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A very good ending Tezza. I really enjoyed writing the story with you fellow author, when can we do it again?

Re: Continue the Story.

Thank you. I had a couple of scenarios in mind when I started but if others jump in there’s no telling where it may have gone. 🤭

By all means get another started, and let’s see where it goes. I think keeping it to a 100 / 150 max words per post over about 10 / 12 posts seems ideal. ( that’s not set in stone 😉 ) but I find the word count discipline keeps the story generally on track while leaving room for a bit of deviation.

The ‘fast fiction thread ‘ I mentioned previously is in ‘ other leisure activities ‘ number 6 on the thread list, year 2018👋.

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Gerald Turner, owner of the Turner Art Gallery sashayed into The Neo Art Room to find Sara sorting and hanging the paintings being shown in tomorrow's exhibition. The work, called Bygone America being displayed in the Art Room was being exhibited for and by the latest artist, Irving Pruit, a relatively new name on the Visual Art Of The United States Scene.
"Well done darling," said Gerry,"Jasper Melrose has purchased the 'Water Lillies By Moonlight' painting and, seeing that he lives in the Manor House not far from you, I wondered if you could drop it into him this evening?" "Oh, I'm so pleased, I'd heard from Claude that he was quite taken with it last week" "You've never met him have you Sara?""No, I always seem to be elsewhere when he calls but it now looks as if I'm going to get my chance" smiled Sara. "Good girl," said Gerry eyeing the heavy droplets of rain splatter on the shop window, "It's a miserable night out there so better get yourself off home, Mr Melrose's painting is packed and ready for you in the outer office.Drive carefully Sara, and don't forget it's an early 8.00 o'clock start in the morning, see you then duckie."

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Picking up one of the umbrellas kept for customer use, Sara made her way to the office to Collect the painting. She felt a tingle of excitement at the prospect of meeting one of the rich elite that inhabited the area. Having driven past the manor many times Sara wondered whether being so rich was much fun when you see the forbiddingly high Walls and multiple security cameras protecting the occupants from those that would relieve you of what you had by any means necessary.
With brolly held high and the expensive artwork held tightly to her chest , she made her way to her car. Settling herself behind the wheel Sara put her head back and thought about how the meeting may go that evening . It had been a long day and the humidity was high due to the heavy storms. Eyes heavy Sara never noticed the shadowy figure behind her car. She woke with a start as she felt the rain on her head. Turning round she discovered the rear door open the painting missing and a handwritten note in its place....

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With shaking hands she pulled open the note and read the following,"We have your painting along with an offer from a collector in the Middle East for the sum of £50, 000.If you want the picture returned to you then make us a better offer.Phone this number 07821572686 before its too late".
Sara, feeling slightly sick and dizzy made her way back to the Gallery almost bumping into Gerry who was just locking up, he looked up and said with surprise in his voice,"Sara! Why what's wrong?"He was about to take the note that she held out to him when he suddenly saw how pale she looked and realised that she seemed a little confused.. He took her inside the shop, led her to the office and whilst drinking a nip of brandy that Gerry insisted upon, she showed him the note and told him what had happened. Gerry was appalled and very upset as to what had befallen Sara,even though she assured him that the bump on her head was superficial.He turned to her and casually posed the question, "Did you happen to see Claude and Anna in the car park this evening only they left the shop together directly after you did?"No," she replied,"I saw no one."

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“ I think we should call the police “ Sara ventured. “No no not yet” snapped Gerald raising his voice, which rather surprised Sara considering the circumstances. “ Why on Earth not ? “ she asked quizzically. “It surely makes sense “. Without replying Gerald left the room closing the door behind him. Getting up to follow Sara stopped at the door hearing Gerald’s raised voice talking to someone on his phone. Quickly sitting down as Gerald re-entered Sara once again suggested calling the police.
“ Don’t worry Sara “ said Gerald in a calmer voice “ I’ve had a few words with a couple of friends of mine, and they are convinced they can resolve the situation without to much fuss, after all we don’t want our clients to think the gallery isn’t safe”. “ But what about Mr. Melrose” ? “ don’t worry Sara , you go home and leave everything to me “. Sitting at home that evening, Sara started to wonder how she could have missed seeing Claude and Anna in such a small parking area behind the gallery.

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The next morning Sara surveyed the Bygone America exhibits and was pleased at what she saw.Still desperately worried at the happenings of the previous night she felt calmer now knowing that Gerald was dealing with the situation and, to all intents and purposes, he appeared to be his usual charming and urbane self. The guests started arriving at the appointed hour and soon the Neo Arts Room was buzzing. Anna was circulating handing out glasses of champagne and assorted canapes whilst Irving Pruit was chatting amicably to guests and describing the ideas that led him to paint scenes and portraits of an idyllic bygone America.
The exhibition was a huge success with the artist doing a brisk trade in paintings and artefacts.He thanked Gerald and all his staff and then, soon after the visitors had left, made his way back to his hotel just before a deafening clap of thunder heralded the arrival of pelting rain.
Sara making her way back from the Art Storage Units saw Anna ahead of her dressed in a black raincoat with a fetching black rainhat. The hat was fashioned like a turban covering all the hair at the back with the ends of the material being drawn into a large red ruby in the front and Sara suddenly remembered.Yesterday evening as she opened the back door of the car she saw a bright red light in the front of the car behind and, for a moment she thought she recognised Anna, she looked again and the light had disappeared.

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It had been several days since the incident and not a single mention of it from Gerald or any other member of staff, it’s as if it hadn’t happened. After another sleepless night and feeling a bit down, Sara decided to call in and ask for a couple of days off. Showered and dressed she went off to town for some retail therapy and a spot of lunch. Sitting by the window finishing her coffee, Sara was mildly surprised by the volume of people coming and going from the casino on the opposite side of the road. Some on foot, some arriving in expensive chauffeur driven cars, and the flowing robes of many suggested they were from the Middle East. Stooping to collect her shopping Sara took one last glance at the casino opposite and to her surprise saw a car she instantly recognised as belonging to Claude and from it stepped Anna who hurried up the steps into the casino. Deep in Sara’s mind the pieces of the jigsaw were slowly coming together....

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Whilst Sara was piecing together the happenings of the past few days, several events were occurring in the Gallery.A letter had been left on Gerald's desk that, when opened, contained another note from the painting thieves. Gerald scanned the contents, gave a wry smile, then placed the two notes together putting them away in his desk. Next he made a telephone call and within the hour a male visitor entered his office,"Mr Turner," he said shaking Gerry's hand,"I think I've got the information you're looking for." Fascinated Gerry listened to the details that the PI now gave him."First of all Claude Dubois and Anna Chambers are half brother and sister.Claude's mother divorced his father when he was five and married an Englishman, Terry Chambers. About five years ago Claude came to this country followed a little later by Anna who moved in with him. And now to Louis Bernard, who met Claude on the Eurostar journey from Paris.They have stayed very good friends and he told me how Claude and Anna have become hooked on gambling in The Oasis Palm Casino and how, although at first, they won considerable sums of money, they are now heavily in debt to the owners who are demanding their money back, with interest. I suggest that this is the answer to your stolen painting"

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Paying off the PI and thanking him for his efforts Gerald retrieved the latest note from the drawer. The amount demanded had risen to £75000 and there was an added threat to expose a past crime Gerald had hoped would never be made public. Unaware of these events by being off Sara retuned to work. Arriving earlier than normal she let herself into the gallery. Gerald in his haste to get things sorted had forgotten to lock his office door and it was slightly ajar. Seeing the screwed up paper on his normally very tidy desk, Sara popped in to throw what she thought was rubbish into the bin. Unable to resist, she undid one of the screwed up sheets and discovered the fresh demands. It had now become obvious things had taken a sinister turn....