Part 3 – New Job – Part 3
Station Interrogation Room…
Shikamaru placed the picture of the painting Jacob brought into the museum in front of him, "What the hell is this?" He asked.
"You sure as hell known what that is," Shikamaru said, "You brought that painting into the museum be evaluated, it was evaluated to be a fake, and you didn't take it well."
"So I took it in there," Jacob said, "Yes I was mad, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"That painting was a forgery," Sasuke said, "We've already talked to your mom, she's never seen that painting before. You said it was a family heirloom."
"She's lying," Jacob said, "That painting has been in my dad's family since World War Two, then they tell me my great grandfather is a liar, and I was pissed."
"Then how come your father says you're lying," Shikamaru asked as he sat against the table, "We got off the phone with him on his rig, and he said the only thing your great-grandfather brought back from World War Two was a sawtooth bayonet and PTSD."
"He's lying too," Jacob said, "He's in league with that moron."
"We'll be sure to tell her you called her that," Sasuke said, "You got that painting from a forger, and tried to pass it off as a family heirloom. Where'd you get the painting?"
"Here's what I think," Shikamaru said as he sat down next to Sasuke, "I think you stole that painting from the Denis's house."
"Who?" Jacob asked.
"You've never heard of Jonathan Denis," Sasuke asked, "Owner of Jubilees'?"
"Yea I know him," Jacob said, "Love that place, great food, even better drinks."
"Their house was robbed last night," Sasuke said, "And Jonathan was nearly killed.
"I would never do anything like that," Jacob said.
"I think you're lying," Shikamaru said, "If we search your house, are we going to find a .380 pistol?"
"My dad doesn't own a .380," Jacob said, "He has a few guns, but he keeps them in a safe I don't have the combination to."
"Alright then," Shikamaru said as he picked up the pictures, and walked towards the door, "We'll have to verify that. In the meantime, good luck downtown."
"Wait a minute," Jacob said, "What?"
"You didn't hear," Sasuke asked as he held the door open for Shikamaru who walked out the door, "Guess they don't teach law in Juvie, running from police is a Class 4 Felony. That means one year in jail. With your record, the judge will have no problem sentencing you to that."
"What," Jacob asked, "You can do that!"
"I beg to differ," Sasuke said, "A boy like you with a long rap sheet, you're gonna need a good lawyer to stay out of trouble."
"No! No! Wait," Jacob said, "I'll tell you! I'll tell you!"
"You're afraid of jail," Sasuke said as he walked back over to the table, "Now, where did you get the painting?"
"I didn't get it from anywhere," Jacob said.
"Alright then," Sasuke said as he stood up.
"Wait," Jacob said, "I didn't get it from anywhere because I painted it.
Sasuke sat down, and leaned across the table toward Jacob, "You painted that?" He asked.
"Yes sir," Jacob said, "I wanted to go to College on an Art Scholarship, but you make a few mistakes, and it's all out the window."
"Don't give up on yourself," Sasuke said, "Your father works offshore, when a parent or family member your close to is away for extended periods of time it often causes problems. But I believe that there must be something else you could tell us."
"I did have a piece in an art show at my church a few weeks ago," Jacob said, "And I was approached by a counterfeiter."
"He wanted you to forge pictures for him?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes," Jacob said, "I didn't know he was a counterfeiter until he showed me his work. He said to keep in touch."
"He give you a card or anything?" Sasuke asked.
"I actually remember the place," Jacob said, "It was the old Delray Studios in Downtown Alexandria. He had armed guards and said he needed them because he was about to come into a large fortune, and was going to scale up."
"Did he say how much?" Sasuke asked.
"Yea, about Sixty to Seventy-Five Million," Jacob said.
"Thanks," Sasuke said, "Two more questions, did he have a name?"
"Yes," Jacob said, "He said his name was Evan Richter."
"Ok," Sasuke said, "Second question, why'd you lie to us?"
"If you found me with a reproduction of an original Monet, would you have believed me if I said, 'I painted this, but I didn't want people to know'?" Jacob asked.
"Honest is the best policy," Sasuke said as he stood up, "You're not going to be charged with anything Jacob. But you are going to be put on probation for running from us, and lying to a police officer."
"Just as long as I don't go to jail," Jacob said, "Thank you," as Sasuke was walking out he spoke up once more, "By the way, I didn't get your name."
Sasuke stopped at the door, and turned to face him, "Uchiha," Sasuke said, "Sasuke Uchiha."
As Sasuke stepped out, Iruka spoke to Sasuke, "Nice job detective," he said, "But that doesn't get us any closer to finding who almost killed Jonathan Denis."
"Actually it does," Sasuke said as he walked over to the smart-screen, and tapped on the picture of the painting that expanded it to full-screen, "You remember when I said that this painting was never found?"
"Yes?" Iruka asked.
"What I didn't mention was its estimated value," Sasuke said, "The French Government would love nothing more than to see the piece returned to the Louvre. If it ever resurfaced, then it would probably be worth somewhere in the neighborhood of sixty to…" he pointed at his Lieutenant.
"Seventy-five Million Dollars," Iruka said.
"Exactly," Sasuke said.
"This counterfeiter, Richter," Shikamaru said as he looked over at Sasuke and Iruka, "He's had several other previous arrests in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and multiple other cities including some cities abroad. Fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, forging government stationary, and the list keeps going on and on. Just one long list of crimes that would qualify him to try and commit a crime like this."
"Our John Doe in the coroner's office," Sasuke said, "If he's connected to this Richter, that should be just enough proof to get a warrant."
Flashback…
LaGuardia Airport, East Elmhurst, New York, not the best airport in the world, but certainly not the worst.
You step out into the middle of January, and you can feel it in the air, the maximum temperature on that day was right at freezing, 50 Degrees Fahrenheit.
Stepping off the plane, Sasuke retrieved his gloves and cap from his luggage and slid them on as quickly as he could.
Stepping out into the street where their rental car was waiting was like a godsend, a nice and warm 2013 Explorer was exactly what the doctor ordered.
"Boy it's cold," Sasuke said as he took a seat next to Itachi, "It's fantastic."
"Yea it is," Itachi said, "Welcome to New York brother."
This had been the first time that Sasuke had been to New York City, and he was loving every minute of it, the drive into the city, however, was not very pleasant.
They say that New York has terrible drivers, that's only partially true because, during city driving, it is almost impossible to get anywhere above thirty miles-per-hour.
The Plaza Hotel has to be one of the most attractive Hotels in New York, though there are some that say it's way too expensive, then again, Sasuke's father is on a half-a-million dollar a year paycheck.
After unpacking their stuff, Sasuke looked out the window: when the sun sinks behind the buildings in New York City, the sight is indescribably beautiful.
The beautiful brick buildings of New York appear almost bronze in the receding sunlight, and the windows that reflect the sunlight shine a beautiful gold, red, and purple shine.
You really have to see it to believe it: it's beyond beautiful, almost mythical.
"It's beautiful," Mikoto said as she sat next to her son, "Isn't it?"
"I know you went here for your senior trip," Sasuke said.
"I told you how beautiful it was," Mikoto said, "But I never imagined I'd be enjoying it from the comfort of the Plaza Hotel."
"Then again you didn't know you were going to marry dad," Sasuke said.
"Your father isn't bad Sasuke," Mikoto said, "I know you want to go back and get your Master's. You're father's looking out for your future."
"He has a funny way of showing it," Sasuke said as he stood up, and walked toward his bed, "Mom, I don't want to be a plumber. I want to do something more with my life. I want a job that makes me feel good when I come home. Something that I come home to, and know I did well. I can't do that when I'm a plumber."
End Flashback…
As Sasuke and Shikamaru arrived at the coroner's office to Tsunade was just finishing up the autopsy.
"Tsunade, please tell me you have something," Sasuke said.
Tsunade looked back at them, "You know I do," Tsunade said as she handed Sasuke her clipboard, "His name is Daniel Jenkins, and I did find trace amounts of multiple nitrate-based compounds on his right hand. He fired at Mr. Denis first."
"I assume since you got his name that he has a record?" Sasuke asked.
"Not just that," Tsunade said as she turned toward her computer to show them the x-rays she did of his body, "He's been stabbed twice, shot once," she then pulled up a picture of his shoulders, and pointed to his right arm, "The reason he couldn't lift his hand up all the way was right here. He had a rare form of rotator cuff tear that I've only seen when someone is thrown to the ground with their arms handcuffed behind their backs."
"Thanks, Tsunade," Sasuke said as he turned toward Shikamaru, "Let's see if we can connect him with Evan Richter."
Back at the station…
"Bingo," Shikamaru said as a simple search came up with a match for Daniel Jenkins, "Wanted by authorities in multiple Louisiana and Texas towns for assault, attempted homicide, and sexual assault. He was a street thug mercenary for hire, he'd do anything for cash, would kill anyone, and even play both sides of gang wars for money."
"So what, this guy Richter hires Jenkins to rob the Denis's house, and steal a reproduction piece by Monet," Sasuke asked, "I don't get it, why do all this for a fake painting? Unless…"
"The painting's not a reproduction," Shikamaru said.
"Let me make a call," Sasuke said.
Sasuke walked around to his desk, picked up the phone, and called Jubilees', "This is Jubilees' Restaurant and Bar, how can I help you?" The person that picked up the phone asked.
"Is Jonathan there?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes," she said, "I'll transfer you."
When the phone transferred to Jonathan, he answered with, "Yea what?"
"Jon," Sasuke said, "It's Sasuke."
"Sasuke," Jonathan said, "Does this mean you're calling me to come in to ask questions?"
"No," Sasuke said, "I was wondering, does the name Evan Richter mean anything to you?"
"Yes," Jonathan said, "I was having the painting evaluated a few months ago at the house, and he told me it was a fake. Why you think he's involved?"
"That remains to be seen Jon," Sasuke said, "I'll be in touch."
"Well?" Shikamaru asked.
"We got him," Sasuke said.
"What do we have?" Iruka asked.
"That was Jonathan," Sasuke said, "He says he hired Evan Richter to evaluate the Monet and judged it to be a reproduction. He could have noticed that it was an original, and planned the theft ever since."
"Then I have good news," Iruka said as he held out a slip of paper, "Straight from Downtown, you have free range to search every inch of that property."
"Let's go," Shikamaru said as he stood up, and grabbed the warrant.
Flashback…
The next day in New York for Sasuke and his family was very nice, the first stop on their trip was Times Square.
The famous epicenter of the city is grand during the day, but at night, the signs that glow multiple colors, and the performers on the streets, it's a sight you can't beat.
The first place Sasuke wanted to go was right there, just a quick peak around Times Square, and then they'd got to Macy's for his mother.
As Sasuke sat on the steps right in front of the large coke sign, and as his brother walked up to him, he looked out at the crowd, "Amazing isn't it," Itachi asked, "People just coming and going. Not knowing what the future will hold for them?"
"There some sort of deeper euphuism that I should be aware of with that?" Sasuke said.
"You don't know where life is going to take you Sasuke," Itachi said, "Maybe life is taking you somewhere other than the plumbing business. I want to help you find out where."
Sasuke turned toward Itachi and for the first time felt like he finally understood his brother.
"Thanks Itachi," Sasuke said as the two embraced.
End Flashback…
