Read Online This Dog for Hire by Carol Lea Benjamin - Free Book Online

said. “Page nineteen. I’ll hold.”
    I went downstairs, opened the front door, and sent Dashiell for the Times .
    To most people, a C section is a cesarean. If you live in New York City, it’s the arts section of the Times , the part your husband the dentist hands you while he reads the international, national, and local news and checks the value of his holdings in the business section. I found the article on page nineteen and picked up the cordless extension in the living room.
    â€œSo—‘ Not the Death of Art. Murdered artist Clifford Cole’s works will be on display in his first one-man show this weekend at the Cahill Gallery in SoHo, a posthumous installation of the artist’s paintings, drawings and sculpture,’” I said, reading from the article that Dennis could probably recite by heart. “I guess Veronica Cahill finally figured out what installation is going to follow Dots.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about, Rachel?”
    â€œI stopped by the gallery yesterday, just to take a look, and they had this installation called Dots, the most god-awful stuff you ever saw. Well, no, I guess we’ve both seen worse. Anyway, I told the salesperson I sort of collected dog art, I had Dashiell there, and she failed to sell me a Clifford Cole. She said she didn’t know what the next show would be. But apparently Veronica Cahill figured out a good way to get some mileage out of the contract she signed with Cliff. The way it’s put here,” I said, referring to the article, “well, the notoriety will at least bring people in, maybe even critics. Death makes good copy, or so they say.”
    â€œDo you believe this?” Dennis said. “‘An up and coming star of the downtown art world, cut down by human hatred just as his career was taking off.’ Where do they get this garbage? She never even guaranteed him she’d put one of his pieces in a group show. Now she’s his fucking patron . Excuse me while I go get a bag to throw up in.”
    There was nothing but silence on the line for a long moment.
    â€œListen, Dennis, this is good, isn’t it? I mean, wouldn’t it be worse if no one ever saw Cliff’s paintings? They’re quite wonderful.”
    He didn’t respond.
    â€œDennis?”
    â€œYou’re right, I know it, it’s just that …”
    â€œI know. He didn’t get the support when he was alive, and he won’t get to hear the applause, right?”
    â€œRight,” he said, “and someone else will get the money.”
    â€œLouis.”
    â€œLouis?”
    â€œLouis.”
    â€œI thought his family …”
    â€œLouis.”
    â€œNow I’m really going to be sick. Rachel, I bet Louis is behind all this publicity, this exploitation. I bet he engineered it!”
    â€œIt’s possible. It should certainly increase the value of his inheritance. Let’s keep our mouths shut and our ears open.” That’s the second law of investigative work. But I sometimes have trouble with the mouth shut part. I thought Dennis would, too.
    â€œDennis, don’t tell anyone you hired me or what I do.”
    â€œOh, God.”
    â€œWhat? Or should I say who ?”
    â€œI told Louis.”
    â€œShit. Anyone else?”
    â€œNo. I swear .”
    â€œOkay. Let’s keep it that way. I have to lie sometimes. Do you understand?”
    â€œI never thought about it. I’m not exactly experienced in this sort of thing. Sorry. I’ll watch my mouth. I promise.”
    â€œIt’s my fault, Dennis. I fucked up. I should have told you. It just means Louis will be, well, more guarded with me.”
    â€œYou’re not thinking that Louis —”
    â€œIt’s possible. He did gain from Clifford’s death.”
    â€œNot nearly what he lost.”
    Now it was my turn to be silent.
    â€œYou’ll be there, at the opening?” he