"Howard said the police wouldn't tell him anything about you."
He chuckled. "Covered all the bases, did you? They know who I am, and that I wanted to keep my identity silent. I don't like publicity and I didn't want to subject my family to it either. I've kept my identity hidden for five years now, but I knew deep down inside that it couldn't last forever."
He took her hands and helped her to her feet, his voice becoming soft and gentle, his gaze mystic. "And then you came along. When I saw you standing there in the road, so beautiful, your hair flowing around you like morning mist, I couldn't let you walk away. I had to . . ." He stopped, tugging her hand urgently as he turned toward the door. "Come on," he said briskly. "I've got something I want to show you."
He motioned to the others to follow and they all went down the path to the building. The building she had spent more than a month trying to get into and now was the site of an open house. Flipping a light on, he guided them to a corner and pulled the cloth from a painting.
Everyone gasped in surprise. Lisa caught her breath and stared in amazement. The tall slender girl looked hauntingly sad, and yet proud. The yellow skirt of her sundress was molded to the soft curves one side of her body by a breeze. One hand gracefully held the folds of her dress and the other brushed a wayward curl from her forehead. Tucked into the braids were delicate flowers that circled her head like a golden crown. In the background were the beautiful layered mountains of the White Rock Wildlife Management.
"It's beautiful," she breathed and then her face warmed. "So that's why you were looking me up and down the day we met."
He chuckled. "And you looked me over defiantly. I simply couldn't resist you. I had to bring you here so I could paint a portrait. I didn't think I had a chance of getting someone like you to sit for me. The way it worked out, I had a sitter, mom had help and Tammy had a companion. Meanwhile, you were here where I could observe you for the painting." He shrugged. "How was I to know you would be so inquisitive? I didn't want you to see the painting until it was done."
Len looked around. "I can see why you wanted to keep this a secret. There must be a fortune right here in this building. Do you have any security equipment?"