Georgia Marie James.
He was about to close the paper when he spotted a second article.
Mathew Connelly arrested for murder.
Longtime resident and prominent member of Denver society was arrested and charged with the murder of Amanda Black in Tampa, Florida. His arraignment…
Austin picked up his cellphone, found Georgia's number and was about to call when he thought better of it. "I'm sure she can read." Instead, he closed the newspaper and went to the kitchen to refill his coffee cup. It was Sunday and he had plenty to do, so he went to his desk and got right to work. He was in the middle of writing a brief when he stopped, went back to the table, and opened the paper again.
She didn't look happy or particularly pleased, the way most people would if they had just inherited a billion dollars. Instead, she looked indifferent and even a little miserable - just not as miserable as he felt.
Austin shrugged and went back to work.
*
Georgia located a Denver hobby shop and ordered paint supplies. She bought an easel, canvases of every size, frames, paints, and brushes. She even had the men clear out a room with plenty of windows for light, and lay down a drop cloth. When the supplies arrived, she arranged everything the way she wanted it, sat down in the only chair left in the room and stared at the first blank canvas.
Nothing happened. She considered a landscape, a portrait, animals, and even buildings, but nothing inspired her. After a time, she got up, left the room and closed the door.
*
It was all over the news and by Tuesday morning, the press had linked Mathew Connelly's arrest to the heiress of the Gladstone fortune. Georgia couldn't have cared less.
Shouting and annoying reporters waited outside the gate when Georgia's limo drove through, but the security guards managed to clear the path and as soon as he could, Bill sped away.
"Bill, how would you like to buy us a new car?"
"I would like that. What kind do you want?"
"A shorter one with tinted windows would be nice."
"I'll see what I can find."
"Just charge it to Austin." When Bill grinned, Georgia winked. "We have to keep him busy, or he'll run off."
"He won't run off, he just doesn't know how to come back."
"It's easy. You get in a car, turn the key, and drive. Is that not how it is done?"
"That's how I always did it. Want me to go pick him up?"
"No, we best let it be his idea."
*
Very seldom did a limo pull up in front of the retirement home, but on this day, Georgia had come to see an old friend. The receptionist recognized Georgia's picture, happily called up, told Adelaide she had a visitor and then waited for her to come down.