Treasure Uncovered (Bellingwood #3) by Diane Greenwood Muir Page A

something, I'll raid a vending machine. But, you might bring me breakfast in the morning."
    Lydia bent over and kissed Beryl's battered cheek and said, "I love you sweet thing. Be good to Andy tonight, alright?"
    "I can't make any promises, but I'm glad she's staying."
    Polly smiled at Beryl. "Maybe you've broken my dead body jinx. You're alive and I'm glad."
    "As long as Andy doesn't kill me tonight, I think we're safe. Get home safely, okay?"
    "I love you, Beryl Watson and I'm sorry you got hurt today."
    "Love you, too. Now go before it gets emotional in here."
    Lydia and Polly both hugged Andy, and when they got into the hallway, pulled the door softly shut behind them.
    "Well, it's late, but I'm sure we can find supper before we leave town. Where shall we go?" Lydia asked.
    Polly pulled the keys to Lydia's Jeep out of her pocket. "Are you good to drive or do you want me to be in charge of these?"
    "Oh, I'm good now. Thank you for taking care of us today." Lydia took the keys back and said, "So. Supper?"
    "Well, if I admit that there is one more restaurant I haven't eaten at since I got back, would you take me there?"
    "Sure. Where do you want to go?"
    "I saw a Maid-Rite before we got to the interstate. Can I get a loose meat sandwich and some fried cheese balls?"
    "Oh, you are a girl after my heart. Let's go. I know exactly where this place is located."

     
     
     
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN

     
    Instead of returning to Des Moines with Lydia, Polly headed over to look at the damage in Beryl's studio. She was meeting Henry and Sheriff Merritt there to see what they could do to begin cleaning up the mess and restoring the building to a usable studio.
    Lydia had arrived in Des Moines and texted back that Beryl and Andy had lived through the night and were both glad for some McDonald's breakfast. Andy was going to learn how to care for Beryl's wounds and everyone was hopeful the hospital stay would be over by the end of the week.
    When Polly and Henry walked around the outside of the house to the studio, Polly took a deep breath. The large windows had blown out and the back of the studio had obvious damage from the explosion. She walked in the front door and felt her knees go weak.
    Grabbing Henry's arm, she said, "I can't believe she's going to be alright." The door to the bathroom was hanging loose, the toilet and sink were no longer attached to the wall, and tubes of paint and canvases were scattered everywhere. The ceiling above the separating wall was still dripping water and Polly looked at the floor where Beryl must have fallen the first time. Brown stains marred the wood floor, showing Beryl’s path as she escaped her artistic haven.
    "What do you think, Henry?" Aaron Merritt asked as he entered the room.
    "I need to spend more time evaluating the damage, but I can definitely make something good come out of this. We'll clean it up while she's recovering, then begin reconstruction."
    "She has her insurance with Conyers downtown. I called him yesterday and he's got someone coming out this afternoon."
    "Do you want me here for that, Aaron?" Henry asked.
    "That isn't necessary. Everyone knows the insurance company will do whatever they want to do."
    Polly bent over and picked up a canvas that was upside down on the floor. She turned it over. There were swipes of yellows and greens across the top and browns, golds, and reds along the bottom. She walked across the floor to a stack of canvas panels. It looked as if they had fallen off a table top. They were damaged by water and as she stacked them on the table, she flipped through them. She recognized a couple of different scenes from around town, and there were attempts at sketching people. Polly chuckled when she saw the sketch Beryl had done of Andy. It was recognizable, but water had blotched the image.
    "I feel like I'm walking through a crime scene," she said, then laughed at Aaron, "Not that I've ever done that, but this feels eerie and creepy."
    "I suppose it