“Great, just what I need. To slip and bust my ass with no one here to help.” I looked up to see where the water was coming from. Flooding was always a possibility being so close to the coast, but it didn’t seem like a large enough amount of water. My eyes focused on the steps leading to the door to the outside. There was water there. I walked over to investigate further and found the door unlocked.
“Dummy.” I reprimanded myself. I would sometimes go out the back and try to paint some of the people passing by. I rarely locked it when I came back in; it was a habit I had to break. The town was pretty safe, but the massive amount of drugs that seemed to be flowing in was on the rise. A new sex drug called Blue Bunny was at the top of it all for some reason.
Satisfied I’d found the reason for the wetness, I grabbed my paint and ran back up to my workspace. I got myself set up and took another sip of the coffee. Once the first stroke of my brush hit the canvas, I was lost to the world.
I worked through breakfast and lunch, the colors and shapes taking perfect shape right before my eyes. The underwater scene forming would be one for the books. I could already tell it would go for a nice piece of change. It was mystical yet unnerving at the same time.
The ring of the doorbell broke me out of my trance for the first time since I’d sat down on my stool. I blinked and looked around the easel to see through the clear glass doors at two men. Customers.
I got up from my seat, placing the palatte on the table, so it didn’t fall and make a mess on the wood floor. I put on a smile and walked over to the door.
I opened it up and let the gentlemen walk in, “Hello, sorry about that.” I rushed over to the counter, “How may I help you guys today?”
One of them, a man with dark brown hair and a shadow of a beard, walked toward me, a false smile on his face. “I’m so sorry to disturb you. I see you were in the middle of a great piece.” He looked over his shoulder at my unfinished painting.
“Oh, thank you, that’s sweet, but it’s no bother at all. Are you guys looking for some supplies? Redecorating? We do have availabilities for the sip and paint parties at the end of next month.” I said, pulling out a brochure I’d put together for the different types of parties and classes I offered.
“No.” He answered a bit tersely, he put the smile back on. The alarm bells I hadn’t felt in quite some time began going off. I knew a slimebucket when I saw one, and this guy was as slimy as one could get. “No, actually, we came here on a search. You see, our brother and niece are missing. He isn’t all there mentally, and we’re really worried about him.” He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose; he was fake crying. I almost laughed right in his face. His acting skills needed work.
“Oh, I am so sorry.” I tried to put the appropriate amount of compassion in my voice. I just wanted them out of my space. “I’m not sure what I can do about that, though.”
“Well, have you seen anyone who doesn’t belong here since this morning? Maybe on your way out for lunch?” He stepped closer to the counter, and I stepped back.
“No, I actually haven’t had lunch today? Or breakfast, either.”
“Then what’s this?” The other man spoke up, lifting the coffee cup still sitting on the table.
“Oh, I got that on the way in. Haven’t been out since.” I smiled, “I’ve been focused on my work. You know how it is.”
“Of course.” The creepy man in front of me said. “Well, I don’t mean to intrude but would you mind if we looked around. We would hate to have him hiding in here without your knowledge. That could be dangerous for everyone.” I kept myself calm, I’d been around scarier people, but he was pretty fucking high on the list.
“I already told you, I hadn’t seen anyone. You can see for yourself I’m the only one here.” I gestured around the small space. Nothing but artwork and supplies. A small kitchenette area where I kept my water and snacks when I did have them.
“What about downstairs? You have a basement, right?” He asked, already walking toward the back of my shop.
“Yes, but I was down there this morning, there’s no one there.” I followed, and the man he came with followed me. I was a sandwich between them. “Excuse me,” I said, putting a little base in my voice. There was no way I was going to sit back and let them walk all over me, not in my damn shop. The man in front of me stopped and turned to me.
“This is my establishment, and I don’t appreciate you just walking through like you own the place.” I stepped into his space and stared into his eyes. “I will take you downstairs so you can check for your brother, but once you see it’s clear, I want you out of here.” I pushed past him, not waiting for his response,
