Chapter Two
Raven’s eyes sparkled. “Her name is Pepper Windjue. She was on her way to see the exhibition when she got a weird vibe. She turned around to the coffee house before she got freaked out.”
“Did she say why she felt like that?” he asked as he wondered about her name. Pepper? So unusual.
Raven shook her head. “Not really, but she feels better now. Her roommate told her about one of the paintings and she was going to see it.”
“One of the paintings?” Mikial frowned.
“It seems her roommate thinks she looks like the little girl portrayed in the exhibition.” She shook her head. “I haven’t seen it but I think the resemblance surprised the other girl.”
Mikial swung his head around and watched the door of the gallery. Pepper was already inside and he wanted to track her down. Looking at Raven, he offered his arm and asked, “Would you like to see what all the fuss is about?”
Raven placed her hand on his arm. “Let’s go. She’s got me curious now.”
Together, they walked back to the gallery.
Mikial opened the door and escorted Raven in. When they got inside, they could see Pepper standing in front of the main painting. The gallery was showcasing the painting of a small girl. In the painting, the little girl looked to be around the age of four. Her cheeks were chubby and her amber colored eyes were half closed as she blew on a fuzzy dandelion. Her silver colored curly hair blew back from the wind in the air. There was a serene look on the girl’s face and she was wearing a summer dress. The portrait was set in the middle of a field of green with a tree line behind the little girl.
The painting seemed so life like that you could almost feel the summer breeze. The artist captured the little girl’s glee at the simple act of blowing on a dandelion.
Pepper couldn’t take her eyes off the painting. The little girl did look like her and in the back of her mind, she could remember being there in that scene depicted on the canvas. Then she noticed something on the painting. She took a step back and ran into someone.
Stumbling back, she felt arms wrap themselves around her and Pepper panicked.
The man released her immediately, but kept his arms out to catch her if she fell again. “Are you all right?”
Pepper glanced over her shoulder and found herself staring at his chest. She froze then looked upward. Her eyes passed the huge chest and muscular shoulders to see the short blond hair and stunning blue eyes. “Oh, I’m so sorry.” She backed away.
“No worries.” He smiled.
The girl from the coffee shop, Raven stood next to him. “Are you okay?” she asked.
Pepper glanced at her and recognized her. “Oh yes, I’m all right. I guess the painting just startled me, that’s all.”
Raven nodded her head. “This is my friend, Mikial and I think I told you before that my name is Raven.” She glanced at the painting. “Why does it startle you?”
Pepper nodded her head at her, then turned her head again to stare at the painting. “Because I think that’s me,” she whispered.
Mikial snapped his head toward her as did Raven.
“Why would you think that?” Raven asked. “I mean it does look like you but what makes you think it is you?”
Pepper turned to Raven. She raised her arm and showed the birthmark on her wrist. It was a small brown butterfly shape located just inside and under the bones of her wrist.
Raven and Mikial saw the birthmark on her skin then viewed the painting. The birthmarks were identical. The same brown butterfly shape could be seen both on her wrist and in the painting.
“The painting is called, Pepper’s Laughter,” Mikial noted.
Pepper glanced at him and nodded. “But how would she know that was my name? How did she paint me when I was a child?”
“Do you know the painter, Jessie Carter?” Mikial asked.
Pepper shook her head. “I don’t think so?” She hesitated then added, “I don’t really remember much of my childhood.”
“What does that mean?” Raven asked.
Pepper shrugged. “I was found when I was around four or five by the police. I was scared and hiding but from what I don’t recall. Police officer Paul Windjue ended up taking me home with him. All I could tell him at the time was my first name.”
“Did you ever remember anything else?” Mikial asked.
Pepper shook her head. “Later, they told me I was dirty and hungry and they didn’t know how long I’d been out there on the streets. I couldn’t or wouldn’t speak at the time but I could write my first name. I had a small cut on my head but where it came from I had no idea.”
“Is that why you took his last name?” Raven asked.
Pepper nodded. “I’ve never remembered anything else. I lived with Paul and Marie until I went to college and even though they couldn’t adopt me, I took their last name just so I’d have one.”
“Do you know Leon Knight?” Mikial asked.
Pepper frowned. “I don’t think so, who is he?”
“He was the man standing outside the gallery before.”
“The one standing with his family?” she asked.
Mikial nodded.
Pepper hesitated, then admitted, “No I didn’t know him but something seemed familiar about him. I couldn’t tell you what but I feel there is something about the man…” She shrugged.
“And you have no idea what your connection is with this artist?” Mikial asked.
Pepper shook her head. “My roommate Sami told me about the painting. She’s an art student and came to the opening night premier. She’s been bugging me for days to see it. I just got around to coming down here today.” She turned to the painting again. “I don’t know what to think about all this.” She glanced at Mikial and Raven. “What does it mean?”
Raven shook her head. “I don’t know.”
Mikial shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Do you have someone safe to stay with until we can figure this out?”
Pepper frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be safe in my own apartment?”
Mikial shrugged. “I’m not saying you wouldn’t be but could you give us the address, just so we know you’re safe?”
“But you don’t even know me, why would you care whether I was safe or not?” she asked.
Mikial smiled. “Because I like a mystery. You are a beautiful woman and that doesn’t hurt either.”
Raven slapped his arm. “What he’s trying to say is that you’re a new friend and we don’t want anything to happen to you. We’d both feel better if we knew more about this situation.”
Pepper shrugged. “I’m sure there’s nothing sinister going on but it is curious. Do you know anything about the artist?”
Mikial shrugged. “I know she died about eighteen years ago in a fire over in Chalmette. Most of her paintings were saved by the fact she had them in her studio. What started the fire is unknown and no one else was injured in the fire that burned her trailer to ashes. The trailer was located in a remote area with no close neighbors, so the fire was well under way before the fire department got there.”
“How did the paintings get to be displayed here?” Pepper asked.
“It seems she left everything in trust and her attorney, Leon Knight has just decided to allow them to be on display after all this time,” Mikial explained.
“They have been in storage all this time?” Raven asked.
Mikial shook his head. “I’m not sure what the deal was but he came to us about a month ago and asked us to show the paintings.”
“You are with the gallery?” Pepper asked.
“I and four others own it along with several other small businesses in the city. The paintings are garnering a good bit of interest in the art world.”
“Do you know anything else about the artist?” Raven asked.
Mikial shrugged. “I can’t say I know all that much only what Leon tells everyone.”
“And what is that?” Pepper asked.
“That she was becoming well known artist before she died in a fire eighteen years ago,” he repeated his earlier statement. “We liked her paintings, so we agreed to show her works. We’ve already had several offers to buy them.”
“How did Leon Knight get interested in representing her?” Pepper wondered.
“He didn’t say but he is an attorney.” Mikial pointed out. “He wouldn’t have to tell us how he became involved.”
“You have to admit it is curious,” Raven added. “Why would he sit on these paintings for eighteen years and then suddenly bring them out for the public?”
“I’m sure if we asked him he’d have an explanation.” Mikial shrugged his shoulders. “Whether or not it would be believable is another story but he’d have an explanation.”
Pepper closed her eyes and felt a shiver run down her back. The dread was building inside her. She couldn’t explain it but she knew she was somehow linked to this man, Leon. She began to tremble and it felt like a thousand eyes were on her, watching her every move.
She moved closer to Mikial as if he could protect her from unseen forces.
Mikial seemed to notice but didn’t say anything. He did however take a half step closer to her. He glanced over at Raven.
She was watching both of them carefully. She turned to Pepper and asked, “Would you like to stay with us tonight? I know this is unsettling for you and I don’t think you should be alone tonight.”
Pepper smiled. “I have a roommate, so I won’t be alone but thank you for the offer.”
“Can we get your address and phone number in case we get more information on the artist?” Mikial asked.
“Sure but why would you contact me?”
Mikial shrugged. “I’m not sure but like I said, I like a mystery.”
All three moved toward the front of the gallery. There she saw a life size picture of Jessie Carter. Pepper froze and just stared at it. How she’d missed it when she came in she didn’t know but looking at it now, she could feel something in her heart freeze. Goosebumps broke out along her skin and she could feel something breaking out of her subconscious.
She took a small step toward the photograph when one of the huge floor to ceiling windows in the front shattered, raining glass everywhere. Someone screamed but Pepper didn’t realize it came from her.
Then a second retort sounded.
Mikial dragged both her and Raven to the floor. He covered both their bodies with his own and waited for a moment.
When there was no third retort, Mikial got up while still crouching low. He assisted both women to their feet and hustled them to the back of the gallery. On the way past the painting of her as a child, Pepper reached out and grabbed the painting, dragging it along with her.
He paused at the back and reached for his phone. His first call was to Yuri. When the other man answered he barked, “You need to come get your woman.”
“Where is she?”
“We’re at the gallery but someone just shot out the front windows,” Mikial informed him.
“What the fuck?” Yuri exclaimed.
Mikial looked over at Raven quickly but found no blood, only shock.
She nodded at his look and mouthed the words ‘I’m ok.’
“She’s okay but she’s going into shock and she doesn’t need that right now. She needs you.”
“I’ll be there in two minutes.” Yuri growled. “You better keep her safe.”
“I will,” Mikial assured him. “I can hear sirens now, so the police are on their way.”
“Why would someone shoot out the windows?” Yuri asked.
“I may have a thought about that and I’ll tell you in person. Just get here.” Mikial hung up the phone and gazed at Pepper. She seemed shaken and was clutching the painting as if her life depended on it. He reached out and laid his hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?”
Pepper nodded. “I think so. What happened?”
Raven pulled her into a hard hug. “Thank god.”
Pepper stared at the small woman. “Are you okay?”
Raven nodded. “I will be. My man is on his way here. They can protect us.”
Pepper shook her head. “I don’t understand why you think I need protection. I don’t understand any of this.”
Raven began to say something when her name was bellowed from the front of the gallery.
Mikial stepped away from the women and motioned for whoever yelled to come back to them.
The next thing Pepper knew four other huge men joined them. Then several others joined them as well. Most were the New Orleans police department, in uniform.
One of the first group of men came closer and grabbed Raven into a hug. “Are you all right baby?”
Raven snuggled into his arms and nodded. “I’m okay.”
“Can I ask what happened here?” a man in uniform asked.
Mikial turned to the group of officers and introduced himself, “My name is Mikial Bannonkov. I am part owner of the Gallery and I was showing a group of paintings to these women when I heard a shot. The next thing I know the front window shattered. I rushed the women to the back and called in the other owners.” He motioned to the other men around him. “This is Yuri Anatoly, Roman Salizar, Sazon Demikov, and Barshan Stanikoff.”
“And the women’s names?” the officer asked.
“Raven Casseni and Pepper Windjue,” Mikial told them. “Raven belongs to Yuri and Pepper is a new friend.”
“Raven belongs to Yuri?” the officer questioned softly.
“Raven in my woman,” Yuri clarified.
The officer nodded and looked at Pepper. Frowning, he studied her for a moment. “Any relation to Paul Windjue?”
Pepper nodded. “He’s my foster father.”
“Thought you looked familiar. That hair stands out like a beacon.” He nodded. “My name is Kelly Clark. I’ve known your father for a number of years.” Turning to Mikial he asked, “Do you know of any reason for someone to shoot out the window?”
Mikial shook his head. “I have no clue. This is an art gallery. We have nothing here but paintings and art work.”
“No problems of any kind, either associated with the gallery or any other part of your businesses?”
“None that I know of,” Mikial told Kelly.
“What other businesses are you involved with?” Kelly asked.
“I run and Import/Export business,” Mikial replied.
“Any problems there?”
Mikial shook his head. “None that I’m aware of anyway.”
Kelly looked at the women. “No one was injured today?”
Mikial shook his head. “We were standing far enough away that we weren’t hit by any of the glass. I don’t know about anyone else inside at the time. My attention was on these two.”
Kelly glanced back to the front of the gallery. “Apparently, no one else was near the front either.” Looking back at the group he said, “You were very lucky today. All you have do is to replace the windows. We’ll keep this as an open case until we know what happened.”
Mikial nodded but didn’t say anything until the police left. Then he turned to the others and tightened his lips. Looking at Yuri, he told the other man, “You need to get Raven to a doctor and make sure she’s all right.”
Yuri frowned and turned to stare at Raven. Looking her over slowly, he looked back at Mikial. “Why? She looks okay.”
Mikial stared at Raven, but didn’t say anything.
Raven began to shake her head but looked resigned. She turned to Yuri and took his hands in hers. “This isn’t the way I wanted to tell you…” she paused to take a deep breath.
“Tell me what?” Yuri asked as he frowned.
Sazon and Roman began to smile while Barshan laughed out loud.
Yuri raised his head and glared at his brothers. “What?” he barked.
Raven raised her hand and cupping the side of his face, she forced him to look at her. “I’m trying to tell you, you infuriating man, I’m carrying your child.”
Yuri paled. “What did you say?” he whispered.
“I’m pregnant,” Raven said slowly. “I’m having your baby.”
Yuri stumbled back and just stared at her. “How did this happen?” he asked.
Raven just stared at him. “Do we really need to have the sex talk?” She shrugged. “I would have thought you knew how things worked a long time ago.”
Yuri scowled. “I know how it happened but how the hell did this happen?”
Raven just stared at him for a moment then a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Pepper wrapped her arms around her shoulders and glared at Yuri.
Mikial, Sazon, Barshan, and Roman moved in closer to Raven. All of them glared at Yuri.
“This is not the time or the place for this discussion. Don’t worry about her. I’ll make sure she’s ok,” Mikial stated.
“The hell you will!” Yuri growled. “This is my problem, not yours. I’ll take her to the doctor.”
“Nobody will take me anywhere!” Raven shouted. “I’m fine I don’t need a doctor…” She turned to Yuri and seethed, “And I don’t need you either!”
Then both Raven and Pepper turned and walked out the back door.