Chapter 50

At that very minute, somewhere near Perigueux, a package was being delivered to the home of Carlo di Palma. The corpulent man received the package without emotion. It was still in its leather case and sealed from prying eyes.

His son, Stefan, had taken special care to deliver the scroll without being seen. Like always, the man with the oversized Adam's apple had arrived on his bicycle.

The older man nodded and his tall, serious son placed the case in a huge armoire, behind some books. Both men sighed as Carlo poured two snifters of Cognac.

Emile Picard Sat in His Car...

Little did they know that a few yards from their small villa, Emile Picard sat in his car, silently taking in the scene. He had followed Stefan at a distance. He had waited for this day when the simple son of a simple man would dare bring the picture to his home. It was a huge error and it was at that moment that he decided to get in touch with Karl Hellstrom again.

For Emile Picard it was suddenly time to make some changes; to take matters in his own hands. Biot was in the hospital, Hellstrom would have just as much to lose if the plan soured and now it seemed as though Carlos and Sefan had decided to alter their plans. Yes, he would make some changes.

He was back in Brantome in a short time. Alone in his office, he called Karl Hellstrom.

"Hello, Karl?"

"Yes."

"It's me; Picard. We may have a problem. Carlo has taken things in his own hands. He had Biot beaten. He's semi conscious in the hospital. We need to talk."

"I can leave now if you like."

"No. Come to my office tomorrow. We can talk privately there. Bring an art portfolio as though you were here to sell me something. How about noon? I'll order lunch."

"None," said Karl. He sounded nervous, which he was. "I'll be there."

It was 9 p.m. exactly when France Francheville and David Denis entered the restaurant. Although Bruce was the outsider, for the others it was like a mini reunion. Neither France nor David had seen Constantin and Marie-Claude in some time. To them Bruce was a curiosity but they knew why he was there.

They Enjoyed a Perfect Sarladaise Meal

They enjoyed what turned out to be a perfect Sarladaise meal, complete that special sweet crepe desert that Constantine ordered for France. Later they walked in the garden. In discussion with David, Bruce found out that without provenance the drawing, supposedly by Da Vinci would be worth less than the family imagined. He also said that for it to hang anywhere but in the chateau would be impossible.

(Animal statuary in Barcelona)

It was what he called 'inacrochable' unhangable. As a collector of great art, the picture was of no interest to him but he knew it had a sentimental value to Constantine and Clo. When Bruce mentioned Marina Alvarez's name, David Denis stopped in his tracks. "She is a questionable woman," he said. "She is aggressive, persuasive and not to be trusted. I was offered some Cezanne's by her some years ago. I am certain that they were stolen."

"She only mentioned you as someone who knew great art," Bruce replied.

All David Denis said was, "Ah, bon."

France proved to be uninterested in discussing Marina. She too scoffed at her memory and said only that she had already caused enough trouble and that she wouldn't be surprised if she was behind the robbery herself. She was disappointed that it had been stolen but she didn't seem to think it an important loss.

Bruce shook his head in disbelief. His memory of Rina was hardly as a thief, but one never could be sure. But Marina could have been diverting people from herself. What did bother him was the two guests played down the importance of the picture. It was as though they thought that their friends were wealthy enough not to be hurt by the loss. For Bruce that wasn't the issue. It was his job to find the picture and the culprit who took it.

Dinner More Social Than Successful for Bruce

The dinner turned out to be more social than successful for Bruce's tastes. Yet, an evening in Sarlat, Le Presidial dinner and the beautiful garden were worth the effort. Bruce made a mental note to return here one day.

On the way back to Tremolat, the trio passed the imposing Chateau of Milandes in the distance.

"That is where the American entertainer Josephine Baker lived until very recently," Clo said. "I've actually never seen her but I know of her fame."

"I saw her once, in New York," Bruce said. "I was not impressed, but by then she was too old or as you might say, passé. She did however do some spying for the French during the war, I'm told.

Back at Tremolat, the garden lights welcomed them. They sat near the fire, sipping their Cognacs. Bruce was actually depressed.

"We're no farther ahead now than ever. I hope we get a chance to talk to Dr. Biot again. I have a few questions to ask him."

The drinks, the food and the day helped Bruce fall asleep quickly. He fell asleep with a worried look on his face. But he didn't feel worried, only puzzled.

(Click here for Chapter 51)