Part 33 (2/2)
He was standing in the kitchen when I walked in, a frown on his face.
”Were you expecting something?” He took an approximately eight-inch square package wrapped in newspaper off the table. ”I found this on the front porch. Someone knocked on the door just before you drove in.”
”Who was it?”
”I don't know. They didn't stay.”
”Is there a label on it?”
”No-no label. Think we should open it?”
”As long as it isn't some kind of letter bomb.” Then a thought struck me and I reached for the package. ”Let me see it.” He handed it over. It felt slightly heavy. ”Maybe we should wait,” I said. ”Could be a surprise Christmas present or something. Maybe Caroline brought it over.”
”Caroline? Why would she do that?”
”I don't know.”
”I think we should open it now, find out for sure.”
He wasn't going to budge. There was no way to avoid this.
I slowly tore away the paper. Eventually, a black lacquered jewelry box appeared, one I recognized immediately.
”Well, I was right,” I said. ”It is from Caroline. I saw this in town and looks like she decided to buy it for me. I'll have to call and thank her.”
”Why would she drive over and just dump it on the porch? Especially since you just saw her.”
”I don't know. Maybe she wanted to surprise me.”
”Yes ... maybe.” He eyed me, then turned his back and headed through the foyer toward the living room.
Quickly, I carried the box out of the kitchen and down the hall toward my studio. I entered, holding onto Kelly's old jewelry box tightly, a box I hadn't seen since she died. Hands shaking, I undid the small latch and lifted the lid.
Inside was a note, and below it a cylindrical metal canister used for film. I opened the note.
This is what he was looking for. Watch out! I'll contact you soon. I have something else. Could be proof if I'm right.
I heard Trevor approaching and hid the note and film container behind my back, then realized how suspicious that looked, and chucked them both onto a nearby table. The canister rolled until it found the edge of the table and dropped to the floor.
”So did you call her?” Trevor stood in the doorway.
I stared down at the jewelry box I still held in one hand, aware that my face was reddening despite willing myself to be calm. ”No, I'll call and thank her tomorrow.”
”Won't she want to know that you got it okay?”
”She won't care.”
”I think you should call her. Why wait to thank her? I might want to thank her too.”
”All right. If it will make you happy, I'll call.” I dialed Caroline's number at home, but she didn't answer, and I was not about to leave a message. If she called back, Trevor might get to the phone before I could. ”Not home,” I said, hanging up.
”Probably left for work,” he said, ”or went out with Nate.”
”Yes, probably.”
He stood there quietly. ”Why don't you tell me who really gave you that jewelry box?”
”I did tell you.”
”Josh gave it to you, didn't he?”
For a moment, I was struck dumb.
”Why don't you tell me the truth? Are you seeing him again?”
”No, Trevor. I'm not.”
”Then where did the box come from?”
”I told you. Caroline.”
”Look at you. Your face is red all the way down past your neck. You're not a very good liar, Gwyn.” He turned to leave, then an instant later popped back in the doorway. ”You met him just now, didn't you? Did he forget to give you a present? You know, if you really want that weird son of a b.i.t.c.h instead of me, don't worry. I won't fight you. I'm sick of it all.” He smacked the doorjamb with the b.u.t.t of his hand, then stalked off.
For a moment, I was tempted to go after him, then remembered the film canister down on the floor. I dropped to my knees, still watching for him to make another appearance, then felt under the table for the container. I grabbed it from behind a table leg, scrambled up, and hid it behind a cup of sketching pencils. I took the note and placed it beneath a magazine.
I waited, listening, but couldn't tell from the relative silence where Trevor might be in the house. Deciding to chance it, I grabbed the can from off the table and ran for the hall bathroom.
But Trevor appeared suddenly from around a corner, blocking the hallway. ”Are you really going to try and deny it?”
”Yes-I am. Excuse me, please.” I pushed past him to the bathroom and locked the door behind me. Taking a few quick breaths, I screwed off the cap and shook out the contents. It was developed film, two strips of five frames. Not much. Maybe Craig had kept the remainder of it.
I handled the faded negatives as carefully as possible with shaking fingers, trying not to smudge the images. I tilted them up to the light. At first, I couldn't even guess at what I was seeing, and then it became agonizingly clear. Kelly, naked, her body parts flagrantly exposed, was with a man, his genitals also open for viewing. Considering the angle of the shots, they must have taken the photos themselves. But I couldn't see the man clearly, his face was turned away or looking down, the top of his head cut off . Even squinting, I couldn't tell anything for sure. I placed the film back in the container, then flushed the toilet in case Trevor was standing outside the door.
He wasn't.
I hurried to my darkroom and hid the film canister at the rear of a drawer. Leaning back against the counter to steady myself, I closed my eyes. I could still see the images. It could have been Trevor. It could have been, but I wasn't sure. As soon as it was safe, and with sufficient time to do it right, I'd develop the negatives into prints.
I found Trevor sitting in the kitchen, his face in his hands. He straightened as I walked in, glanced toward me, then away. His face seemed swollen, as if he'd been crying.
”I'd appreciate it if you could at least be honest with me,” he said. ”I know you're lying. Caroline did not bring that over.”
I didn't bother to reply.
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