"What do you mean it's cursed?" John Genoa asked the homeowner.
"That's exactly what I mean," Robert Valentine said.
Apparently there was an old legend associated with the painting. According to the legend, the painting acted as a safe. Anything that was placed behind it was secure and the only way to open it was to have three people who knew what was behind the painting die, and each time one of them died, one of the witches in the painting would disappear and after the third witch was gone. the back of the painting would open up and the contents that were behind it would become accessible.
Now, I know what you are thinking, you think the legend of the painting is crazy and so did I until I started thinking about it. It all started to make sense as to why Uncle Merton would put a painting with so many valuable stock certificates behind it above a fireplace and not just any fireplace, but a fireplace that had a secret passageway underneath it. If the legend was true, and a fire did occur in Uncle Merton's home, then the painting would not be damaged. Plus, if Valentine did steal it, there was no way he could get the stock certificates unless three people who knew about the painting passed away. Wow, now I don't know if I sound rational or crazy myself.
Both Genoa and Cross thought Valentine was making up a story, but Miss Hansen agreed with everything he said, insisting that the story Valentine was telling was true.
Valentine told us if we didn't believe him, we could go to the bank and ask Uncle Merton's personal banker, Kalista Kalzone, and that she would tell us about how Uncle Merton told her of the silly legend.
Genoa said, "Alright, we will."
Miss Hansen informed all of us that she would not be coming with us and that she insisted she be allowed to go free.
Genoa agreed.
Before Miss Hansen exited the home of Robert Valentine, she informed Genoa that he would be hearing from her attorney.
"That's fine," he said, "but I suggest you inform your lawyer about how you are a suspect in a murder investigation."
She ignored his response and asked him where her attorney would be able to find him.
"At Prairie State Bank," he said. "We will be talking to Kalista Kalzone."
YOU ARE READING
The Case of The Perplexed Painting
Misteri / Thriller17-year-old Simon Blink hires a private eye to help him find who murdered his uncle. It is soon discovered that his death was linked to a mysterious painting.
