Chapter 1

Angela Truman stood outside the Saracen Gallery on Harrington Street, Westbridge. She checked her watch for the twelfth time and sighed. It was a quarter past ten, and there was still no sign of them.

               It didn't come as a surprise that her husband, Giles, hadn't arrived yet. His timekeeping had been terrible recently. He said it was due to working in the city and his demanding clients. Angela knew that was true, but lately it appeared they were spending less time together than ever.

               Susan, on the other hand, was always punctual. She owned the gallery and should have arrived ages ago to open it.

               Angela glanced up the street just as a silver-coloured estate car pulled up alongside her.

               'Where have you been?'

               'Sorry, love,' said the man, climbing out of the driver's side.

               The passenger door opened. 'Don't blame Giles. It's my fault. I persuaded him to stop for coffee. There was a queue. Anyway... here you go,' said the woman, getting out and handing Angela a large coffee cup.

'Thanks, Susan, but—'

               Giles kissed Angela on the cheek. 'Susan rang just after you left this morning. She knew I was coming here to meet you so she asked for a lift.'

               'That's right. I forgot my car was booked in for a service. So Giles picked me up from the garage.'

               'Anyway, love, what's going on? What's with all this cloak and dagger stuff? I suspected you've been up to something, but for the life of me, I don't know what.'

               'Yes, Angela, what's this all about? We've been friends for years and you've never kept anything from me before. So, come on, what's the big secret?'

               'Perhaps we don't know each other as well as you think. And Giles, don't they say a bit of mystery can help keep a marriage alive?'

               'Who does?'

               Angela laughed. 'I don't know, perhaps it was me. Anyway, come on, and I will reveal all!'

               Giles and Susan glanced at each other as Angela walked away.

               'Hey, love, where are you going?'

               Angela stopped outside the door of the building next to the gallery. She turned and stretched out her arms. 'Ta dah!'

               Giles and Susan stared at her.

               'What do you think?'

               Giles and Susan shrugged.

               'Well?' said Angela.

               'I'm sorry, love, I don't follow?'

               'Do you like it?'

               Giles stepped back and gazed up at the boarded-up building. 'Well, no, not really. It's a dump.'

               'But can't you see it's potential?'

               'No, not really, and neither can anyone else. It's a money pit that's been up for sale for years.'

               'Angela, Giles is right. It was empty when I bought next door a few years back. I enquired about it at the time. But when the estate agent told me the price, I didn't even bother to look at it.'

               'I know it cost a fortune, but I'm surprised at you, Susan. A gallery owner missing a golden opportunity like this—shame on you.'

               'I'm sorry?'

               'Yes, love, we don't have the faintest idea what you're talking about.'

               'This is going to be my new studio!'

               'What?' said Giles and Susan together.

               'It's going to be my new art studio.'

               'You're kidding?' said Giles.

               'No—just listen. You're always telling me there's not enough space at home. So I bought this place. Or rather, I should say, you have, darling.'

               'Are you winding me up?'

               'No, Giles, I'm deadly serious.'

               Giles shook his head. 'Okay, you've had your fun. Now, tell us why you really wanted us here. I postponed a meeting for this. You said you had something important to show us. What is it?'

               'Yes, Angela, I need to open the gallery. There's a delivery of new stock arriving any minute, and I'm already running late.'

               Angela smiled as she removed a bunch of keys from her bag and unlocked the door.

               'Tell me you got those from the estate agent.'

               'I did, darling, first thing this morning.'

               'Well, you can bloody well take them back.'

               'I'm afraid not, Giles, it's too late. The sale has already gone through. It was completed yesterday afternoon. I—or should I say, we—now own this amazing building.'

Angela smiled, turned, and walked inside.

               Giles and Susan exchanged a brief glance and followed her.

               The building was in darkness, save for the light spilling in from outside.

               'Do you think she's all right?' whispered Susan.

               'I don't know. She's never done anything as crazy as this before.'

               'Does she need to pay Dr Langdon another visit?'

               Before Giles could answer, there came a buzz from the overhead strip lights. One by one, they spluttered to life to reveal an enormous open-plan space. Newspapers and junk mail lay scattered across the dusty floor. Water-damaged cardboard boxes were stacked in one corner. Against the far wall stood dozens of canvases, partially hidden beneath paint-splattered cloths.

               Susan emerged from the kitchen toward the rear of the room. She smiled as she approached, carrying a large bottle of champagne.

               Giles pressed his fingertips to his forehead. 'Oh my God, you have, haven't you? You've actually gone and bought this... dump!'

               'Hey, stop calling it a dump. Don't you get it? Can't you sense him?' asked Angela, with a sweep of her hand.

               Giles glanced around and scratched his head.

               Angela looked at Susan. 'Surely you can feel his presence.'

               Susan shrugged. 'Who?'

               Angela placed the bottle of champagne on the floor. Then, picking up one of the larger canvases, propped it against a nearby box.

               Susan and Giles watched as she pulled back the cloth.