Eye of the Beholder (17 page)

“Think nothing of it.” Edward turned a delicate shade of pink. “I am enormously grateful to you. This was an important client, and I wanted to be sure Avalon Resorts got the best. I knew I could
depend on your eye. Besides, I owed you for saving me from getting scammed by McClelland.”

“We're even now.”

“If everything goes well with the reviews, I'll call you again,” Edward promised. “I've got other clients, corporate and private, who want to add to their early-twentieth-century collections.”

“You know where to find me.”

On impulse, Alexa stepped forward and gave him a quick hug. When she moved back she was surprised to see the concern in his eyes.

“Alexa, my dear, I hesitate to say this, but given our long-standing professional association and what I feel has become an ever-deepening friendship—”

“Just say it, Edward.”

“Very well, I'll come straight out with it. I heard that you were seen at the country club last night.”

“So?”

Edward cleared his throat. “According to the rumor, you were with Trask.”

“You know, Edward, for a man who swears he does not want to know too much about a client, you always seem to be first with the latest gossip.”

“Actually, I believe I was at the end of a rather long line of people who got this bit of information. To be blunt, the rumors are all over town.”

“Everyone is talking about the fact that I had dinner with Trask? Must be a slow news day here in Avalon.”

“Not just dinner,” Edward said very deliberately. “The word is that there was some sort of unpleasant scene in the parking lot afterward. And then you
went back to the hotel with Trask and left dressed only in a spa robe.”

Alexa drew herself up and looked down her nose. “A couple of muggers accosted us and smashed the windows of Trask's Jeep. And then Guthrie appeared. Some unpleasantries were exchanged. As for the bath robe, we took a late-night swim. That's all there is to your rumors.”

“Damn.” Edward grimaced. “I knew I shouldn't have started this conversation. It's really none of my business.”

“No, it's not.”

“Still, you are a friend and I am indebted to you.” Edward hesitated. “I don't suppose it would do me any good to warn you to keep a safe distance from this particular client?”

Alexa remembered her late-night caller. “Safe?”

“I must be honest, my dear. You're a charming, interesting, attractive woman.”

“Why, Edward, you'll make my head spin.”

“It's the truth. If I were so inclined in that direction, I'd have asked you out myself long ago.”

Alexa grinned. “But you're not so inclined, and Roger would be insanely jealous.”

“Yes.” Edward braced himself. “Back to my point. I've heard enough of the local gossip to know that any personal interest Trask shows in you must be viewed as highly suspect.”

Wild woman surged to the fore without warning. “Oh, yeah? How about any personal interest I show in him?”

Edward looked deeply distressed. “I beg your pardon?”

“You're afraid Trask may be trying to use me. But has it
occurred to you and everyone else that I might have my own sneaky reasons for dating him?”

Edward blinked a couple of times, assimilating that concept. “No. To be frank, it hadn't occurred to me.”

“Look, I appreciate your concern. But I lost my girlish naiveté and innocent trust in my fellow human beings in the McClelland affair.”

Edward grimaced. “Well, yes, I suppose you did.”

“I'm well aware that Trask may have asked me out for reasons other than my charm, wit, and personality.”

Edward looked mortified. “I never meant to imply that you lack wit and charm. Or personality, either, for that matter.”

“Gee, thanks, Ed.”

“I'm not handling this well, am I?”

“It's okay.” She tried for a reassuring smile. “I know what I'm doing.”
I think.
Mentally she crossed her fingers behind her back.

“Yes, of course.” Edward made himself very busy adjusting the sleeves of his linen jacket. “Well, then, I'd best be off. I told Roger I'd meet him in Scottsdale in time for dinner.”

“Good-bye, Edward.” Alexa went to stand in the doorway. “Give my best to Roger. And, again, thanks for everything. Except
Dancing Satyr,
of course.”

“Think nothing of it, my dear.” Edward climbed into the white van. “I've always said, you're the best in the business when it comes to the early twentieth century.
One of these days everyone else will know it, too.”

He raised his neatly manicured hand in farewell and put the van in gear.

“I don't know quite how to say this.” Joanna put her coffee cup down on the room service cart and got to her feet. She walked to the French doors and looked out at the sun-drenched view. “You certainly have every right to tell me to mind my own business.”

Trask leaned back against the desk. “This is about last night, isn't it?”

She bowed her head. “Yes. I heard you took Alexa Chambers to the club. I also heard that there was a scene between you and Guthrie in the parking lot afterward.”

“I don't know why the
Avalon Herald
even bothers to put out a daily edition of the paper. News travels so fast around this town that it seems pointless to take the time to put it in print.”

Joanna looked at him with agonized eyes. “I'm sorry, Trask, but I must ask if the rumors are true.”

“Which ones?”

“Are you here in Avalon to… to open up the old wounds of the past?”

“Does that possibility worry you?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because even though I know that you won't find any answers to your questions, I'm afraid that you'll stir up a lot of unpleasantness, not only for yourself but for some other, innocent people.”

“Which innocent people?”

Joanna clasped her hands very tightly together. “Alexa Chambers, for one.”

The swiftness of her response disturbed him. He shoved the flicker of guilt aside. “What makes you so sure I won't find any answers to my questions?”

“There aren't any to find. At least, not the kind I think you want. Please listen to me, Trask. I was devastated by what happened twelve years ago. I loved your father.”

“I know.”

“But the crash was a terrible accident. A tragedy, not an act of violence. I've made my peace with the past. I assumed that you and your brother had done the same.”

“What, exactly, are you worried about?”

“I don't know.” Joanna's mouth trembled. “But I'm afraid that there will be more incidents like the one between you and Guthrie last night. Someone might get hurt.”

“I can handle Dean Guthrie.”

“Can you? His drinking is worse now than it was twelve years ago. So is his temper. I know because I'm a close friend of his last ex-wife, Liz. Why do you think she divorced him? And what about Lloyd Kenyon? What do you think will happen when he finds out that you're dating Alexa?”

Trask shrugged. “Damned if I know.”

“Don't give me that.” Desperation flared in her eyes. “You know as well as I do that when Kenyon hears about this, he'll assume that you're somehow trying to use her. He'll be furious.”

“Alexa is an adult, and she's aware of the facts. She knows what happened twelve years ago. She can make her own decisions.”

Joanna met his eyes very steadily. “She may have her own reasons for seeing you. She may believe she can manipulate you. Have you considered that?”

“It's a risk I'm willing to take.”

“Why? What do you hope to accomplish?”

“I just want some answers. Is that so hard to understand? I want to know what happened twelve years ago.”

“I've lived in this town for nearly fourteen years. I know everyone who knew your father, and I am telling you that there is no great conspiracy for you to uncover. Go back to Seattle and leave us in peace.”

“I'm sorry, Joanna. I can't do that. Not yet.”

The line of people who showed up to purchase a copy of
Living the Dimensions Way
and have it personally autographed by Webster Bell stretched past the front door of Alexa's shop. It did not begin to shorten until the very end of the scheduled signing.

A handful of Webster's fans wandered into Elegant Relic to browse, but sales were not brisk. They had come to the Plaza to buy books, not suits of armor and Egyptian tomb jewelry. Between them, Alexa and her assistant, Kerry, sold only a set of gargoyle bookends and a Crusader's shield.

Shortly before the end of Webster's appearance at Spheres, Alexa decided business was not going to pick up any time soon. She left Kerry in charge of Elegant Relic and went to fetch two iced green teas from Café Solstice.

Dylan Fenn stuck his head out of the doorway of Spheres and crooked a finger at her as she went past.
His angelic platinum hair shone in the sun. He looked very pleased with himself.

“You're in luck, Alexa. Webster is still here and I've got some copies of
Living the Dimensions Way
left.”

“That's not fair, Dylan. When was the last time I coerced you into buying a gargoyle?”

“Let me see.” He pretended to ponder the matter for a brief moment. “Last December twenty-ninth, I think it was, when you realized that you were going to get stuck with all those little gargoyles dressed in Santa Claus outfits.”

“Okay, okay, I'll buy a book. But I've got to tell you, living the Dimensions Way is not really my thing.”

“So you keep telling me, but I'm not giving up. One of these days the positive energy vortices will start to exert their influence. You can't resist them forever. This is Avalon, after all.”

“Meaning I'm doomed to think positive?”

Dylan grinned. “Something like that.”

There was a blaze of silver and turquoise as Webster appeared in the doorway behind Dylan. He gave Alexa his charismatic smile. His eyes, brimming with a patented expression of insight and understanding, were the color of ancient amber.

“Don't push her.” Webster clamped a fatherly hand around Dylan's shoulder. “Those who are destined to find their way to Dimensions must do so in their own time. How are you, Alexa?”

“Fine.” She felt herself turn red. “Of course I'd love an autographed copy of your book, Webster.”

He chuckled. The sound was almost musical, dark and rich. “Please, don't feel you have to buy
one just because you know the author.”

“No, no, I want one. Really, I do.”

Dylan stood aside. “Come on in. I'll get a copy for you. Webster can sign it.”

“Great.” Alexa tried to infuse some genuine enthusiasm into her voice. She smiled brightly at Webster. “It looked like you had a great crowd.”

“It was a gratifying turnout, thanks to Dylan.”

“All I do is sell the books.” Dylan picked up a copy of
Living the Dimensions Way
from the small stack of books that was left from the signing. “You're the one who brings in the crowds, Webster.”

“This one does seem to be doing quite well.” Webster glanced at the cover of his book. “Let's hope it changes a few lives.”

Changes a few lives?
Compared to that goal, her own career aspirations seemed downright mundane, Alexa thought.

Webster opened the book and removed an expensively worked silver and turquoise pen from his pocket. He scrawled a short message and his name across the inside page.

“There you go.” He handed the book to Alexa.

“Thank you.” She would put the book on the shelf in her living room, she decided. No one would ever have to know that she was one of probably no more than three people in Avalon who hadn't actually read a Webster Bell book all the way through.

A couple walked through the door. The woman asked Dylan for a guide to the metaphysical “hot spots” in the surrounding desert. Dylan drew her
and her friend to a shelf of books at the far end of the room.

Alexa found herself alone with Webster. She thought about edging back out the door but paused when it occurred to her that she had not yet paid for
Living the Dimensions Way
.

“I hope you find my book useful,” Webster said very quietly. “The Dimensions Way is the way of peace and serenity. Most of us lead lives that are filled with too much stress. The key to fulfilling our true potential is to resist the negative forces that surround us.”

Something in his voice made her look at him more closely. The intensity with which he was watching her made her uneasy.

“Right,” she said. “Peace and serenity.”

“Alexa, I hesitate to make a personal comment.” Webster glanced at the far end of the store, where Dylan was still occupied with his customers. Then he lowered his voice slightly. “After all, we aren't close. But I know that you and Joanna are friends. May I be blunt?”

“Uh—”

“I sense a severe disturbance in your personal aura.”

“Dang. Funny you should mention that. I've been worried about my aura lately.”

He smiled ruefully. “I know that to those who have not yet found their own touchstones of power, people like me can be a source of amusement.”

She was instantly embarrassed. “I'm sorry. I never meant to imply that you were funny. I mean—”

“It's all right.”
He gave her a self-deprecating grin. “I don't mind. What the heck, if the bottom ever falls out of the metaphysical business, I can always get a job as a stand-up comedian.”

Alexa relaxed slightly. “Sorry. I get a little nervous around gurus.”

Webster's smile faded. He gave her a troubled look. “I don't consider myself a guru, you know. I'm only trying to help others find some of the inner peace that I, myself, have found here in the red rock country around Avalon.”