Manof Chpt 60

Chapter 60

They met at the police station at 2 PM. Drollet was anxious especially after he heard Bruce's story. He too had interesting information.

They had checked the name Stefan di Palma. It turned out that his name was really Stefano Cuesta Reyes and his father was the same Carlo Cuesta Reyes who had come to France from Spain. The elder Reyes had not actually been expelled. He had fled before the authorities could find him.

The Elder Reyes Wanted for Crimes in Barcelona

He was wanted for a number of crimes in Barcelona including the sale of stolen paintings. He had double crossed his partner, a certain Marina Alvarez when he left Spain with two Goyas and a Velasquez. Each of these paintings, stolen from a dealer in Barcelona was worth a fortune. They were traced back to an art theft ring in war torn Russia. These paintings were once in the hands of fleeing German officers.

Apparently there was a brisk trade of stolen art in the Scandinavian counties during the dying days of World War II. Paintings had been shipped to Spain for safe-keeping during the war as well. Carlo Cuesta Reyes alias Carlo Di Palma and his son Stefano had been involved in the trade and stealing of these paintings and were wanted in Spain.

Marina Alvarez had plea bargained with the authorities when she pinned Carlo to the robbery. Her part in the scam was not followed up by the authorities. Carlo was still wanted as was his son.

Bruce explained in detail, what he had discovered. They decided on a plan of action. First they would put a twenty-four hour police guard at Biot's hospital room. Then they would arrest Sefano and his father for the Biot beating and the robbery. Then they would find out what Reyes had done with the painting and see what information he was ready to surrender about the rest of the group. Surely, the perpetrators were others and possibly nearby.

(A sketch of a DaVinci disciple)

A police car with Bruce, Drollet and two local officers stopped in front of the glass repair shot where Stefano worked. He surrendered to the police without a struggle but said nothing. He was\taken off to the police station in hand cuffs to the surprise of his boss and other glass shop workers.

The Slippery Criminal Gets Away

Unfortunately, when the police got to Carlo's house, the slippery criminal was nowhere to be found. With little else to do, they begin the process of getting an order to search the premises just and wait.

A police cruiser arrived soon afterwards with the search warrant. Carlos arrived twenty minutes later. He was stunned by the police reception, denied that his name was Reyes and was hurried off to the police station. He too put up no struggle.

Drollet ordered the house sealed and ordered a car to park outside until investigators had a chance to scour the inside for the missing Da Vinci.

Drolet asked Bruce to let him deal with the search. Bruce agreed. That was out of his realm. He would go back to the Chateau and relate the news to Constantin and his sister. Hopefully a search would prove successful. But if the missing picture was not there,
they might have to go back to Biot for more information.

There was now a twenty-four hour security guard at Dr. Biot's door. Now there was little to do besides wait and hope.

Constantin expressed surprise. "Dr. Biot has been a trusted member of the community for as long as I can remember."

Bruce came to his defense. "He's an old man. His past has caught up with him. I'm sure he's not proud of his wartime activity and if I understand correctly, he was blackmailed into joining forces with the thieves, whoever they are."

"Well, we now know that the robbery was part of a group's devious plan. Reyes or Di Palma, or whoever he is might have been responsible. But aside from Biot, we now know
there were others."

Marie Claude frowned. "I always knew there was something in Senorita Alvarez's past. I was sure of it. Carlos was a weak man. She could have drawn him into her scheme somehow."

Bruce sipped from his Mumms Champagne. "But she didn't. Her digression had nothing to do with Carlos. It might even have taken place before they met."

"I'm not so sure," Marie-Claude said as she dried her eyes. "Apparently they were childhood friends."

"An aristocrat and a street urchin," Bruce observed. "That's an unusual combination."

War Makes People Do Strange Things

"The war made people do strange things. They were times nobody was ready for. Look at Dr Biot. He helped the Germans. Anything could happen when one tries to survive.

They walked in the garden. Bruce thought about Hellstrom. He wondered if he too had become involved in shady dealings as a result of the times. Little did he yet know that there were greedy and shady people closer than he imagined.

(Click here for Chapter 61)


	Chapter 60 They met at the police station at 2 PM. Drollet was anxious especially after he heard Bruce's story. He too had interesting information. They had checked the name Stefan di Palma. It turned out that his name was really Stefano Cuesta Reyes and his father was the same Carlo Cuesta Reyes who had come to France from Spain. The elder Reyes had not actually been expelled. He had fled before the authorities could find him. The Elder Reyes Wanted for Crimes in Barcelona He was wanted for a number of crimes in Barcelona including the sale of stolen paintings. He had double crossed his partner, a certain Marina Alvarez when he left Spain with two Goyas and a Velasquez. Each of these paintings, stolen from a dealer in Barcelona was worth a fortune. They were traced back to an art theft ring in war torn Russia. These paintings were once in the hands of fleeing German officers. Apparently there was a brisk trade of stolen art in the Scandinavian counties during the dying days of World War II. Paintings had been shipped to Spain for safe-keeping during the war as well. Carlo Cuesta Reyes alias Carlo Di Palma and his son Stefano had been involved in the trade and stealing of these paintings and were wanted in Spain. Marina Alvarez had plea bargained with the authorities when she pinned Carlo to the robbery. Her part in the scam was not followed up by the authorities. Carlo was still wanted as was his son. Bruce explained in detail, what he had discovered. They decided on a plan of action. First they would put a twenty-four hour police guard at Biot's hospital room. Then they would arrest Sefano and his father for the Biot beating and the robbery. Then they would find out what Reyes had done with the painting and see what information he was ready to surrender about the rest of the group. Surely, the perpetrators were others and possibly nearby. (A sketch of a DaVinci disciple) A police car with Bruce, Drollet and two local officers stopped in front of the glass repair shot where Stefano worked. He surrendered to the police without a struggle but said nothing. He was\taken off to the police station in hand cuffs to the surprise of his boss and other glass shop workers. The Slippery Criminal Gets Away Unfortunately, when the police got to Carlo's house, the slippery criminal was nowhere to be found. With little else to do, they begin the process of getting an order to search the premises just and wait. A police cruiser arrived soon afterwards with the search warrant. Carlos arrived twenty minutes later. He was stunned by the police reception, denied that his name was Reyes and was hurried off to the police station. He too put up no struggle. Drollet ordered the house sealed and ordered a car to park outside until investigators had a chance to scour the inside for the missing Da Vinci. Drolet asked Bruce to let him deal with the search. Bruce agreed. That was out of his realm. He would go back to the Chateau and relate the news to Constantin and his sister. Hopefully a search would prove successful. But if the missing picture was not there, they might have to go back to Biot for more information. There was now a twenty-four hour security guard at Dr. Biot's door. Now there was little to do besides wait and hope. Constantin expressed surprise. "Dr. Biot has been a trusted member of the community for as long as I can remember." Bruce came to his defense. "He's an old man. His past has caught up with him. I'm sure he's not proud of his wartime activity and if I understand correctly, he was blackmailed into joining forces with the thieves, whoever they are." "Well, we now know that the robbery was part of a group's devious plan. Reyes or Di Palma, or whoever he is might have been responsible. But aside from Biot, we now know there were others." Marie Claude frowned. "I always knew there was something in Senorita Alvarez's past. I was sure of it. Carlos was a weak man. She could have drawn him into her scheme somehow." Bruce sipped from his Mumms Champagne. "But she didn't. Her digression had nothing to do with Carlos. It might even have taken place before they met." "I'm not so sure," Marie-Claude said as she dried her eyes. "Apparently they were childhood friends." "An aristocrat and a street urchin," Bruce observed. "That's an unusual combination." War Makes People Do Strange Things "The war made people do strange things. They were times nobody was ready for. Look at Dr Biot. He helped the Germans. Anything could happen when one tries to survive. They walked in the garden. Bruce thought about Hellstrom. He wondered if he too had become involved in shady dealings as a result of the times. Little did he yet know that there were greedy and shady people closer than he imagined. (Click here for Chapter 61)