The MST, Ch. 4

Tomas stared helplessly as he lost sight of Samuel. Running his hand through his hair, he returned to the Gallery. "Now what?" he thought and went back over to the counter. He picked up the painting and carried it where there was better light. Looking at it, he admired the woman portrayed on the canvas. "Well my dear, I found out his name but little else." he mused "What am I going to be able to tell you in the morning? I had him here and lost him." Tomas placed the painting on the wall where the previous one hung.

Stepping back he looked the painting up and down. "He's captured you so well. Where does Samuel know you from? All this time I figured you were a figment of his imagination, but when I saw you today it was like time stood still and you had somehow walked free of the canvases. It's obvious now that you and Samuel are connected somehow. But until we know more of him and locate him, there will still be unanswered questions." Tomas went back into his office.  He gathered a few personal items, wrote a note to his assistant concerning the new artwork, and turn out the lights. Walking through the Gallery he took one last look around and exited the shop locking the door behind him.

His home wasn't far from the Gallery so he decided to walk.  "I need to clear my thoughts." thinking as he walked. "It's been a surprising day. I finally have a name for my mysterious artist and I've met the subject of all his paintings. But what a strange meeting. How can she not know Samuel? His paintings are so intimate. It's like he's lived every moment with her. This is really a mystery. One that I hope will take some time to unravel. Ms. Blair is one woman I wish to spend more time with." he stopped and looked around and realized he'd actually walked past his apartment. Turning he walked back past a couple of apartments and headed up the stairs to his. "Tomorrow morning we're to have breakfast. I must figure out what to tell her." Then he unlocked his door and entered his home.

***

Blair was sitting in her suite looking at the canvas on her lap. There was a knock at the door. Startled, Blair jumped and then collected herself. She rolled the canvas up, set it on the couch, and went to the door. From outside the door, she heard, "Blair are you in?" recognizing Christian's voice she opened the door.

Christian looked at her and asked," Well, were you able to get anything else from Tomas at lunch?"

Blair opened the door wider and gestured for Christian to enter, and walked back to the couch. She reached down and picked up the painting. Wearily she looked at Christian and said "All I got was more questions. Tomas told me of some of the other paintings that he's sold over the last 7 years. Christian, it's weird, this Artist seems to know some very intimate facts about my life.  I'm scared.  I can't understand who this man is." 

Christian crossed to her and gave her a gentle hug. "You're tired. We'll get room service to deliver some dinner. After we eat, I'll let you get some sleep. Tomorrow is another day."

Blair gave Christian a kiss on his cheek. "You're a good friend.  Did you get your problem handled?" Christian shrugged, "That's hard to say. There are definitely things that need ironing out. Like I said, tomorrow is another day. Maybe my problems will also straighten out.". 

"Well." says Blair, "You call up that dinner. I'm famished and by the way, we're meeting Tomas for breakfast." She turned and headed for the bedroom. " I'm going to get more comfortable."

Christian walked to the phone and began to make the call, taking the time to once again unroll the canvas.

***

The bright morning sun filtered into the loft as Samuel entered. He paused and looked around, his artist's eye appreciating the lights and shadows that fell across the room. One particular beam of sunlight had fallen across the painting he had completed yesterday. There she was, captured in the most romantic moment he had ever imagined. He felt like he was the one holding her and he didn't want to let her go. Samuel moved to take a good look at his work. The sunlight picked up her glistening eyes and they seemed to shine even brighter almost real in the passion that looked out of them. His breath seemed to catch and he felt his heartbeat skip. What was it about this painting that moved him more than any of the others of her that he had painted? For years he had felt a connection to his Muses. They brought up very different feelings but each had given him peace to continue his existence.

He remembered how panicky he had felt when he took those first steps leading away from the hospital. He didn't have any idea what he was going to do. There was a sense of urgency inside him telling him to leave the country, that it wasn't safe. When he had been brought to the hospital all he had on him was a safe deposit key. All of his identification was missing, but as soon as they showed him the key he knew where to go. He had procured funds by calling the bank that the key went to and giving them the password and number. Once he established his identity he initiated the funds' transfer. With the money in hand, Samuel had gotten some new clothing and a ticket to the city where the safe deposit box resided. There he retrieved his passport and made arrangements to leave the country.

Samuel studied his surroundings, remembering starting that first painting. It was of the woman on the canvas in front of him. He recalled working nonstop on the first painting until she was gazing out at him perfectly preserved in oils. After the first one, images flooded his mind and he produced several more canvases with her as his subject. At that point, he decided to seek out an art dealer who could possibly help him sell some of his paintings. After some investigation, Samuel ran across Tomas's select establishment. The clientele was very select and Tomas had a reputation for being discreet. Therefore a kind of partnership began that proved equally beneficial to both parties.

"Funny." Samuel thought, "We've been colleagues of sorts but it was always strictly business. I wonder what prompted Tomas to ask my name yesterday. It's like another chapter of my life is opening up but how far can I let it open." Even as he thought this, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. "There's that feeling of dread again, why can't I shake that?"

Just what was it in his past that had put such a cloud over him all these years. Thinking back to his first few months in Paris, he had constantly felt like he was being followed and watched, so much so that he had taken to doing all of his errands at night. One night, in particular, he remembered sitting in a dark corner of the restaurant he had found. As he was finishing his dinner he had the strangest feeling that someone was staring at him. He looked around and suddenly found himself looking into the coldest eyes he had ever seen. They stared at him unblinking and a chill ran down his spine, somewhere deep inside he recognized that coldness, he sensed it about himself, totally unnerved he had hastily paid the bill and departed. Samuel thought of all the back alleys and side streets he had ventured down that night in order to elude those eyes. Finally managing just that, he had hailed a cab and returned home.

That night his dreams turned into nightmares. Waking in a cold sweat, Samuel had lain there, and then in his mind, he saw her, his second Muse. It was as if she was sitting on the bed with him, she didn't say anything just sat there as if she was listening to something, there was such tenderness in her gaze, such love. He had gone to sleep as if she was his angel guarding him and keeping him safe that night. The next morning, Samuel had started her painting. She was his beautiful Dee, he didn't even know why he called her that, but somehow it seemed right.

Samuel turned and went to the doorway and looked across his sitting room at the picture of his third Muse. Dee had provided much-needed comfort but Samuel had not been able to chase away the look of those eyes and the coldness that had emanated from deep inside himself. The months that followed were some of the blackest he could recall. He had slipped into a deep depression, wild thoughts of crimes committed, agony felt deep within from imaginary wounds, and guilt for some long-forgotten deed almost pushed him to the edge but then, just like Dee, she appeared. The feeling she brought him was of someone who had been down the same dark tunnel, but she knew the way out. With a feeling of kinship, he had followed her and found his way back into the light. She too. was beautiful in a quiet serene way, and he quickly painted her, for fear that he might lose her and himself to the dark if he didn't. Yes, he was grateful indeed to his three Muses, without them he would have given in long ago.

Now something had changed, he straightened his shoulders, it was time to face whatever had been haunting his path all these years. There would be no more hiding. He would start with that conversation with Tomas. Perhaps if he let his guard down with Tomas, then maybe the walls in his mind would start to come down also. With his mind made up, Samuel headed to the kitchen. He felt elated as if he was going in the right direction for the first time in a long time. He was finally moving forward.

***

Blair turned over and reach for the phone. "Hello...Starr...yes I'm fine...Chris and I made a small amount of progress yesterday. But now we've got more questions and still no answers...Oh My God; look at the time!... I can't go into everything now, Chris and I are meeting someone for breakfast... I'll call you as soon as there is some news. Give my love to your brothers... I'll be in touch, Luv." Blair hastily sat up. Turning and sitting on the edge of the bed she dialed up the front desk. "Could you please connect me to the Tomas Fine Art Gallery...Hello is Tomas there?  Please tell him it's Blair Cramer...Yes, I'll hold...Good morning Tomas. Yes, I was able to get some sleep...Will you be able to join Christian and me this morning?... Good, shall we say an hour...Christian and I will meet you in the lobby? Thank you so much." She then dialed Chris.."Good morning...Yes, we're meeting Tomas in an hour down in the lobby. Hopefully, we'll get somewhere today. This mystery is giving me fits."

Blair hung up and began to get ready for the morning. As she's finished her makeup, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror "Who's painting you, Blair? ..How come he knows so much about you?" Shaking her head, she got up and headed back into the adjoining room. Once again she picked up the canvas. Unrolling it she tried once more to make out the name of the artist. It was impossible, it looked like he deliberately obscured the name, as if he suddenly decided to remain anonymous, but why? Sighing she grabbed her bag and coat and headed out to meet Christian.

***

Tomas smiled as he hung up the phone. It was a good morning indeed. He left his office and walked into the Gallery. Seeing his assistant, he headed over to her. "Simone, I'll be going out for a few hours, you can reach me by cell if that call comes in. I sent two messages last night after receiving our latest acquisition. No doubt, one of them is sure to respond today. Also, let me know if any unusual calls come in. There is a mystery unfolding about our unique artist. This could end up being truly fascinating." Simone smiled and assured Tomas she'd call if anything happened.  At that reassurance, Tomas left the Gallery. Flagging down a cab, he instructed the driver to take him to the hotel where he had dropped off Blair the afternoon before.

Once again Tomas went over the events that transpired at the gallery after he had left Blair. Was it just coincidence that he had finally gotten a piece of information from his elusive artist and had met the subject of so many beautiful paintings all on the same day?  Tomas didn't believe in coincidences. Something was beginning to unfold. Events had been put into motion. Where would they all lead?

The cab pulled up to the hotel, Tomas instructed the cabby to wait. Tomas exited the cab and entered the Lobby. He looked around and saw the enchanting Ms. Blair and her friend Christian advancing toward him..." My new friends, the cab is waiting. Let's go and dine so I may tell you of some new developments in our quest." At that, he ushered them to the waiting cab and they set out for breakfast.