Pretty Little Liars #14 (14 page)

Aria spun around the big room, first staring blankly at a wall of watercolor still lifes, then looking down at the paperwork for the artist. It was full of legal mumbo-jumbo she didn't understand. What if the artist had questions? This was
so
her mother. When they were living in Iceland, Ella had broken her leg while trying to catch a lost baby puffin up a tree, and while she was laid up, she'd asked Aria to drive their Saab to the grocery store. Never mind that Aria was only fourteen and had never driven in her life. “You'll be great!” Ella had insisted. “Just stay on the left side of the road and stop at red lights!”

There was a knock at the door, and Aria turned. Rolling back her shoulders, she crossed the room and tried to prepare what she'd say—only, she had no idea what
to
say. When she opened the door, a young man in a black T-shirt and skinny gray pants, carrying a large black portfolio, stood on the porch. He had broad shoulders, smoldering ice-blue eyes, a perfect nose, a strong chin, and sensuous lips. He looked like a cross between a sexy British soccer player and a guy from a Polo cologne ad.

Aria raised an eyebrow. “Um, hello?”

He thrust out a hand. “Hi. I'm Asher Trethewey. Are you Ella Montgomery?”

“O-oh,” Aria stammered. She backed up, almost stumbling over her kitten heels. “Um, no, I'm her daughter, Aria. But I can help you. Come on in.” Her voice rose on that last part, making it sound like a question. “I have the papers right here,” she said, walking toward the desk.

Asher walked into the room and placed his hands on his hips. “Actually, I was going to show your mom my work—see what she thought would be best for the exhibit.”

“Oh.” Aria gritted her teeth. See? She
knew
something like this would come up. “Well, she'll be back soon, I think . . .”

Asher cocked his head and smiled at Aria. “Or
you
can take a look, if you like.”

He set the portfolio on the desk and opened it up. Inside were a bunch of photographic images. All of them had an ethereal, out-of-focus quality to them, and most featured people caught in movement—jumping, spinning, flipping on a trampoline. Aria leaned down and inspected one picture of a little girl running through a sprinkler more closely. It wasn't a photo at all but made of tiny pixels, like a mosaic.

“Whoa,” Aria said. “You're a digital Chuck Close.”

A corner of Asher's bow-shaped mouth rose. “A few reviewers have said that, too.”

“He's one of my favorites,” Aria admitted. “I've tried to do pieces in his style, but I'm not talented enough.” She'd been inspired after going to a Chuck Close retrospective at the Philadelphia Museum of Art last summer. Noel had gone with her, spending hours there while she intently studied each work, not saying even once that he was bored.

She stiffened.
Don't think about Noel
, Aria chided silently, giving herself a mental slap. She cleared her throat. “Don't take this the wrong way, but why are you in Rosewood?”

Asher raised his head and chuckled. “I'm in Hollis because I have a fellowship gig I have to fulfill. Before that, I was in San Francisco.”

“Really?” Aria picked up a coaster that featured a fly trapped in a blob of amber, kind of feeling sorry for the poor bug. “I've always wanted to go there.”

“It's chill.” He stretched his long, sinewy arms over his head. “Tell the truth. You thought I was going to be one of those artists who painted Amish buggies and cow pastures, huh?”

“Well, maybe,” Aria admitted. Her gaze returned to Asher's work again. “Have you had a lot of shows?”

“I have an agent in New York, so I've been lucky.” He lowered his long lashes. “A couple of celebs have been interested in my work, so that's kind of cool.”

Aria raised an eyebrow. “Anyone I'd know?”

Asher closed the portfolio. “A lot of indie musicians, old players in the art-gallery scene. The biggest name was probably Madonna.”

“
The
Madonna?” Aria couldn't control her shriek. “Did you actually
meet
her?”

Asher looked embarrassed. “Oh no. I've talked to her on the phone. She's so stuck-up with that fake British accent.”

“Oh, right,” Aria said, trying to regain her cool.

Asher closed the portfolio lid. “So you're an artist, too?”

Aria fiddled with a stray lock of hair that had fallen out of her ponytail. “Oh, not
really
. Not seriously.” Her gaze darted to her own cardboard portfolio in the corner. It looked so shabby compared to Asher's leather one. “There's some stuff I'm still fiddling with.”

Asher's blue eyes lit up. “Can I check it out?”

Before Aria could give permission, Asher strode over to the folder, lifted it up, and laid it next to his own on the desk. When he opened to the first piece, Aria's face felt hot. It was a colorful, surreal painting of Noel. His skin was purplish. His hair was green. His body melted into a puddle. But it was Noel all the same—his eyes, his smile, his tufty hair. There was a hum inside her chest.

Asher flipped to another image of Noel. Then another. Aria glanced away, suddenly unable to endure them. Noel used to tease her about painting him over and over; he'd asked if he could have her work after the end-of-the-year art show at Rosewood Day. “Will you bring them to college with you?” Aria had joked. “
Duh
,” Noel had answered. “I'll hang them in my room, next to my roommate's porn pinups.” She supposed that wouldn't be happening now.

“Are you okay?”

Aria blinked hard. To her horror, tears had filled her eyes. She tried to smile. “Sorry. All those paintings are of an ex. I'm still getting over him. I actually hate all this stuff. I should burn it.”

Asher peered at Noel's face for a beat, then shut the folder. “I incorporate people I'm in love with in my paintings as well. It's only human, you know?” He rolled toward her. “Don't burn these. They could be worth something someday.”

Aria looked at him crazily. “Yeah, right.”

“I'm serious. These are amazingly deep. You're really talented.”

The sun emerged from a cloud and streamed in through the window. Aria swallowed hard, not knowing whether she should smile or burst into tears. “Thank you,” she said softly.

Asher laced his fingers together. “You should keep at it. Show me stuff as you finish it. I could put you in touch with my agent.”

“
What
?” Aria blurted.

But Asher just smiled confidently. “I know talent when I see it.” Then he grabbed the stack of papers from the desk, slipped them into his portfolio, and tucked the whole thing under his arm. “Anyway, I'll be in touch. Have your mom call me.”

“I will,” Aria said.

A warm, pleasant feeling enveloped her as she watched him step off the porch and lope down the street. She wanted to call someone right now and tell them a famous artist had encouraged
her
to paint more—imagine if he really hooked her up with his agent! Then she realized who it was she wanted to call: Noel.

But as Asher turned the corner, her mood shifted. The street was so dark and shadowless, suddenly. A car swished past a side street and didn't slow. A cat meowed in an unseen alley.

Ping
.

Her phone vibrated in her palm. Aria flinched and stared at the screen.
ONE NEW MESSAGE FROM ANONYMOUS
. She opened the text.

Aria's stomach clenched. How did Ali know? Was she listening? Was she just going to take down
everyone
Aria knew?

There was a way to solve this. She hit
FORWARD
and sent the note to Fuji. Then she stuffed her phone into her bag and willed herself to walk back into the gallery with her head held high.
You're safe
, she repeated over and over in her mind.
It's all over. You're finally going to move on
.

At least she hoped so.

HANNA MARIN, POSTER CHILD

That afternoon, Hanna stared into the impassive eye of a TV camera lens. When the red light that indicated they were filming began to blink, she smiled brightly. “And that's why I stand behind Tom Marin's Zero-Tolerance Plan,” she said clearly and slowly. She was six takes into the Tom and Hanna Marin Families Against Drunk Driving PSA, and this one was going to be a keeper.

Her father, who sat on the stool next to her, recited his lines in a presidential voice. The cameras did a close-up on him, and Hanna peeked at her reflection in the mirror that was set up on the other side of her father's campaign headquarters-turned-studio. She wore a navy-blue sheath dress and a pearl necklace she'd borrowed from her mom. Her auburn hair had been professionally blown out, cascading in a smooth waterfall down her back. Her green eyes sparkled, and her skin glowed, thanks to an expensive cream in the makeup artist's tool bag. Hanna
definitely
had to get its name.

The camera turned back to Hanna. “We need to keep teens of Pennsylvania safe,” she said emphatically. “I know this not only as a teen of Pennsylvania . . . but also as a victim of stalking
and
drunk driving.”

Pause. Smile bright. Look earnest and patriotic
. “And . . . cut!” said the director, who was perched on a stool behind the camera. “I think that one's a winner!”

Everyone in the room applauded. Mr. Marin patted Hanna's shoulder. “Good work.”

“That really was amazing,” Kate agreed, appearing by Hanna's side. “You're a natural in front of the camera, Han. I'm so impressed.”

“She gets that from me,” boasted Hanna's mom. Hanna was pretty sure her mom and Kate had never been together in such a small room, but they seemed to be getting along okay.
Isabel
, however, was standing in the opposite corner gripping a clipboard so tightly, Hanna was surprised she hadn't bent it in half by now.

Sidney, Mr. Marin's top aide, approached. “I've been thinking. Let's spin this so that the bar that served Hanna and Madison is to blame. It will test well with our voters, Tom,” he said. “People will think,
If they would have been tougher about carding, this accident never would have happened
.”

“Exactly.” Then Mr. Marin's expression grew serious. “What was the name of that bar that served you? We should shut them down. Make an example of them.”

“The Cabana.” Hanna had thought a lot about the South Street dive she'd ducked into that fateful day. The smell of smoke and the twangy country song washed back to her. So did Madison's boozy breath and the way the soles of Hanna's shoes were sticky after walking across the bathroom floor.

“Got it.” Mr. Marin tapped something into his iPhone. “Okay, Han. Ready for Phase Two?”

Hanna shifted uneasily. Phase Two was apologizing to Madison at Immaculata University, where she'd transferred after the accident. Madison had agreed to speak to Hanna, but it still made Hanna feel uneasy. If only they could skip it.

Sensing Hanna's apprehension, Mr. Marin wrapped his arm around her. “I'll be with you the whole time, honey, I promise. We'll do it together.”

Isabel rushed forward. “But Tom, we've got that meeting with your new donors today at four.”

Mr. Marin set his jaw. “Reschedule it.”

Isabel's face clouded. “You lost a huge donation when Gayle Riggs died—we need the cash.” She cleared her throat. “Speaking of Gayle, did you hear the news? There was a break in the case. The police are looking through her house again for new evidence.”

Hanna shifted her weight. Of course there was a break in the case. It was from
them
.

Mr. Marin started for the door. “I'm sure the donors can wait a day, Iz. I told Hanna I'd do this with her, and I want to honor that.”

“Good for you, Tom,” Hanna's mom gushed. She shot Isabel a snarky smile. A deep wrinkle appeared between Isabel's eyes. Hanna had a feeling that if they didn't get out of here soon, it would devolve into an episode
of Real Housewives: Rosewood, PA
.

“I'll be ready in a second,” Hanna said quickly to her father. “I just want to call Mike.” She hadn't heard from him all day, and she wanted to make sure he was okay. Usually, Mike texted her nonstop, even during school.

She stepped out of her father's office, stood on the walkway that overlooked a large atrium with a burbling fountain, and dialed Mike's number. Once again, it went to voicemail. Hanna hung up without leaving a message. Where
was
he?

When a door slammed shut, Hanna jumped. It echoed so loudly, like it was right behind her. Just being in this building gave her the creeps; a few months ago, A—
Ali—trapped
Hanna in the elevator. The lights had gone out, the power had died, and when Hanna had gotten free and on solid ground again, she'd found the elevator control box wide open, its levers and switches tampered with. Ali's telltale vanilla perfume had wafted through the air, taunting her nostrils. If only Hanna had called the cops
then
.

Hanna peered out the front windows for Bo, her security guy, but she didn't see his car in the lot. She dialed Agent Fuji. “Do you know where Bo is?” Hanna asked, when she answered. “I don't see him anywhere.”

The sound of typing echoed in the background. “Just because you can't see him doesn't mean he's not there,” Fuji answered.

“But I haven't seen him all day.”

“Hanna, I don't have time to monitor your security detail's comings and goings. I'm sure it's nothing to worry about.”

“It's just I heard that the cops are looking into Gayle's murder,” Hanna said in a small voice. “And I know that probably will make Ali nervous. And I have my boyfriend to worry about, too. I'm afraid Ali might hurt him because he knows so much.”