The Portrait of Doreene Gray Read Online Free PDF

it quick.”
    Suki looked around the room. “If you’ll stand next to those little purple and pink flowers, I think the light will be softest.”
    â€œJust a minute.” Doreene went to the doorway and whistled breathily, then yelled, “Gigi! Gigi! ”
    A few seconds later, the Chihuahua came in, its claws clicking on the floor.
    Doreene scooped up the dog and stood where Suki had suggested. She smoothed her skirt.
    â€œThat’s good.” Suki reached over to adjust a swathe of the dog’s silky fur.
    Gigi growled and snapped the air next to her hand, causing Suki to gasp and jerk her hand away.
    Doreene burst into delighted laughter. “Did my little-bitty girl scare the big, tough photographer?” She leaned down and kissed the top of Gigi’s head. Gigi laughed up at her, pink tongue hanging out of her mouth.
    Suki took a deep breath and looked through the viewfinder. “Hold that pose.”
    Doreene remained motionless as Suki took the picture. Then she plunked the dog on the floor and stretched out a hand. “Let’s see it.”
    Suki showed her the camera’s screen.
    â€œIt’s not bad,” Doreene said. “You can use it.”
    â€œCan I get a few more?”
    â€œOne is all you need.”
    Suki reached into her camera bag. “I need you to sign this release.” She handed Doreene a card and a small pen.
    As Doreene read the form and signed it, a Latina woman in her late forties entered with a tray. She had a black ponytail and wore an apron over her powder-blue skirted uniform. “Who wanted the ibuprofen?”
    Angus raised his hand. “Thank you very much.”
    Doreene let Angus swallow the pill before getting up to stand by the door to the rest of the house. “I’ll show you out. I have a lot of things that need to be done.”
    â€œOf course.” Angus got up and took her hand again. “Thank you for your time.”
    Reynaldo smiled at everyone. “This has been a nice visit.”
    As promised, Doreene led them through the house to the front door, the dog trotting at her heels. Antique furniture and intricately woven carpets gave the house a luxurious feel. Custom paint picked up the colors in the rugs.
    The walls were ornamented not with paintings, but with mirrors and large photographs of Doreene in exotic locales. In them, she stood next to one or more attractive young men. Although the settings and companions changed, Doreene looked roughly the same in all of them. Only her hairstyle and clothing changed with time.
    As they went through the room where the press conference had been held, they heard Maxwell Thorne’s voice in the foyer beyond. This time, he didn’t sound calm, although the words were difficult to make out.
    Doreene frowned and jerked open the door to the foyer. As it opened, they heard Maxwell say, “It’ll only take a second. I know you can understand me!”
    Inside the foyer, the two guards from the press conference stood at the bottom of the stairs. One of them carried what was presumably the portrait, draped in a white cloth. The other held out a hand to keep Maxwell Thorne back.
    As Doreene and the Tripping staff entered, the guard holding the portrait turned, and the painting hit the banister with a dull smack.
    â€œBe careful!” Doreene yelled. She wrapped both arms around her waist and groaned.
    Gigi the Chihuahua looked up, her brow furrowed.
    Reynaldo gripped Doreene’s upper arms. “ Preciosa, what is it?”
    Maxwell Thorne trotted across the floor toward them. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œReynaldo,” Doreene said, panting. “Get the pills. In my nightstand drawer.”
    Reynaldo darted past the guards and took the stairs two at a time. Maxwell tried to support Doreene, but she gave him a venomous glare and pulled away.
    â€œShould I call nine-one-one?” Michael asked, cell phone already in his