The European Enigma (LSD, #9)

5. The Belgian Burglar

The Belgian Burglar

The blue flashlight in the middle of the highway to hell left no doubts: escape would be impossible. They were waiting for him. He was betrayed. But of course, there was always the theoretical chance this was just a routine check to catch drunken drivers.

"Papers, please."

"Anything wrong, officer?"

The policeman read the name on the driver's licence aloud: "Mister Jean Thielemans... Just a routine check, Sir. Would you please be so kind as to open the boot?"

Was it an option to be not so kind and keep the boot closed? Why do the police give orders in the form of a question? Can you please come with us to the station? Do you understand your rights? Do you mind if we put you behind bars for the rest of your life? Jean Thielemans didn't want to know the answers to all those questions. With a deep sigh, he lifted the handle that unlocked the boot.

The female police officer looked at what was inside, while her male colleague, with his hand on his weapon, kept an eye on Jean.

The female cop knew something about art: "What a nice painting. Is this a real Rubens?"

"It's not a Rubens, but a Brueghel. And it's not a Jan Brueghel the Old and neither a Jan Brueghel the Young but a Dirck Brueghel, who was the grandson of Jan Brueghel the Young and the uncle of Jan Brueghel the old."

"I was not interested in the family tree, just in the value. Between fifty and sixty million?", the policewoman wondered.

"I don't know about that. I paid a hundred euros for it, mainly because it's big enough to hide the big stain on the wall in my living room."

"And this cutlery? It looks antique."

"I don't know about that either. I borrowed it from some friends. My parents-in-law are coming for dinner this weekend and I want to make a good impression."

"And what about this necklace? If those are real pearls, its estimated value is enough to buy an entire shopping centre."

"I don't know about any necklace. It must have fallen in the boot by accident. And I don't want any shopping centre either; I prefer to buy my food on the street market, always fresh food against the lowest prices."

"I'm afraid we have to ask you to come with us to the station, Mister... Thielemans. We received a call from Baroness Sasha Cohen de Francorchamps about a robbery. Fifteen minutes ago, she came home, found the door of her mansion wide open, saw a car leaving with the same license plate as yours, and when she entered her house to call us, she found her painting, her silver cutlery, and her pearl necklace missing."

Jean Thielemans didn't look forward to going to the station: "I'm sure there is some kind of misunderstanding. We visit the Baroness first. Are you gonna go my way? I got to know. This painting and this cutlery and this necklace in my boot have nothing to do with missing stuff from her mansion."

"And the license plate?"

"The Baroness is old. I imagine she read a license plate in the dark and couldn't remember the exact number when she called the police. There has been some kind of misunderstanding. I've never been inside the mansion of any Baroness in my life."

Mister and Misses Police Officer whispered some considerations. Mister Police Officer explained the outcome to Jean: "It is a bit against the rules, but the station is 16 kilometres away from here, while the mansion of the Baroness is only a three-minute drive, and in the same direction. The Baroness sounded quite upset over the phone, so we just decided to stop at her place on our way to the station. Please be so kind as to take a seat in the back of the police car. My colleague will drive your car."