SWNOVELS Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN–VANDALIZED MASTERPIECE,
Beth laid a consoling arm around her shoulders. “Oh honey, we get to the bottom of this, I swear. That gorgeous masterpiece is going toget fully restored, even if Clair and I have to stay up around the clock labing over it for day!”
here private squeeze. “Why don’t we get you out of here and somewhere Au the shaken curatar hurried off to make the arrangements, Claire gently took Jasmine’s hand and gave it a reassuri where you can catch your breath? th and I will handle talking to the staff about cleaning supplies and getting this.” She waved a hand at the defaced camas, “This mass stabilized until we can get the full restoration process underway.”
Still numb from the shock, Jasmine could only only as Claire looped a supportive arm around her shoulders and guided her away from the devastation, Beth falling into step beside
A short while later, ensconsed in one of the Bergstrom’s plush administration lounges with a steaming cup of chamomile tea in her trembling hands, Jasmine stiglessly at the ornate carpet beneath her l
Her voice was hollow as she murmured, “I just_ficant process this. Who could be monstrous, so did of any semblance of human decency, to commit an act like this?”
“I don’t know, sweets,” Claire sad gently, rubbing
thing circles across her back. “But I promise you, we are going to scour every second of that security footage until we find the wrench responsible. They will be held accountable, no matter what.
“That’s a given,” Beth-chimed in fiercely “Although, I have to admit part of me is almost afraid at what sick minded bend something this vile.”
unknown Path number Frowning slightly, she accepted it. “Hello?
At that moment, Jasmine’s phone buzzed with an incoming call
“Mademoelle Delacold it was Sabine, her wolor taut with disquieted urgency. “The security team has begun compiling the relevant footage for examination. However, there is another
lamentable issue that has aren‘
Jasmine’s gut clenched as the curato continued in a carefully measured tone apps the butt–in video archiving system for that particular gallery’s cameras was not operating properly. While the footage was indeed captured and stooedtemporarily, amalfunction has caused everything beyond the past eighteen hours to be automatically deleted.”
A stunned silence fall cove Jasmine, Beth and Claire as the devastating implications sank in. Their one potential ave of finding concrete idence, of eating the perpetrator, had been stripped away with one careless technological failure.
Searing anger lanced through Jasmine, burning away the leaden og of grid ship tightened on the phone. “Are you telling me that our chance of getting any lead on this criminal could be gone? Just that?!”
Claire laida calming handover her white knuckles, shaking her head incrementally in a silent signal to stay focused chest bearing, Jasmine wrestled her raging emotions under control as Sabine continued
“am devastated and appalled that such a fallure could occur within the hallowed walls of the Dargauöm, Jasmine. We have already contacted the finest cybersecurity consultants and video recovery analysts in all of Paris. Rest assured, if even a single frame of possible intel exists, they shall find it.”
Jasmine exhaled a shuddering breath, holding Sabine’s emphatic words tight as a spark of hope. “Okay–akay, you. Please do everything in your power to aid that effort. I will be awaiting updates just as fervendy.”
“You have my word I shall keep you informed som as any proposan is made.” The line disconnected abruptly as Sabine swept into action
Lowering the phone, Jasmine felt Claire’s arm drape around her shoulders in a comforting embrace as Beth leaned forward, banch clasped tightly.
“Try not to lose hope, las.” her friend said softly. “If anyone can get to the bottom of this ugly mans and find even the slimmest shred of evidence, irl be the finest team Sabine can assemble.
Claire nodded in solemn agreement. “And in the meantime, let’s focuser energy on getting your clumphant pics as close to its riginal glory as humanly possible. I already tracked down where they keep the art restoration supplies and solvents.”
She patted her purse with a sadonk smile. Even went a little overboard and “iberated a few other specialized tools and chemicals from the maintenance supply close.”
Jasmine couldn’t stop the surprised path of laugher that escaped her at that. “You’re incorrigible, you know that right?”
“Hey, I do what is required to help get rice for you,” Claire responded with a finere look: “This atrocity won’t be the final statement on your life’s work. Not if I have any say.” Bolstered by their unwavering support and determination, Jaimie alle herself to be shepherded out of the lounge and back towards the central exhibition space, ready to delve into the painiaking process of resting her ravaged magnum opus
Hours blurred together in all
metalous laber scraping away the layers of hateful vandalium, centimeter by agonizing centimeter, with delicate precision to avoid causing any further damage to the lumines original pigments and brushwork underneath
All the while, Claire and eth coached her through the proper application of specialized solvents and gels to disolve and lift the defacing paints, their constant assurances camaraderie the only support against the waves of despair that threatened to overwhelm Jasmine.
along, the Parisian night deepened outside the lofty windows, the three women were able to step back and survey their hard–won progress
and steadlast
While a few.moted disclosand shadows remained as stubbom reminders of the trauma inflicted on the canvas, Jasmine’s seminal work had been largely tested – the cone essence shining vibrantly through once more like a radiant phoenix rising from the ashes
Claire wrapped her aima
m around fasmine from behind, resting her chin on her shoulder as they gazed at the revitalized urgence. “You did it, sis. Your life’s masterpiece still remains unbroken, just like you ”
Teats shimmered in Jasmine’s eyes as she drew a shuddering breath, projecting every one of gratitude and love towards the two kindred spirits who had, yet again, helped piece her back. becher the uales of blows.
“Thank you. Thank you doesn’t even begin to cover how much your unwavering strength means to me,” the casped out, grasping one of each of their hands tightly.
meth leaned her head against Jasmine’s as they shared a poignant, suspended moment of purging the anguish and beginning to let the clation of their collective perseverance wash over
them an
Eventually, her orchestrating one final deep cleaning to remove any lingering residue or staining, they stepped back to admire the still rowsing, if slightly scarred, magnificence of
uge gleaming with a diery, trendet luminescence.
“Samirade it was showgeable at all.” Claire murmured, sounding hallway
Achiming notification broke i
reverent silence – Sabine was summoning them back of the administrative offices, an urgent tere lacing her message.
Exchanging apprehensive looks, the to gathered their thing and made their way through the deserted museum galleries, fatigue weighing on them but buoyed by a renewed sense of comotion that justice could still be aimed
When they arched on the office suite, the sight of Sabine in animated discussion with a bearded, intense–looking man in a wall temporarily gave them pause. Sensing the presence, curator turned with an expression stand in grim triumph.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN AJO FOR THE INVESTIGATOR