Free From Black Rooms by Stephen Woodworth Page B

laughed, imagining him dipping his bulk in a mock curtsey, plump fingers daintily lifting the folds of an invisible skirt. "That's more like it, peasant. Remember your place."
    "At your feet, as always. So what's up, Boo? Natalie, I mean."
    "I need your help--"
    "With Munch? You gave back the brush, so I thought you guys were good chums by now. That Self-Portrait was rad, by the way."
    "Thanks." Natalie exhaled annoyance, reminded again of al the money she hadn't made from the masterpiece she'd helped to inspire and create. "But this isn't about Munch. At least, not directly."
    She described her meeting with Carleton Amis, but omitted any mention of his connection to the Violet Kil er. "The cops think this guy might have something to do with the stolen paintings that suddenly
    resurfaced," she said to avoid having to explain about Serena and Evan Markham. "They've asked if I know anyone else who could copy al those paintings he wanted. What do you think? You familiar with any
    Violets who might take on a project on the sly?"
    "Nope. Even if they wanted to risk pissing off the Corps, I doubt they'd have the know-how to age the fakes accurately. For that, you need a pro. A forger."
    "And who might that be?"
    "Let's see...you say Madonna of the Yarnwinder was on the dude's shopping list, right?"
    "Yeah."
    "In that case, I'd start with Calvin Criswel . He's already painted six of them."
    Natalie shifted the cordless receiver to her other ear, glancing through the kitchen door into the living room to make sure Serena was keeping Cal ie busy. "Whoa!
    Back up. This Calvin guy's painted six what?"
    "Madonnas." Hector chuckled. "Pretty good scam, I have to admit. After the real Yarnwinder disappeared, Criswel did six copies of it. Pretending to be a fence for the real thieves, he sold five of the forgeries to private col ectors, none of whom could report him to the cops without revealing that they'd tried to purchase art on the black market. Unfortunately for Criswel , he tried to sel the sixth fake to an undercover detective for Scotland Yard."
    "What happened to him?"
    "He copped a plea and served two years. But no one in the art world wil touch him now, so he lives
    somewhere in Silver Lake and paints kids and puppies for eighty bucks a pop."
    Natalie made a face. "Honesty doesn't pay. You have an address for this guy?"
    "Sorry. You'd have to get that from his parole officer. I doubt he even uses his real name anymore."
    "That's okay. We can track him down."
    Hector's jocular tone turned wary. "We?" Natalie peeked into the living room again. Stil poised for hand-to-hand combat with Cal ie, Serena gave her a quizzical look.
    Natalie nodded to her, thanked Hector, and hung up. Serena did, in fact, learn Calvin Criswel 's present whereabouts from his parole officer, but she had to wait on hold through several long phone cal s until she got access to the address. She suggested that Cal ie could stay home with Wade while they went to question the artist, but Natalie refused to leave either her father or daughter alone while Evan was on the loose. Serena had only her black Harley motorcycle for transportation, so al four of them piled into the Volvo and headed up the I-5 toward L.A.
    The late-afternoon traffic thickened like tar on the freeway, and Cal ie complained the whole way, making them exit twice so she could go to the bathroom at the nearest gas station or fast-food place. She final y settled down when Natalie bribed her with a McDonald's
    Happy Meal, and they reached the apartment house in Silver Lake near dusk.
    The two-story Mediterranean Revival building bore the weary vanity of a faded screen star--cracked plaster splotched with white patches like a botched Botox job, tear streaks of rust trailing from its terra-cotta drainpipes. Like its neighbors, it served primarily as a shelter for Hol ywood actors either on their way up or on their way down. The aura of gloom deepened once Serena convinced the apartment manager to let