Manof Chpt 63

Chapter 63

The next morning he met Gilles Drollet as planned. The meeting place was easy to find. They got into one of the two police cars and drove north.

The drive at that hour was slowed only by low clouds that were often there at that time of the day. But as they rose and the valleys came into view Bruce understood why France was such a magnet especially fir big city Americans. New York was only a dream at that moment.

Before Tours the road to the east followed the Cher River. The cars met up with the local police just outside of Montlouis. From there it was only a short hop to Amboise. Hellstrom's home was just on the outskirts within view of Amboise Castle. One car circled around the place of business but like most stores, Hellstrom's was still closed. There was nobody inside. At Hellstrom's entrance, they rang the bell. The gate automatically swung open. The four cars entered slowly and blocked the exits.

An Elderly Woman Answers the Door

Drollet knocked at the door. An elderly lady wiped her hands on a time worn apron and nervously asked what the police wanted. She said there must be a mistake. She was alone in the house and Mr. 'ellstrom would not be amused. He had left for work some time ago.

"But there was nobody at the gallery," Drollet argued.

"Monsieur 'ellstrom was probably at Clos Luce. He often went there before opening the shop."

Drollet ordered one car to wait and the other three sped off to the Clos with Drollet and Bruce in the lead. Once there, they rang the porter's bell as the Clos sat quietly in the early morning sun. It too was also closed.

After a moment a man in work clothes came to the door.

"We are looking for Karl Hellstrom," Drollet said, rather graciously.

Without shock or surprise, the man looked at the detective's identification and shrugged. The door opened and the man pointed to the main door of the house. Drollet motioned for the others to wait. He and Bruce entered. As they walked into the large living room, now bereft of furnishings, they saw Hellstrom, high on a ladder, painting the molding. He turned and said, rather quietly.

"Ah, Monsieur Kellner. You are here rather early and I see you brought a friend." He descended, wiped his hands on a rag and reached out to shake Drollet's hand.

Detective Drollet Makes the The Arrest

"I am Detective Gilles Drollet of the French National Police. I have come here to place you under arrest for complicity in the theft of a painting from Chateau Hautefort."

Hellstrom smiled. "I assure you monsieur that I had absolutely nothing to do with that robbery. There must be some mistake."

"There is no mistake, Monsieur. We have your confreres Maitre Picard and Carlo Cuesta Reyes, alias Carlo Di Palma and his son, already in custody. You will come with us."

The handcuffs were placed on Hellstrom's wrists and he was taken to the waiting car. Bruce noticed that at no time did any of the workmen pause in their work or show the slightest interest.

All the way back to Bran tome, Karl Helllstorm was in a jovial mood. He continued to play dumb even with the statements of Packard Carlos and Reyes available to show that he had indeed been part of a scheme to defraud and steal. Bruce knew that the wily accused would try to squirm out of it. It was circumstantial, Hellstrom said. What he didn't know was that Dr Biot had already signed a sworn statement telling all he knew.

Hellstrom was placed in a cell in the Brantome police station separated from the others. He could not very well ask for his defense to be put in the hands of Emile Picard.
He said he would decide what to do in a few days. In the meantime, he joked, he would enjoy the first holiday he had in years.

Gilles Drollet was not amused.

(Click here for Chapter 64)


	Chapter 63 The next morning he met Gilles Drollet as planned. The meeting place was easy to find. They got into one of the two police cars and drove north. The drive at that hour was slowed only by low clouds that were often there at that time of the day. But as they rose and the valleys came into view Bruce understood why France was such a magnet especially fir big city Americans. New York was only a dream at that moment. Before Tours the road to the east followed the Cher River. The cars met up with the local police just outside of Montlouis. From there it was only a short hop to Amboise. Hellstrom's home was just on the outskirts within view of Amboise Castle. One car circled around the place of business but like most stores, Hellstrom's was still closed. There was nobody inside. At Hellstrom's entrance, they rang the bell. The gate automatically swung open. The four cars entered slowly and blocked the exits. An Elderly Woman Answers the Door Drollet knocked at the door. An elderly lady wiped her hands on a time worn apron and nervously asked what the police wanted. She said there must be a mistake. She was alone in the house and Mr. 'ellstrom would not be amused. He had left for work some time ago. "But there was nobody at the gallery," Drollet argued. "Monsieur 'ellstrom was probably at Clos Luce. He often went there before opening the shop." Drollet ordered one car to wait and the other three sped off to the Clos with Drollet and Bruce in the lead. Once there, they rang the porter's bell as the Clos sat quietly in the early morning sun. It too was also closed. After a moment a man in work clothes came to the door. "We are looking for Karl Hellstrom," Drollet said, rather graciously. Without shock or surprise, the man looked at the detective's identification and shrugged. The door opened and the man pointed to the main door of the house. Drollet motioned for the others to wait. He and Bruce entered. As they walked into the large living room, now bereft of furnishings, they saw Hellstrom, high on a ladder, painting the molding. He turned and said, rather quietly. "Ah, Monsieur Kellner. You are here rather early and I see you brought a friend." He descended, wiped his hands on a rag and reached out to shake Drollet's hand. Detective Drollet Makes the The Arrest "I am Detective Gilles Drollet of the French National Police. I have come here to place you under arrest for complicity in the theft of a painting from Chateau Hautefort." Hellstrom smiled. "I assure you monsieur that I had absolutely nothing to do with that robbery. There must be some mistake." "There is no mistake, Monsieur. We have your confreres Maitre Picard and Carlo Cuesta Reyes, alias Carlo Di Palma and his son, already in custody. You will come with us." The handcuffs were placed on Hellstrom's wrists and he was taken to the waiting car. Bruce noticed that at no time did any of the workmen pause in their work or show the slightest interest. All the way back to Bran tome, Karl Helllstorm was in a jovial mood. He continued to play dumb even with the statements of Packard Carlos and Reyes available to show that he had indeed been part of a scheme to defraud and steal. Bruce knew that the wily accused would try to squirm out of it. It was circumstantial, Hellstrom said. What he didn't know was that Dr Biot had already signed a sworn statement telling all he knew. Hellstrom was placed in a cell in the Brantome police station separated from the others. He could not very well ask for his defense to be put in the hands of Emile Picard. He said he would decide what to do in a few days. In the meantime, he joked, he would enjoy the first holiday he had in years. Gilles Drollet was not amused. (Click here for Chapter 64)