The Case of The Perplexed Painting

Kalista Kalzone's Job

She was just getting off work when we got there. Our timing was perfect.

She spotted me right away, so she didn't feel threatened by our presence. "Why Simon," she said to me, "what are you doing here?"

"I need some answers, Miss Kalzone." I told her before I introduced her to Mister Genoa and Miss Cross. Mister Valentine and Miss Hansen didn't care to join us for the obvious reasons. 

She was confused as to why I would hire a private detective to investigate Uncle Merton's death, but when I told her about how someone broke into my parent's house and attacked me, she understood.

"We are here to inquire about the painting," John Genoa said to my uncle's private banker.

"Oh, that thing," she said rolling her eyes before she went into giving her thoughts on the subject. To her, the painting was nothing more than a myth. She thought it was completely ridiculous as to why a multi-millionaire would remove valuable stock certificates from a safety deposit box just to put them behind a painting.

 She went on to tell us how she thought it was stupid and risky and how anyone in their right mind would have either cashed them in or kept them in the bank.

Genoa asked what she would do with the painting if she had it. 

"I'd burn it to bits," was her response. She said she would do it just to prove to my uncle how ridiculous his idea was.

We thanked her for her time and let her go about her business. 

I spoke with Genoa after she left, and I told him how it seemed unlikely that she would have been the one who would have hit me over the head or taken the painting.

"Don't be so sure," was Genoa's response. He put a finger to mouth and told me he and Miss Cross would follow her.

I told him that was just fine by me, and I wouldn't be joining them because I had to be getting home. I was sure my parents were worried about me.