The Case of The Perplexed Painting

The First Witch

Kalista Kalzone was found dead in her apartment and next to her was the painting. 

As you recall, the police told us we needed to stay outside. The only one they would allow in the apartment was Mister Genoa. They didn't want me in there and they definitely didn't want Miss Cross in there.

I remember you asking me questions about how I was feeling and I started to answer them when the policeman who had been there in the hospital with me when my uncle died recognized me.

He asked me how I was doing.

"Okay, I guess," was the best response I could give.

He continued to talk to me and tell me how sorry he was about my uncle. You just stood there and kept staring at him. 

He eventually asked you, "Hey, blondie, what's your problem?" 

I couldn't help but laugh.

You introduced yourself to him with such confidence, it took him by surprise. Either that or he was curious as to why my psychiatrist had tagged along with us.

After you explained to him my emotional state, he was a little bit more open to you being there. I also liked how you kept it to yourself that you were a suspect in my uncle's murder, but it's like you said when you whispered in my ear, "No sense giving the police more information than they need."

As you and I were talking in the hallway, Miss Cross was giving you a cold stare. I got the feeling she didn't trust you and that she felt you were in some way connected with the murder even though that would have been physically impossible because you were with us the whole time.

After a few seconds of silence, all of us heard the argument that had been going on inside the apartment. Genoa and the inspector were arguing over the painting.

"There is no way I am letting you remove a single thing from this crime scene," the inspector screamed at Genoa. He repeated himself two more times saying, "If you think I am going to let you remove a painting of two witches that a dead body was leaning against, you are out of your mind!"

"Wait, two?!" I asked before making my way past the officers inside.

I saw the painting. Indeed, it was the one that Uncle Merton had above the fireplace. Only in this one, there was an empty stake where one of the witches should have been.