The Portrait of Doreene Gray Read Online Free PDF Page A

stairs and offered his hand. “Angus MacGregor, Tripping magazine. We’re an international travel publication, here to do a story on Port Townsend, but I couldn’t resist dropping by when we heard about the press conference.” He dipped his head and gave a shy smile. “You are something of a star, Ms. Gray.”
    She gave him her hand. “Call me Doreene.”
    Angus, holding it in both of his, looked over his shoulder. “Oh, dear. I think I hear the other reporters. We tried to give them the slip, but they’re a wee bit angry with Michael for keeping them away from Mr. Cruz.”
    â€œPlease, come inside,” Reynaldo offered.
    Doreene gave him a look, but stepped back so they could come through the door. “I suppose it might be easier to leave through the house.”
    Inside, a golden-oak dining table with eight chairs took up the center of the room. A matching sideboard sat on one wall, and shelves of plants took up the other. A kitchen was visible through an open door.
    As Suki came inside, camera around her neck, Doreene’s mouth tightened. “This must be your photographer.”
    â€œSuki Oota.” Suki shook her head wonderingly. “Wow. You are even more beautiful up close. I can see why the camera loves you.”
    â€œWhy thank you,” Doreene said, dimpling. “You’re quite pretty yourself.”
    Suki went by Reynaldo, both of them avoiding eye contact with the other.
    Reynaldo closed the door, then stepped close to Doreene and kissed her neck under her ear. “My princessa has had a difficult day. I will be glad when this painting is gone from our lives.”
    Angus nodded sympathetically. “If it causes this much trouble, I can see why you’d want to be shut of it.” He sat down in a wicker chair and rubbed one calf. “I think I may have pulled a muscle.”
    Doreene made a sympathetic noise. “Reynaldo, would you be a dear and ask Lupita to bring some water and ibuprofen?” As soon as Reynaldo was out of hearing, she sat in the chair next to Angus and leaned over the arm, toward him. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not giving you a story.”
    â€œThanks to Reynaldo’s earlier talk with Michael, we already have a story,” Angus said.
    Doreene gave a slight laugh. “I wouldn’t put much stock in that. His English is terrible. What exactly did he say?”
    Michael, who had been wandering the room, stopped by an orchid and turned the pot slightly. “That his uncle also had an evil, possessed item, and that you talk to the portrait.” He looked at Doreene. “Maybe you’d like to give us your version?”
    Doreene smiled grimly. “My version is that if you print a word of that, I’ll sue your ass faster than you can say ‘Rupert Murdoch.’”
    Angus shook his head. “Doreene, you misunderstand us. What Michael means is that because of that silly girl’s handling of the press, there’s bound to be a lot of misinformation. Tripping isn’t a tabloid paper. It’s a travel magazine with a focus on special places and the fascinating people who live there. We’re more interested in you and Port Townsend than in a painting.”
    Doreene gazed at him, her mouth pursed. “I’ll look up your magazine and get back to you, okay?”
    â€œCan I at least have a picture?” Suki asked. “It’ll make up for any shots where you look like you have peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth and are trying to suck it off.”
    Doreene glared at her. “Why would I look like that?”
    â€œUsually because you’re saying a G or an N, but if you piss off reporters, that’s the one they’ll use. I’ll even let you look at what I take, and delete anything you don’t like.”
    Doreene considered a moment, lips pressed together. “All right,” she said grudgingly, “but make