Chapter 9: Revoked

The video of my sister screaming reached two million views by Sunday morning.

By Monday, the Ridgeway committee had published a one-page statement.

Second prize was revoked.

The judges had examined the dated sketch and the postmark, and found that Skylight was derived from the work of another entrant.

Bridget Penhallow was barred from the competition for five years.

Her name was struck from the catalogue, and my first prize stood.

Beatrice read the statement aloud over the attic table with a cup of tea going cold at her elbow.

"Seven galleries have already pulled her work," she said. "Her agent has dropped her."

"And Margo?"

"Margo is not answering her phone."

I should have felt something close to triumph.

What I felt was the old, stupid ache of a girl who had once braided her little sister's hair.

"She's still my sister," I said.

"She stole from you," Ethan said from the doorway. "Both things can be true."

He had carried a box of my brushes up three flights and stood there with it on his shoulder.

I took it from him and kissed his cheek, quickly, before I could think about it.

He looked startled, then pleased, then guarded again.

I was beginning to learn that was the order.

Beatrice went down to open the gallery, and Ethan left for his shift.

I was alone in the attic for less than an hour.

I heard the steps on the stairs and thought it was Beatrice back for her tea.

The door opened without a knock.

Grayson stood there in a rumpled suit with his tie loosened, unshaven, his eyes red.

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