Drawing Conclusions Read Free

I’d never be part of it. And that was just fine by me.
    â€œMs. Prentice?”
    â€œI don’t answer to Ms. Prentice,” I replied sharply, catching the detective’s attention. As he looked up, I surveyed his face. He had shaved this morning but would need another swipe of the razor within a few hours. The heavy growth around the lower half of his face framed his eyes, which were filled with doubt and query. He turned one corner of his mouth downward, rethinking his approach. He wanted answers from me and realized a change of tone was in order.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said after some deliberation. To emphasize a truce, he put his iPad aside, giving me his full attention before continuing. “If you wouldn’t mind, could you provide me the names of the people who live in this house and their relationship to each other?”
    â€œYou didn’t come here to tell me about my brother, did you? You came here to ask us questions.”
    â€œThe more information, the better.”
    We had nothing to hide, so I offered a quick rundown of the residents of Harbor House. “I have four housemates. Trina and Jonathan handle most of the farming. Charlie and I are childhood friends. He’s also my brother’s best friend. Becky designs clothing from discarded fabrics.”
    Detective DeRosa’s fingers, which seemed almost too bulky for the slim electronic device, pounded away at the touch pad as if I had just revealed a buried secret.
    I spun on my heels, arms folded tightly across my chest. “I still don’t understand what happened. Teddy and I aren’t even thirty. Was it a heart attack?”
    â€œWhat if it wasn’t a heart attack?” he challenged.
    I walked back to the detective. “ What if it wasn’t a heart attack? What the hell does that mean?” It was ever so slight, but I felt the pressure of Detective DeRosa’s imposing frame as he leaned into me. Subtle aggression. I took a step forward and lessened the gap. Not so subtle on my part.
    â€œI was hoping you could provide some answers. I understand you were very close to your brother.” The detective handed me his card. “Come by the station at your convenience. Your brother’s death has not been classified as a homicide just yet, but on the outside chance it is, I’d like to start investigating before any more time has passed.”
    Detective DeRosa glanced around my studio. There were over a hundred half-finished canvases, many of them nearly identical.
    â€œWhat’s with the faces?” he asked, downgrading my artwork to circles with eyes.
    â€œPortraits, not faces.”
    â€œOkay, portraits. Why all the portraits?”
    â€œIt’s what I do. I’m an artist,” I said as I walked toward the staircase.
    I led the detective out of my studio, down the stairs, and directly to the front door of Harbor House.
    â€œGood night.” I opened the front door and stood to the side, a signal that our conversation was over. I flicked on the porch light on the outside chance he did not get the hint. The eco-friendly bulb cast a dull glow, highlighting yet another visitor.
    â€œDad?” I gasped as my father made his way up the stairs.

three
    A batch of gnats swarmed the porch light and tested my father’s patience as he swatted them away with a linen handkerchief. The bags beneath his eyes were swollen with grief and the corners of his mouth were bent so far south I thought he might have lost the ability to smile. We both hesitated, unsure whether or not to embrace. Before I had a chance to react, my father reached out to shake the detective’s hand.
    â€œDetective DeRosa, you’re on your way out. I see you’ve already spoken to Constance.”
    â€œYes, he has,” I said, acknowledging the fact that I was the last to learn of my brother’s death.
    â€œI’m sorry about that, I tried to get here earlier,” my father