Story 2: The Painting

The Art Collector stood in front of the infamous, mysterious painting.

"Based on the scraped paint on the side, we can confidently determine that this was painted in the 1800s; however, the painter remains completely unidentified. The style is unlike anything we've known from painters from that time frame; the painting of the woman is more modern," explained Charles in his squeaky voice, as he came forward with his tablet in his hands.

"The frame?" asked the Art Collector in a soft voice, turning to look at the art restorer that she had been friends with for years.

"Surprisingly, it is the original. But it appears that the painting has not aged at all; in fact, it is made of cherry wood and painted with a bronze-coloured paint that has retained its original appearance over the years," the lanky art restorer explained, leaning in closer to the painting.

"Do you really plan on keeping it?" asked Charles, looking down at his long-time friend. He was immediately struck by how much his friend looked like the woman in the painting. They could have been twin sisters.

"I do. I had a special case made for it. We can view it, it cannot see us," the woman explained.

10 Months Later

Alarms blared loudly in the Art Collector's Victorian home while guards hurriedly roamed around. The Art Collector wore a white silk dressing gown over a black lacy nightgown, with her hair in a messy bun and hands over her ears. Despite being the one to choose the sound of the alarm, she loathed the very sound of it.

"Can we turn off the alarm already?" asked the woman as she winced from the piercing sound. Thieves broke in at night and stole four paintings. They made a fatal mistake by trying to take the most protected piece. Two thieves died during the incident. Their bodies were covered with sheets while the police collected fingerprints and took photos of the crime scene.

"We're on it. The alarm fail-safe system has been triggered. The technicians are trying to turn it off, ma'am." Explained the head security guard as he talked on his phone.

The Art Collector sighed and left the room, before walking to her staircase to ascend to her bedroom.

“Ma'am, please do not go anywhere,” asked one of the female police officers as she followed the Art Collector.

“I'm not; you can join me if you're worried, but I prefer doing business in my clothes rather than my lacy nightgown," agreed the Art Collector.

The police woman nodded and began ascending the stairs. The police woman did not believe that the Art Collector would leave, but they were instructed to keep an eye on the Art Collector at all times by Detective Hernandez.

“Can you wait here? I promise I am not going to leave. The incident was a significant loss for me. I will leave the door cracked, but I shan't be more than 10 minutes, Officer... Galt,” queried the Art Collector as she leaned in to read the police woman's last name. Officer Galt nodded and took up standing guard outside the grand French doors with one door cracked open. She looked around the hallway, taking in the elegant decor and artwork displayed.

“Beautiful, aren't they?” asked the Art Collector standing behind the police woman. Startled, Officer Galt jumped and turned to face the tiny woman now fully clothed in an elegant white dress and her hair perfectly coiffed.

“They certainly are,” Officer Galt agreed.

“Shall we?” asked the Art Collector as she gestured towards the stairs. Officer Galt nodded and followed the woman as she descended the stairs.

“Galt, where the hell did you go?” squeaked a voice on her radio. Officer Galt grabbed her radio off of her shoulder and reported that she and the Art Collector were coming back just as the alarms throughout the house finally ceased.

“Finally,” sighed the Art Collector in relief. Officer Galt could not agree more, what a terrible sound.

“Well, you can interview her then,” squeaked the Detective through the radio.

“Yes sir, I will do that,” Officer Galt agreed before replacing the black radio on her shoulder. She took out a pad and the pencil to prepare for the interview as they re-entered the Vault. The dead thieves were being removed by the Morgue while the Detective and another officer continued to gather evidence.

“Would you all like some coffee or tea? I can also make sandwiches," offered the Art Collector, knowing that they'd be there for many hours yet, as the death of the thieves was suspicious.

“Actually, yeah, a coffee would be wonderful,” Detective Hernandez agreed, his voice deeper than what they heard on the radio.

“Follow me, Officer Galt, you can join me and do the interview while I prepare refreshments,” the Art Collector prompted as the woman turned and left the vault. She heard one of the younger officers ask “why is this a one way window?” to his superiors.

------------------------------------------

“Your full name, ma'am?” asked Officer Galt as she poured water into a kettle after offering to help make refreshments.

"My full name is Ofelia Gala Luisa Crespo, I am 38 years old."

Officer Galt wrote all that down in her notepad after putting the kettle on the gas burner to heat up. She asked the typical information to Ofelia, taking down all the details that Ofelia gave her. Although composed and calm, there was an anxious air around Ofelia that concerned Officer Galt, and she couldn't quite understand it.

"Off the record, Ms. Crespo, why are you so nervous about the loss of the protected painting?"

Ofelia's eyebrow arched in surprise as she responded to the woman officer, "it is a cherished family heirloom that holds great significance, and it is not only my responsibility to safeguard it but also to protect others from it."

Officer Galt decided to save that conversation for another day, despite being confused by what Ofelia meant about protecting other people from a simple painting. They worked quietly, side by side in the kitchen, and then they brought out the refreshments to her fellow officers while the guards assisted with seating for those who wished to sit.

A week later

Charles stood with his thin arm around Ofelia's shoulders as Officer Galt and her partner, a young Officer Stevens, explained that they had found the other paintings but not the Bronze piece. None of the thieves survived, but they promised to try their best to track the Bronze piece.

“I'm sure you'll find it again, it won't take long,” Ofelia declared confidently.

“How do you know, ma'am?” asked Officer Stevens.

Ofelia looked at them both with her dark eyes and said, “just follow the dead bodies.”

©L. Young 2024