Chapter 48

Iris

I wake up to the sensation of sunlight hitting my face for the first time in days. The rain has passed, and the birds are chirping in the trees outside, the damp asphalt heating under the sun and sending tendrils of steam curling into the morning air.

Miles is still curled up next to me, sniffling slightly even in sleep. His kitten is still fast asleep beside him.

For a few moments, I allow myself to pause, watching Miles sleep with his new companion. The two already seem to have made fast friends, the orange kitten snuggled up to Miles’ neck. I shake my head, a fond smile touching my lips.

“Can’t believe you almost got yourself killed over a kitten,” I whisper, more to myself than to Miles. I kiss his forehead, careful not to wake him, then check his temperature.

Thankfully, Miles doesn’t appear to have a fever, but I know he’ll need extra care today after yesterday’s ordeal. I get dressed and head downstairs to get started on making him some soup and toast for when he wakes.

When I arrive downstairs, however, I’m surprised to see two men in blue jumpsuits wandering around the apartment. I startle, clasping my hand to my throat when one of them rounds the corner unexpectedly.

“Good morning, ma’am,” the man says, tipping his hat politely. “Sorry to startle you.”

“Who are you?” I ask, frowning.

The man taps a small badge depicting a silver shield on his uniform. “We’re from SilverShield services. Didn’t you call to have nanny cameras installed around the premises…?”

I frown, not at him, but out of confusion. I suppose Arthur hired a team to come in and install cameras at some point. But he didn’t warn me that he would be doing this, and when I look around, I don’t see Arthur anywhere. He must be at work.

“Oh, right,” I say carefully, not wanting to show my worry. “Feel free to carry on, then.”

The man nods. “We’ll need access to every room in the apartment at some point. We’ll warn you before entering a room, though.”

I blink. “Every room?”

“Yes, ma’am. Except for the bathrooms.”

That takes me even more by surprise. “The bedrooms, too?” I ask, to which the man nods before he walks away to continue installing a camera in the living room. He and his workmate are placing it carefully on one of the bookshelves. Even now, as they’re installing it, I can barely tell where it is because of how covertly they’ve hidden it.

The thought of hidden cameras being in every room, even the bedroom and likely my small studio, makes my stomach lurch slightly. Arthur didn’t warn me about this.

After everything that has happened so far, my first instinct is to believe that Arthur is arranging this under the guise of keeping an eye on Miles, but that there’s more to it than that. I wonder if yesterday made Arthur question my ability to take good care of Miles as a mother. And maybe the nanny cams are the next step in building a case against me in court.

Something about it unsettles me, so after I get Miles set up with soup and his medicine for the morning, his kitten happily lapping at a saucer of milk on the floor, I call Arthur.

To my surprise, he picks up on the second ring. “Iris,” he says. “I’m just about to head into a meeting. Is everything alright?”

I take a deep breath. “Actually, I’d like to know why you’re installing nanny cams.”

Arthur hesitates for a moment before answering, “Isn’t it obvious? Miles almost died yesterday. I’m having cameras installed so we can see what happened if he runs off again.”

My lips press into a thin line. Without even thinking, I quickly reply, “But we’re going to be leaving soon. We won’t be living here for long.”

He doesn’t respond right away, and I suddenly feel a pang I wasn’t expecting. Arthur showed true grit and selflessness last night when he rescued Miles, and I can’t thank him enough. I suppose I’m being cruel by assuming he’s trying to take Miles from me. Maybe he’s just trying to be a good father, something that I need to come to terms with even if I’m still pissed at him for everything.

Finally, Arthur responds, his voice slightly clipped. “Regardless, I know you have your own things going on right now and can’t monitor Miles every second of every day. I was thinking of hiring a nanny as well.”

I swallow hard. “A nanny…” The thought is intriguing, but I know it won’t be easy to find one that Miles connects with. It’s a process that could take weeks, weeks that we might not have. Once I get a lawyer, I’ll be out of here.

Just then, I hear another voice in the background, and Arthur sighs. “Iris, I’ve got to go.”

Before I can answer, he hangs up.

I suppress a sigh as I set down my phone. But hardly a moment passes before my phone buzzes again with an incoming text. This time it’s from Alice, who’s contacting me to let me know that all of my paintings sold last night despite my swift departure and that I can pick up my money whenever.

My heart surges with hope and excitement, and I quickly contact Cliff, who agrees to stay in the apartment with Miles during his lunch break while I run out. I thank him profusely, making Miles pinky-promise not to run off again, and hurry to the gallery.

When I arrive at the gallery, I find Alice in the main exhibition area. She’s waiting for me with a warm smile on her face.

“Iris,” she says, giving me a hug as I approach. “Your work looked fantastic last night. It’s no wonder it all sold.” She tilts her head. “But it’s a shame you had to rush out so soon. Is everything alright?”

I sigh, not sure how much to divulge. Finally, I settle on saying, “Everything is okay now. And Alice, I really can’t thank you enough for this opportunity. If there’s anything else I can do for you, anything at all, please let me know.”

Alice stares at me for a moment as if trying to read between the lines, but nods. “Actually, Marsiel Gallery is going to be partnering up with one of the other smaller galleries in town, Abbott Gallery, for a lecture series soon. If you’re interested in participating, I can send you the details.”

“That sounds great,” I reply with a smile. “I’d love to.”

The curator grins and gives me my checks. Swallowing my pride, I immediately use my bank app to deposit the checks into my account right in front of her.

Thankfully, Alice doesn’t judge me for needing the money so quickly. It’s part of what I like so much about her, and the thought of another project with her fills me with excitement. Assuming I’ll still be here and not in Bo’Arrocan, anyway. But I try not to think about that right now.

Saying goodbye, I quickly leave after that with the intention of heading straight for the Brooks & Lee firm downtown. But as I’m leaving the gallery, my foot kicks something, and I look down to see an all-too-familiar mask and pair of glasses laying on the front steps.

Arthur’s disguise from last night.

So it came off during the event after all.

I quickly pick up the disguise, slipping it into my purse. I hope no one saw our true identities last night during our mad dash out of the gallery. If they did, then it might just cause more trouble for us.

But since I haven’t heard anything so far, I doubt anyone recognized us.

After that, I quickly make my way to the law firm. To my surprise, the receptionist tells me that one of the lawyers can see me right away.

“Please take a seat,” she says, gesturing to a nearby chair. “Mr. Brooks will be right with you.”