything; just have your mom call me. I’ll be right over.” The nurse entered the room to check Aspen’s vital signs and give her some pain meds. “You get some rest now, and I’ll be back soon.”

  Aspen started to say something, but her eyes rolled into the back of her head. The medication hit her immediately. Madison hated to upset Aspen, but it was the only way she could see if it would trigger any memories of what transpired that night.

  “I’m sorry. I had to do that, but the more we learn, the sooner we can catch the person who hurt your daughter.” Madison reached out and took Mrs. Chambers hands.

  “I know you had to, dear. Aspen said you were a tough FBI agent and that you were working on the murders in Maitland. You don’t think my daughter was involved in any of that, do you?”

  “No, ma’am. This is a totally unrelated incident. Aspen is safe now, and she is going to need you to be strong for her.”

  “Thank you so much for coming. Aspen thinks very highly of you,” Mrs. Chambers said with a smile.

  “I feel the same about her.”

  Madison saw the doctor in the hall and approached him. “Do you think Aspen’s memory will return, and if so, how long will it take?”

  “We won’t know that yet. Only time will tell. I wish I had something more positive to tell you.”

  Madison was afraid that the secret about Aspen being alive, and in the hospital, would not be a secret too long. Soon everyone in town would know what happened to her and so would the person who tried to kill her.

  Josh entered the front door of the Art Center to find the reception room empty. Though the Center hadn’t opened yet, the door was unlocked. He called out, but no one answered. He walked back to the gallery where the exhibit was hanging. Everything was silent which added to the mystique of the paintings. The more Josh studied them, the more sadness he drew from them. They appeared to be crying out loneliness and despair. There was no joy emanating from them. “Why does this type of work appeal to so many and why would such a flamboyant man paint this way. What was he trying to convey?”

  “Hi, Josh.”

  Josh swung around, and there was Alice. “Hi, Alice. I thought Kim was here today?”

  “She called me last night and said she had to go out of town to see her sister. Something about her sister being ill and having no one to help her. That’s Kim for you, always trying to help everyone else. To tell you the truth, since Kim started volunteering around here, the Center is running a lot smoother. She’s very organized and dedicated to this place. Is there anything I can help you with?”

  “Do you know when she’ll be back?”

  “I’m not sure, but I know she won’t stay any longer than necessary. She’ll be eager to get back here. How is the case coming along? Oh, I’m sorry. I know you’re not supposed to talk about it. It’s just that it’s all anyone in town can talk about, and everyone wants to know what’s going on. I hear that there might be a mass murderer killing redheads.”

  “You’re right. I can’t talk about an on-going case. But I can tell you I don’t think it’s a mass murderer killing red-heads.”

  “That’s a relief,” she sighed straightening her red hair.

  “How’s your partner, Agent Hart, doing? I’ve heard you two are spending a lot of time together.” Alice winked at Josh.

  “That’s what partners do, Alice. I guess you’ll see more of us together until this investigation is over, but I wouldn’t read into it any more than that. We’re just partners. She’ll most likely be heading back to DC when this case is over. Not much need for a permanent FBI agent in Maitland.”

  “I guess not. Shame, though, I like her. I know she’s from here and I was hoping she’d want to move back. Oh, well, we all have to follow our own path. I hear she’s a good agent, and you two make a good team.” She made her way behind the reception desk.

  Josh started for the door and then turned toward Alice, “Do me a favor, Alice. Don’t tell Kim I was here looking for her. I want to surprise her with an idea for Mr. Kincaid’s next project.”

  “I won’t, but you’ve got me curious.”

  “Like I said, I want it to be a surprise. Say hi, to your old man and the kids for me.”

  “I will, but you ought to come by soon, or they’re going to forget you.”

  Josh called Madison to update her. The minute she answered the phone, he knew her day had not been productive either. “Looks like we’ve hit a wall.”

  “Yeah, and the donuts are wearing off too. Do you feel like getting some real food for lunch?” Madison asked.

  “I’ll swing by your place in an hour.”

  “Great.”

  The rain was still coming down and had intensified. Madison made a dash for her door and nearly fell into the glass. The concrete on the sidewalk had come loose in the rain, and she tripped over it. Luckily, she was able to catch herself before hitting the glass door. She put the key in only to find she had left it unlocked, which is something she hadn’t done before. She took a quick look around to see if anyone had been there but saw nothing disturbed. “I’m lucky this time, but I’d better pay more attention. I sure don’t want anyone to see our evidence or clues. At least the board is always covered. She walked toward the board just to be sure. She took a deep sigh of relief when she saw it was still covered. “If anyone knew what was on this board, our case could be jeopardized.”

  She sat at the table and waited for Josh. When she saw him drive up, she ran out to his car. “I thought this rain was supposed to quit soon.”

  “Yeah, I did, too.” Josh started to turn the car around when Madison remembered she left the door unlocked. Josh drove up as close as he could, she jumped out, locked the door and then kicked the broken piece of concrete to one side on her way back.

  “That’s the second time today that I forgot to lock that door. I need to focus.”

  “That’s not like you. Something else on your mind?”

  “I guess I’m worried about Aspen. She didn’t even know what happened to her. I think it frightened her when I told her, but I had to find out if she remembered anything.”

  “It sounds like she’s going to recover from the report we got today. I’m sure the memory thing is only temporary.”

  Madison didn’t respond; she just looked straight ahead while they drove toward the restaurant. “Would you mind if we go somewhere where no one knows us? I don’t want to answer any more questions today.”

  “That’s a good idea. I got bombarded with questions today, too. How about Marlow’s on 1792 in Winter Park? I hear they have great fish Tacos.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Josh pulled right up to the canopy covering the walkway to let Madison out. She asked for a table in the far corner of the room. The waiter escorted her to the table and asked if anyone would be joining her. “Yes, he should be right behind me. He’s parking the car.”

  “Can I get you something to drink while you’re waiting?”

  Madison would have loved to have ordered a glass of wine, but they were still on the clock, so to speak. Josh came in, looked around the room, and then spotted her sitting in a booth in the darkest corner of the room. He took off his jacket and shook the rain off and laid it down inside of the booth.

  “Nice table. I doubt if there is anyone in here we know, but the chances of them seeing us back here would be slim.”

  “That’s what I was hoping. Josh, I don’t want to sound paranoid, b
ut when I came home today, the concrete outside my front door was loose. I didn’t give it much thought until now. There was no indication it should have broken up, even in the rain. I believe someone did it on purpose. Then, the other night, I got up during that lightning storm, and swore I saw someone outside by my car.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”

  “I didn’t give it much thought until today.”

  “I don’t think you imagined those things. It might not be anything serious, but just in case, keep your eyes open and call me next the time something strange happens.”

  The waiter stepped up to the table with the menus. Josh looked at Madison, “I think we know what we want, don’t we?” She nodded, and Josh ordered fish tacos for both of them. “And would you mind bringing my friend a glass of Merlot?” Madison started to protest but then sunk back against the booth. “How did you know I wanted that?”

  “I didn’t, but I knew you could use one.”

  “Thank you, Josh. You’re not going to have one?”

  “Not now, but later I might. I think our interviewing is a bust today. It seems as though everyone we want to talk to is either unavailable or can’t remember. Since it’s nearly 3:00 p.m., why don’t we head back to your place and wrap the day up with some more wine?” he asked, lifting his eyebrow.

  “More wine while we continue working? Sounds interesting.”

  “No more work. We have nothing new to add right now. Kim is out of town and won’t be back until late tomorrow, your friend Aspen cannot remember, and Kincaid is lost in his work somewhere. We can wait.”

  The waiter came out with nearly a full glass of wine. “Would you like something to drink, sir?”

  “Just more water, and lots of it.”

  “You’re going to love these tacos. They’re the best in town.” Josh lifted his water glass to her wine glass.

  “I’ll be the judge of that. I’ve had some dang good ones in DC.”

  “Speaking of DC, what are your plans? Are you planning to return to the DC area when we finish this case?”