Free Tide Will Tell (Islands of Intrigue: San Juans) by Lesley Ann McDaniel

Kathy Jennings, teenage runaway, but Mrs. Chase Cole—a connoisseur of the arts.
    It was all going to be okay. It had to be.

Chapter 10
    Kate stood in front of the sculpture, waiting for the saleswoman to look up the price. From this proximity, Kate could see the quality of the piece. It was truly a work of art.
    “I’m so sorry.” Confusion creased the woman’s brow. “I’m afraid this piece hasn’t been appraised yet. I’ll have to consult the owner as to what she intends to do.”
    “Oh…but I really want it. Money is no object.” Had she really just said that? She sounded like a caricature of a wealthy snob.
    The woman smiled in nervous reassurance. “I’m sure we can work something out, Miss Jennings.”
    “Jennings? Kate Jennings?”
    Wincing, Kate tried to ignore the feminine voice behind her. The day had been going so well. If she could just complete this transaction without anyone causing a scene—
    “You should be ashamed to show your face in this town.”
    The anger searing a hole in Kate’s back made it clear that ignoring the speaker was not going to be an option. Resigned, she turned to see a woman of about fifty, wearing a gallery name tag and a pinched expression. Her cropped grey hair stood up in tiny spikes on the top of her head, giving emphasis to her prickly disposition.
    Timidity edged out Kate’s confidence. “Excuse me?”
    “You heard what I said.” The woman glowered at her through small red glasses, then turned her vitriol on the saleswoman. “Jocelyn, you know how I feel about that sculpture.”
    “I’m sorry, Marion.” Apprehension glistened in Jocelyn’s eyes as she gave Kate an apologetic glance. Clearly trying to mitigate the situation, she looked again at Marion. “I thought you’d decided against keeping it.”
    “I did.” Marion’s jaw tightened. “But you know who this woman is .”
    Tears welled in Kate’s eyes. She would have run if not for the fear of her knee buckling again. Her eyes darted to the window, and she saw Josh involved in what looked like an intense conversation on his phone. He was in no position to come to her rescue.
    “Marion…” Jocelyn sent a look of cautious warning, the meaning of which Kate couldn’t even guess.
    Marion held for a beat, her nostrils flaring like a bull as she glowered at both of them. Then her jaw firmed in irrevocable decision. “I put this piece on display so it could be enjoyed.” She snapped a look at Kate. “But it remains unpriced for a reason.” She took a quick glance at the door as another patron entered, then lowered her voice to a menacing hiss. “If you think you’re going to take her place, you’ve got another thing coming.”
    With a parting sneer, she whirled around and stomped off to a room at the back of the store, banging the door shut behind her.
    “I’m so sorry.” Jocelyn spoke in a soft jittery voice. “Marion owns the gallery but that’s no excuse for her behavior.” She glanced around, as if to assure herself that no one was close enough to overhear. “She wanted to keep this piece for her personal collection, but since she almost lost the gallery a year ago she needs every sale she can get.”
    “Oh.” Alarmed by the woman’s candor, Kate nodded. “I’m glad she didn’t lose her business. But, why is she so upset with me? ”
    “Don’t take it personally. It’s just that…Trina Cole was her best friend.”
    Kate’s heart raced. She hadn’t even considered that Trina would have had friends on the islands. No wonder that woman resented Kate. And she probably wasn’t the only one.
    A bead of sweat trickled down Kate’s forehead. Suddenly the thought of making a place for herself in this community seemed completely ludicrous.
    By the time she exited the gallery a minute later, her knee throbbed and her stomach burned. At the rate she was going, they’d have to carry her down the aisle on a stretcher.
    Seeing her, Josh clicked off his call, his face slightly