Chapter 38

We met in the director's office. There were only the three of us. We related the new information to a worried Owens.
"We may never know the truth," Bruce said as he lit his pipe. "But we can continue searching. Besides, perhaps Dr, Michaud and Picasso are both wrong. Maybe we really did have the original here all along."

"True," from Owens, "but it is not our policy to hang a work that we are not certain is authentic. If Picasso says it's a copy, he can easily inform the press that we have hung something unauthenticated. I'd understand if he did that."

"Let's go over what we know." Bruce was always the investigator.
"But we already…" I interrupted.
"Then we do it again." Bruce was not amused.
"Question," he started. Are there two copies or only one?"
"Two. Could there be others?"

Where Is Marevna?

"Three. Where is Marevna now and why did she disappear?" I think that requires an answer."
"I doubt if we will ever find her." I was convinced.
"Not so," said Bruce. "There are ways but at a cost." He continued. "Is Marevna's daughter lying about her finances and her mother's whereabouts?"
"Is Rivera telling all he knows?" "And, could Picasso be mistaken?"
I added, "This just occurred to me. Who else knew that Marevna was copying or had copied the painting? It seems to me it was, until recently, a well kept secret."

Owens leaned forward. "Let's stay on this point for a while."
"I can help you there," I offered.
"Then, let's go over it again, from the day you first met Gertrude." Bruce was ready to take notes again.

After a long discussion, I helped them complete a list of those who knew the copy was being made.
"Marevna may have told someone other than Diego, but I doubt it. When the paintings were first shown to Picasso, he was stunned. If too many people knew what was going on, someone might have told Picasso earlier."

The List Gets Narrowed

The list was narrowed to myself, Marevna, Diego, Gertrude and Alice. We were no farther ahead. We'd just have to find Marevna, wherever she was.
Owen was not content. "Where would Marevna get enough money to buy herself or her daughter a house and then take off and live on her own without working? I am told that her paintings have not been offered for sale for many years and even if they were, they would hardly fetch large sums."
"Who did she know who was rich?" Bruce asked.
"If you mean patrons, she had none." I replied.

Bruce shook his head. "Then we're back to the beginning. I suggest we do a search if you're willing to spend the money.
Owens was not sold. "I don't know. A search might cost more than the painting's worth. Besides, Marevna disappeared because she wanted to. If she wasn't involved in anything illegal, and I doubt if she was, then I respect her wishes. Let me think about it. We can talk again tomorrow."

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