Portrait in Crime Read Free

at his shoulder as Tommy gunned the engine and took off for Bess.
    Bess was treading water exactly where she had fallen. She hadn’t even tried to swim for the boat.
    â€œAre you okay?” Nancy called as they drew up beside her. Bess nodded.
    Tommy helped Bess aboard, and Nancy dove into the water to retrieve the skis. When she got back Bess was wrapped in a towel, leaning heavily against Tommy’s shoulder.
    â€œI’m sorry!” Bess burst out as Nancy hoisted herself back on board. “I didn’t mean to fall and cause such a commotion. Sasha, are you sure you’re okay?”
    Sasha assured her for the third time that he was. “I shouldn’t have been sitting on the railing anyway,” he said.
    â€œWhat happened to you?” Nancy asked Bess.
    â€œShe fell,” Tommy said simply. “Happens to the best of us.” Turning back to Bess, he brushed damp tendrils of hair off her forehead. “You are okay, aren’t you?” he asked tenderly.
    Nancy smiled openly as she watched them. The romance was certainly blooming! “Okay if I take the wheel?” she asked.
    Tommy nodded, barely glancing at her.
    Nancy looked at Sasha. “Uh,” she began, “Sasha, do you want to ski?”
    â€œGo ahead, Sasha,” Bess said immediately. “Don’t let me spoil the day.”
    Sasha shook his head, salt water flying from his golden brown hair. “That’s okay, I’ve been in the water enough for today.” He touched his left shoulder unconsciously.
    â€œYou’re sure your shoulder is okay?” Nancy asked him worriedly. “Dmitri will kill me if you’re hurt.”
    Sasha grinned at the thought of his overprotective chaperon, Dmitri Kolchak. “He won’t kill you, but he will fuss over me more than Tommy is fussing over Bess.”
    â€œLet’s spend the rest of the day on land,” he said, and Nancy headed toward the dock.
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    â€œI did not fall on purpose!” Bess declared hotly as the two girls and Sasha sat on the porch of the Nisus Art Gallery after a very late lunch.
    Nancy laughed and hugged her friend. “Bess,I’m teasing! All I meant was it couldn’t have worked better if you had planned it.”
    A small smile played over Bess’s lips. “Well, Tommy was awfully concerned—” She stopped suddenly, narrowing her eyes. “Don’t you dare tell George I fell! She’ll never let me forget it.”
    Tommy poked his head out the door. “Are you guys coming in?” he called.
    The three friends walked into the gallery, cool air embracing them. The main room was a large, off-white space, sparsely furnished. There was a young woman sitting at a desk near the door, reading a book. Nancy looked around.
    An enormous painting hung on the wall facing them, dominating the room. It was done entirely in shades of pink, and it was very pretty, but Nancy didn’t think it was special. “I’d never make an art critic,” she murmured to Sasha.
    A smattering of smaller paintings graced the other walls. Two sculptures were displayed on freestanding columns placed in the middle of the room.
    Tommy motioned them over to where he was standing with a tall, elegant woman.
    â€œNancy Drew, Sasha Petrov, this is my mother, Cynthia Gray,” Tommy said. “And you’ve met Bess.”
    Nancy shook hands with the handsome older woman, who was dressed in layers of flowing peach silk. “Nice to meet you.”
    â€œAnd you,” Cynthia responded warmly. “I’mglad you could come,” she said, refocusing her attention to include Sasha.
    â€œWe want to help in any way we can,” Sasha offered.
    â€œWell, then, why don’t we go into my office?” Cynthia invited, leading them across the room. “I’m afraid I won’t be much help, but I’ll tell you everything I know.”
    â€œUm, Nancy,”