The Bloodline She Burned novel · Chapter 7 of 24

Chapter 7: The Gallery

The gallery was called Northlight, and its front window held a poster six feet tall.

CAMILLE ELLSWORTH: FIRST LIGHT. OPENING TONIGHT.

Under the title was a painted girl holding a lantern.

Roz stood on the pavement and looked at the lantern.

She had drawn it last spring, from the brass lamp that once stood on her mother's hospital windowsill.

"That's yours," Gabriel said quietly.

"Yes."

"Then let's go and ask her."

He had parked the van around the corner, and he took a small black clip from Nina's bag.

"Recorder," he said. "Hold still."

Roz tilted her head back against the seat while he fixed it under her collar.

His fingers worked at the edge of her collarbone, careful and slow.

The knuckle of his thumb brushed the line of her jaw.

Neither of them said anything.

He fastened the clip and sat back too fast.

"Done," he said.

"You said no touching."

"The rule is for the server," he said. "This is equipment."

It was a bad excuse, and she let him have it.

Inside, the gallery was white and cold and full of people holding thin glasses.

Camille stood at the center of the room in a pale green dress, laughing at something a man in a velvet jacket had said.

She saw Roz and her face lit up.

"Roz!" She crossed the floor with both hands out. "You came. I was so afraid you wouldn't."

"I wanted to see the work."

"Of course you did. Come, I'll show you everything."

Camille took her arm and led her toward the far wall.

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