Valerie reached the gallery just ahead of the cops and opened the doors, turning on the lights and getting the coffee started at the little station she kept in back.

She'd had an assistant once, but found that the girl spent more time on her phone than she did working, and since her place was never overly busy except when she was having a showing there was no longer a need.

Sonya had always helped out when she needed a hand in the past before the children came, but ...