Stella found her favorite brush snapped in two.
She stood in the studio doorway, holding the broken shaft in one hand, the bristles dangling uselessly. Her heart clenched.
It wasn't the first time.
The turpentine bottle had gone missing last week. A jar of solvent was knocked over onto a half-finished canvas days before that. And now this.
She turned at the creak of the door.
Ella leaned in, all fake surprise. “Oops. Did I interrupt something?"
Stella held up the brush. “Did you do this?"
Ella blinked. “Why would I? I don't even know what that is."
“You were in here yesterday."
“Yeah. To bring you tea."
“Which you conveniently placed on the edge of the palette tray."
Ella crossed her arms. “Is everything a crime now?"
Stella stepped forward. “You've been circling my studio sinc
