Inevitable

The Artist

So, I am a traveling artist. I was walking the streets to see if anyone would want me to paint there portrait. I met many people, but none wanted me to paint them. There where a few that just gave me money because they felt bad for me. But no one took me up to paint them. "Mi scusi, non capisco! Oh sorry that means, "I don't understand". When I get upset I revert back to Italian. I guess when I'm excited I do too."

Anyways, I was wondering around the area of this so called law firm when Mr. Gunn was leaving his work. I came up and greeted him. He of course did not know what I was saying so I spoke in English of course asking if he wanted me to paint his picture.

"Mi piace dipingere!" I had said. "Excuse me, I said I love to paint."

"Oh, well, that's a great hobby." he had stated.

That made me very upset because painting is no hobby for me. "Hobby? No signore, this is no hobby, this is my life! I will paint you with a beautiful background for only three hundred and sixty-five euros."

"What, is that like five hundred US dollars?" He had retorted.

"Si, I will paint you like a masterpiece." I had said properly introducing myself as Pete Yamani. From there Mr. Gunn invited me to come to this so called party so I could paint his picture with the most beautiful of backgrounds. However, if you can not see this fog. It ruins everything! It's grey...grey! No one wants a painting of someone in grey!"

"Are you originally from Italy?" asked the Detective.

"Si, l'Italia è casa mia," I said. "Italy is my home, but I am visiting America to broaden my artistic horizon and to make beautiful masterpiece to bring back to my home country."

I was probably over doing it a little bit, but I always got into the rules of my characters.

"Where exactly in Italy do you come from?" He asked.

"Lombardy," I replied. "A place that can sing you to sleep with its waves. It's next to a large water source of course. Not only that it is a beautiful place to paint. You should go sometime."

"How long have you been painting?" continued Detective Chevalier writing some notes down in his notepad.

"All my life I have been an artist. I was encouraged by some of the greatest. Like Angiolo Achini, Sandro Botticell, and Artemisia Gentileschi."

"I'm sorry I'm not familiar with any of them." he replied motioning me to continue. "Where did you go after talking to Mr. Gunn?"

I proceeded to explain that I went to my hotel room and went up to my room to paint. That's what I wanted the Detective to think, but I actually set up my plan to rob Mr. Gunn of thousands. I do my research before I go in for a job. It takes practice to speak in an Italian accent, and keep up this trick. I've been in hiding for a few months due to my last job. I almost got caught robbing the DP Bank. The bank Manager had a good look at me, but not enough to put me behind bars. My name is actually Pete Randell. My friends call me "Pick Pocket" Pete. I've upped my game since I received that nickname. Banks, Millionaires, and big names are just a few that I steal from.

That next morning I cleaned my brushes and grabbed a canvas to bring with me to the camp grounds. Had to make it look official. The only reason I was going to this party was to paint a masterpiece of Mr. Gunn. That and the food. If I was not an artist I would be a food critic. I grabbed a pocket knife from my top dresser drawer, and my revolver just in case things got a little complicated. Though I left that part out. I jumped into my car and headed to Camp Jungle Woods.

I arrived at 6:15 pulling at at the same time as the Cardiologist. I tried to paint his picture but sadly he refused. Actually, everyone I asked refused. I over heard two nicely dressed guests, one a man and the other a women, where talking to each other about not fulfilling a plan, or something.

"Do explain?" said Detective Chevalier perking up his ears.

"They where talking about how something went wrong the night before. I couldn't really make it out, you see," I said. "I greeted the two and..."

"What does sei bellissima mean?" interjected the detective with perfect Italian.

"It means you're beautiful," I answered.

"And soldi?" He asked.

"Why do you ask?" I said clearing my throat.

"Just wondering. I know some Italian myself but don't remember what that word is." he said.

"Excuse me, it means excuse me." lying to him, hoping I played my cards right.

"Please continue." He replied.

So, I walked up to them both and explained who I was and how I would love to paint them with a background as beautiful as the morning sunrise.

"We are okay, please leave us alone." the two had said.

"offensivo!" I shouted stomping off shouting words in Italian. Like I said when I am mad I return to Italian.

I looked for Mr. Gunn who was walking frantically from the dining hall. I stopped him and insisted that I paint his picture then. All I needed was his wallet or maybe his keys. But he told me to wait until later, so I agreed and continued to greet the guests as they came in. Mostly to see if they wanted to pay me to make them into a masterpiece.

The party started so, I checked the time on my phone and looked up to see someone I hoped not to see ever again. The bank manager of DP Bank. She couldn't recognize me? Could she? I was acting as a chairman to fool my way in, when I did that job. Once in, I used my charm and cunning ways to work those in charge. I found out the systems and one night when the bank was closed I robbed it of millions. The charade was up the minute I left. The bank manager knew I was the one who did it because she pulled in that night as I was leaving and she had seen me. Chasing me down the alley way I escaped her and the authorities.

That's why I couldn't let her see me, or have her remember who I am. I didn't know anyone specifically at the party so I kinda stuck to myself. At about 9:00 I go out to get a smoke and then returned to the party. I went to bed a couple hours later and woke up finding out Mr. Gunn had passed.

"That is what happened." I said.

"Are you positive you didn't return back to the party?" asked the Detective.

"Like I said, I went straight back to the party after my smoke for a few then went to bed."

"It didn't strike you odd that Mr. Gunn wasn't at his own party?" said Chevalier.

"Well, I would say no. I was too distracted by the party going on." I replied.

"Oh, okay. Though you kept to yourself? Was there anything you had seen while you stuck to yourself?"

"That Doctor acted like he never met John Alberts that, uh, baseball player. Though they where glancing at each other the whole evening and I had seen them outside during my smoke having a very much aggressive conversation." I said

"What do you mean by aggressive conversation?" the detective said jotting down more notes.

"I didn't here everything just pieces", fixing my eyes on the watch around Chevalier's wrist, "Like, "You messed up." and "We will have to do something different."

"Hmm, thank you that helps me a lot" replied the detective. "You are free to go back to your cabin."