The Mysterious Painting Thief
Another Adventure by…
Peyton Boudicca
By Christine Wang
Hiya people! My name is Peyton. Peyton Boudicca! And I am the famous poet publisher and editor of The Poet's Ribbons! Have you heard of The Poet's Ribbons? It's a very interesting book about poems! The cover is lovely and timid and the inside is most fascinating to read! Well, I have adventures from time to time and every one of my adventures is brilliant tales! And that's a promise! J
Help! Somebody! The Famous Cat on The Mat painting is GONE! G-O-N-E from the museum of famous artworks! Where could it have gone?
But with Peyton and Annabelle's help, they think that the painting has been stolen by a THEIF! But…who can it be and WHY?!?! Peyton and her cousin are DETERMINED to find out!
Chapter One
A Late Night in My Own Office…
Hiya all of you people out there! It was a dark and terrifying night, and I was in my office, thinking of publishing another issue of The Poet's Ribbon. Have you heard of that book? It's very famous and popular around the world indeed. Anyway, as I said it was a dark night. Maybe not SO terrifying but you can call it that because I want to tell you why…
So, I'm working late in my office. Thinking of some good romantic poems. I couldn't think of any. I'm not very interested in romance and kissy-wissy stuff and lovey-dovey things. But I've got to write a poem about it! Otherwise, if I keep writing poems about fun and play and life, as my cousin Annabelle says, people would get bored of it! So, here I am. Just dozing off for a while. I'm thinking about Sam. Do you know who he is? Well, you probably heard of him from my other latest adventures! He's my boyfriend! Well, we do not do those lovey-dovey things and kissy-wissy stuff! No way! We just love to hang around together and have fun! We are just friends but we are boyfriends. I hope you understand! Anyway, as I was saying I'm brain-wrecking my brains! I can't think of a single romantic verse!
Love's not always the wield
Of the light in the shield
Whenever the fire blows the desire
The couple's anger goes heart wire
I've got no idea. It was getting late and my blonde hair was getting dried up by the fan. I decided to call my cousin, Annabelle. As well as being in an attracting figure, she also knew lots about romantic poems. After all, I must say, she has so many boyfriends! Well, she gets on one for a few weeks then breaks up and then gets another one. It's how Annabelle goes in her life span, I guess.
I hear Annabelle's inpatient voice go through the phone. "Hi, Anna," I said in my polite voice. I flip my long blonde hair back and gaze at my sparkling brown eyes in the mirror. "Ur, let's see do you know anything about romantic poems?" I asked. Suddenly there was a sound through the phone. It sounded like that computer noise, once you turn on the computer. Then, there was a beep as if Annabelle has logged on her email! "Erm, yeah, I guess. Hey, I found this article on the Internet
this morning. You should read it. It's about a thief who steals a very famous painting called The Cat on The Mat painting. Police are searching for culprits and evidence!" squeaked Annabelle. Before I could object another word, she continued talking. "And, looky here, Peyton, I found a top-secret website that has a list of suspects that could have stolen the painting in the museum. Hey, Peyton, be right back! I'll email you the website and the list of suspects that the police thought of. And promise not to tell ANYONE this website!" finished Annabelle finally. Then, it sounded like she put the phone down with a SLAM and computer keys started ringing about. I sighed. Didn't my cousin get that I'm trying to find some romantic poems for the book? Seconds later, an email was sent to me from Annabelle. The subject was: The Cat on The Mat Painting Thief Lines
I read it and it said:
Right away on November 21st 2011, at exactly 12:09AM at midnight, a thief broke in to Blueberry RD's Museum. The thief was known to be an attracting young lady that bewitched the museum keeper. The museum keeper, Sir Bronson von Lancelot was safe keeping the upper corners of the museum when, as the security cameras have said that a lady about in her 20s broke into the museum and bewitched Mr. Lancelot by her attracting looks. The lady then made Mr. Lancelot unconscious by hitting him with a wooden hammer and as a result, she took away the painting-A famous painting-The Cat Sat on A Mat Painting was a very great artwork by Sir Von Jacque'. In 1763. This lady was disguised as a black figure, in the dark. Services say that the painting, "The Cat Sat on A Mat" costs about 900, 987 trillion dollars because of the stunning master piece. Police Forms are trying to catch this thief. Please contact 000 if you see any signs of this thief.
Suspects That the Police Forms Have suspected:
- Joan Smith
- Hailey Coal
- Elena Jonny's
- Vivian Jenkins
- Julian Mon
- Brianna Links
- Rita Hans
"What a load of rubbish," I muttered to myself. Just because a few 'Security Cameras' have caught a 'young, beautiful attracting and disguised woman' bewitching a museum keeper doesn't mean that the painting has been preferably stolen by some thief. I decide to get back to the phone conversation with Annabelle but it looked like she already hung up. Anyway, I think the Police are dumb. Tracking down seven innocent blonde women doesn't mean that they have been correct! What a load of trash! I finally decided to email back to my cousin saying that: This is a load of litter. Why suspect so many innocent females for this? Why? And, The Cat on The Mat painting isn't a very good painting, if you ask me. And this; stupid Police wasting their time is so not cool.
P.S: Do you know any romantic verses? If so, tell me some I'm doomed for the next book!
I hit send and about a few seconds later, a reply came whooshing back to my inbox: Well go lose your head about it. The message said from my Annabelle. I got kind of angry. But I looked at the clock-it was almost eleven at night. I was fuming. After all, I am older than my cousin, Annabelle who is only sixteen! I'm eighteen; surely, Annabelle wouldn't speak back to me like that through cyber net! Straight away, lively I typed back: What the hell, seriously Annabelle you act like a child all the time when in your head, you think you're older than me but you aren't! Seriously, why do you send me these newspaper articles when I really don't wanna know anything about them? You know I'm more interested in writing poems!
I hit send angrily.
Did I mention sometimes my cousin may be a total SLOB? A reply came whizzing by: Well, go lose your head about it, you poem freak! And, I sent you that article because I thought it might help you and me to become FAMOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My mouth hung open the second I read that message. I groaned. Oh no! What if Annabelle pulls me into another one of those horrid adventures? I type back, tired: What do you mean? Another reply came back, and, alas! It explained the whole details but the details I did NOT want to hear: You, Peyton Boudicca and I, Annabelle Boudicca is going to New York City tomorrow, at dawn. Our plane leaves at: 5:09AM SHARP! So don't be late! But in case, I'll pick you up J Erm, and also, we are going to check out that museum and check out stuff like evidence and try to catch the thief red-handed. Remember, cousin Peyton, you must be awakening by 4:00AM in the morning SHARP! You know, I can't wait all mourning for you to get dressed! It takes a bit of an hour to get to our local airport! I gasped out loud! Then I groaned. My cousin is doing it again! She is taking me to one of her ghastly adventures AGAIN! But this time, there's a thief involved! Oh, Holey Cheese, how did I get myself in this mess?
Chapter Two
Destination-New York City!!!
I was twisting and turning and grinding that night in bed. I couldn't sleep but I will need some sleep for the department. I thought about Sam. Wishing he was here for his jokes to cheer me up. I don't want to solve a mystery! I do, but I don't want to go through all those devastations! Thanks a lot, Annabelle, I think that night. It was about four o'clock in the morning. Beep, beep, beep, beep! My annoying alarm clock rang out as loud as ever. I twisted around my bed and groaned. I hadn't slept a wink that night. After the beeps, my phone rang into a loud buzzing sound. I groaned and sighed and fumbled in the dim light to reach my phone. The screen said: Annabelle I was fuming with frustration as I hit the green button on my phone. "Hello?" I said in an angry-kind-of weary voice. Annabelle's cheerful voice rang out to me. "Hiya, Peyton cousinkins! I'm in my yellow sports car now and I'm on my way to your house! You'd better be waiting for me to pick you up at your houses' gate! And, you'll have your suitcases packed up, right? Okay, whoosh, whoosh! I'm on my way to your house and I'll get you to the airport in no time flash!" Annabelle shrieked over the phone. I was too tired to say another word. Annabelle had already hung up the phone. I felt tired. I felt weary and mellow. But, I knew I had to act fast! My cousin was about to come in a few seconds, and I needed to be dressed! In a dash, I was showered, ready and brushed up to go! My cousin arrived in no time flat and before I knew it we were in the airport, waiting for our plane to depart. "Peyton! Wanna play Thumb War?" asked Annabelle. I was too weary to reply. My blonde hair was tied in a quick ponytail and I was feeling so mellow but I just went along with playing Thumb War.
"One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb war!" we chanted. Annabelle got my thumb at least six times. She was so strong. Before I knew it, we were on the plane…to New York City!
Have you ever been to New York City? I heard it was a CITY because it's called New York City but I'm sure that there are lots of buildings and offices and stuff and I am sure it's wonderful. And with all the lights, of course. We finally got to our destination and then…a huge swarm of bright lights shined through the plane. New York here we come!
Chapter Three
Crack the Code of The Thief?
"Ah…nice New York!" smiled Annabelle as we hopped off the plane. I rolled my eyes. We were walking down the streets. It was super cold in New York. I can't believe I actually AGGRED to come here with my cousin. "So, Annabelle, why did you send me here in the first place?" I asked and I arched one eyebrow and dug my hands into my coat. It was freezing cold. Annabelle's blue eye's glinted and she flipped back her long brown hair and smiled. Then, she took out a note-pad and pen from her shoulder bag. "Well, as I said in those emails before, I have bought you here today because; we are going to catch who had stolen the Cat on the Mat painting! And we are going to do it here! In New York!" explained Annabelle, excited. I could have groaned. I could have sighed in frustration. But most all, I wanted to scream! I wanted to shriek in horror! I want to tell Annabelle that I don't have enough time for solving a mystery so deep as this! But since I'm a polite girl, I held my breath long enough for Annabelle to realize that her lips were going to cramp from smiling. "Um…really? Okay, Annabelle…We'd better go to our Hotel?" I asked, trying to keep my mood light. Annabelle grinned and we both walked to our The Grand Hotel. Well, Annabelle's been to this place in New York before and she has slept in the Grand Hotel. The Grant Hotel was a huge building! It could fit a hundred people inside it! We scurried in as fast as we could. It was really freezing outside. Oh sorry! Did I already mention that? At the counter bar of The Grand Hotel, was a tall, handsome man I have got to admit. He looked posh. He had blonde hair and green eyes and a lovely tanned skin. But, I do not fall for men. At least, I didn't have to worry about Annabelle. I could hear her heart beat from the inside when the minute she walks into The Grand Hotel. Oh well! You know, my cousin gets love sick! Anyway, we asked the man for our room number.
"Hello George," greeted Annabelle, batting her eyelashes and curling her brown curly hair with her fingers. I was in the slightest temptation to roll my eyes. But since I'm a polite lady I held back. George blushed for a moment I saw his eyes light up when Annabelle batted her eyelashes. "Hell-he-lo, Annabelle Boudicca," he spluttered foolishly. Great. I'm bursting my bubble NOT to laugh or else Anna will get all over my case. "Well," purred Annabelle like a cat. "What room are we in, George????" she clawed at the counter desks, like a cat. EW…is she flirting????
Chapter Four
The Suspects
"Ah…how sweet is this hotel room?" purred Annabelle softly, shaking her long, shiny brown hair everywhere. I rolled my eyes, for real! "Whatever Annabelle. Let's see the suspects. I want to get this work done! This thief isn't as good as any other ordinary culprit!" I explode. Annabelle was really, really, REALLY not cooperating with me for a moment. Annabelle smirked at me and fished out a paper toll out of her shoulder bag. On the paper toll, was the list of suspects, printed with print marks and ink. I stared at the list.
- Joan Smith
- Hailey Coal
- Elena Jonny's
- Vivian Jenkins
- Julian Mon
- Brianna Links
- Rita Hans
"Okay, names don't give us enough information!" I snapped. "We need their details, like, what they look like, pictures of them, their family, and stuff like that!"
My cousin scratched her head. Then, she fished out another paper toll from her shoulder bag (Which, mind you, was plopped down on the floor next to her bed.) "Here's another paper toll I printed out last night. I called up the museum at New York and did my smart scheme to get some juicy details from all seven lists of suspects." Annabelle said smugly. I nodded and glue my eyes fixed the paper toll. It wrote:
Suspect Number 1:
Name: Joan Smith
Age: 67
Birth date: 8th/September
Color hair: Gray
Color skin: White
Nationality: American (White)
Born: New York City Blooms Town 87 Hospital RD
Likes: Cats and SWEET children.
I muffled up a sigh. "So they are saying a sweet old lady who loves sweet children and kittens would go around at night and bewitch a YOUNG museum keeper and steal an old, famous painting?" I scoffed. "Not likely!" I added quickly before Annabelle could protest.
"Good point," my cousin stated. "But no proof. It says that Joan Smith likes cats! And the painting that was stolen was a painting of a cat! That's why it could possibly be her!"
I was really having it. "Yeah, but Joan is an OLD lady at the age of sixty seven! Seriously, Anna! Think! She's only sixty seven and the robber was described slim, beautiful, disguised well and ATTRACTIVE! You think an old lady is ATTRACTIVE?!" I hollered. My cousin rolled her eyes and then pointed out that this was only a brief suspect.
Suspect Number 2:
Name: Hailey Coal
Age: 16
Birthdate: 28th/March
Born in: Germany, Berlin Hospital Grand Street
Hair color: Blonde timid
Skin: White
Nationality: Germany
Likes: Flirting, juice bars and flirting.
"Hm…Yes! It might this lady! After all, it says that she is blonde, timid and loves flirting!" Annabelle pointed out. I reread the description again. I was about to implode. "No, it says she was born in Germany! How can someone born in Germany come here into New York to steal an old painting?" I said, trying not to holler like I did before. I can't believe I am this impatient today. Annabelle thought for this for a minute. Then, she fished out a folder. The folder wrote: H.C on the label. "This is a biography of Hailey Coal. Looky here, cousinkins! It says on her bio that she moved to NY last month! Then she disappeared somewhere. Not even in Germany. She disappeared!" Annabelle stated. I look closely at Hailey Coal's profile. It really has a lot of information on it!
Bio: Hailey Coal
Hailey Coal is born in Germany in Berlin at a famous hospital. Her parents were really rich and they grew up in a mansion. Hailey had a little brother, Hamish. When Hailey was 15, she started getting low grades. Her parents didn't care because they were RICH. At the age of 16, Hailey went to USA New York to live for a while. She got caught up with an old panacea and they recently drank and got drugs. Hailey drank at a lot of inappropriate night clubs in New York. She is now a suspect of The Thief of The Mystery of The Cat on The Mat Painting.
"It could be her," I said quietly. Annabelle grinned smartly at me. "Yes I think it is Hailey but there are more suspects to suspect! But the issue that worries me is that Hailey has disappeared to who-knows-where! She's not even in USA or Germany! It'll be a real catch," Annabelle pointed out. I nodded. "Hey, let's check out the next suspect," I said in a hurry. It was almost midnight. So we spent a whole night on suspecting suspects.
Name: Elena Johnny's
Age: 5
Born: 7th/December
Born at: China Hong Kong Famous Hospital
Hair color: Blackish Brown
Skin: White
Culture: Chinese
"Stupid," I muttered. "A Chinese girl? Who is 5-YEARS-OLD THE POLICE SUSPECTS TO HAVE STOLEN THE PAINTING??????" This, from me, was a scream not a gasp, whisper, speech or mutter. Annabelle was plenty mad, too. "Um, I guess they misunderstood it," she said. After that she got out her note pad and began writing down some notes while I check out the next suspect. "What are you writing?" I asked Annabelle as I searched through the suspect's bios, profiles and cash.
"I am writing down OUR main suspects," exclaimed Annabelle. I glanced over at her note pad:
Anna and Peyton's main suspects:
1. Hailey Coal
"Well, since you are at it, Brianna Links sounds like a real suspect! She's born in New York, has blonde hair, blue eyes and nice skin and she visits the museum often!" I objected. Annabelle scribbled down a few more notes.
Chapter Five
That Did the Trick!
We spent all night in our Hotel suspecting the suspects. Our main suspects are: Hailey Coal, Brianna Links and Rita Hans. My main suspicion is Brianna Links. At exactly midnight, when Annabelle was sleeping heavily on her sofa bed, I was on the Internet, checking out Brianna Links. I saw a few pictures and images of her private life on one of her websites she'd created: www.brianna.linksecrets.com. Strange. The images of her looked quite attracting but a little TOO attracting. If I were right, she looked better than Hailey Coal. On of Brianna's diaries over her web said: "…So, I was visiting the alleys of the museum and I saw IT! Oh my goodness! A painting of The Mona Lisa! How cool! I took many pictures of it…" Though, she said, "The Mona Lisa." Which is way different artwork than the "Cat on The Mat.". I sighed. I was SO sure that Brianna was the culprit of the famous painting. After all, on her fave's on her web said, "…I love getting into costumes…dress ups are SO much FUN!..." I did take a few notes down though I thought as this wasn't a waste of time. As I finish jotting my notes down I put down my pen carefully and smiled. I can't wait till we track this culprit down. I mean, not that I care too much about stolen paintings but The Cat on The Mat artwork was pretty famous. And real.
The next morning, I woke my cousin up. She was snoring on the sofa bed. "Wake up! Wake up, Annabelle!" I drooled on her. Annabelle burped in her sleep…Yuck! Did I tell you that my cousin can be revolting????
"Mm…What…?" Annabelle slowly drifted out of her sleep. I rolled my eyes. I was already dressed. I mean, I, Peyton Boudicca had a thirty minute sleep at 4:30AM in the morning then got dressed in to my jeany jacket and brown tracksuits. I had tied my blonde hair in a tight bun and pinned it with colorful pins. I look like a fighting Chinese woman. Anyway, soon enough, my cousin woke up and got dressed. She was wearing skinny tight, tight, tight tights, a hot pink tank shirt, a belt and loads of make-up and her hair was all out. What can I say? "Okay, so where are we going? Are we going to track down our main suspects or what?" I asked, annoyed as Annabelle was admiring her face in the Hotel mirrors. I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Oh yeah! Of course! Let's go to New York's Grand Pub/Night club! We'd sure to find Hailey Coal there!" So, as quick as we could, we got ready and hit the driveway.
"Taxi!!!!" I yelled. The yellow taxi passed us, as usual. Another taxi came around. This time, Annabelle used her voice which is louder than trumpets. "TAXI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She screamed. The taxi drove towards us. That did the trick! The yellow taxi had to stop for us. We hopped in that taxi. In about nine minutes, we were at New Yorks Grand Pub!
The pub was scarier than I imagined it! People were drunk!! I tugged to Annabelle's tank shirt as we walked through the entrance. "Annabelle…" I said unsurely. "I think this is kind of scary! I mean, there are DRUNKEN people…" I spluttered like a mad fool. Annabelle rolled her eyes and confidently walk in. I can't believe it. What will MOTHER say? God, I'm an idiot. Pubs aren't good for seventeen and eighteen year old girls…But again, I want to track down this 'Hailey Coal' once and for all. In the pub, loads of beer and stuff were drunk! I was getting more scared than minute. A man started to whoop as more and more people walk in. I was starting to shiver. It was so creepy at the pubs. Have you ever been to a pub? It's super freaky. Freaks are everywhere. DRUNK freaks. "So…which one is Hailey?" I eyed a few girls near the bar. There all looked alike. Annabelle pointed to the girl at the far end. Then, she fished out a piece of paper from her bag. It was a picture of the suspects. "Yep, that's Miss. Coal," I said nodding. Annabelle smirked at me. I backed away. "Okay, cousin, I'm going to wait outside for you…you just check out Hailey…okay?" I asked nervously. I'm scared of Pubs! Especially since I'm in one RIGHT NOW!!! Annabelle rolled her eyes. "Oh cousin, you are such wuss pus!" She groaned at me and walked slickly towards The Haily Coal. I scampered out of the pub as fast as I could. Men and women and even teenagers were yelling and getting drunk in that pub. People are table dancing. And they still are. It's crazy. And weird. I don't understand why people drink. And I have never been into a Pub, myself. Never mind in New York. I decided to wait outside to wait outside the Pub, where, it is nice and sunny.
A few minutes later, Annabelle came back with a gleeful expression on her face. I lightened up. Half way through my rest, I had given up some time to go to The Pretzel Shop nearby and spent $12.00 on my fave chocolate pretzel. I was chewing on it when Annabelle came back. Annabelle snapped me right out of it. "Hey, cousinkins! Let's go back to the Hotel. I got down Hailey Coal's phone number and email." My cousin explained roughly, putting on her sunglasses. The air was frosty cold. It was about ten in the morning and already the degrees was about lower than 16 degrees. I was puzzled. "How did you get her phone number?" I asked, cautiously.
Annabelle smiled and there was a mysterious look dancing around in her eyes.
"Well, I kind of lied to her!" she exclaimed. I stared at my cousin, horrified. My cousin fell about laughing and little puffs of smoke came from her mouth. "No, silly! I said that I'm an investigator from New Yorks FBI and she believed me even if I didn't show her my card!" giggled Annabelle. I tried not to moan but I was goggling. My cousin, puckish, idiotic and clumsy cousin-trick Hailey Coal! I couldn't help swelling up from laughing. Now, we are like two weird, imposters on New York streets, laughing our heads off. It was a strange and peculiar moment but I've never felt so great in my life!
Chapter Six
Oops…
Back at the hotel, we checked out Hailey Coal's profile. It caused a lot of fights between me and my cousin.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm doing what's appropriate: Check out Hailey's picture closely for clues!"
"What the hell we are supposed to be checking out if she is the thief of The Cat on The Mat painting!"
"So????"
Well, at 6:00PM we finished Hailey's DNA. "Looks like she isn't the culprit," said Annabelle sadly. I turned my head to the computer. It said that Hailey "…Never liked the museums and hated poetry…" I sighed. "Right, mama, let's go get Brianna Links. Where is she now?" I asked curiously. I'm suspecting Brianna Links to be the culprit.
But my cousin shook her head. "No, first we must go to The Grand Museum! We have check out the fingerprints and clues and stuff," she exclaimed. She HAS a point. In no time flat, we arrived to the museum. I felt like I was in Criminal Minds. When we reached the museum and walked through the main entrance. And then a lady who is quite plump, I must say and most fat. Her fingers are most chubby and she had curly, red hair. She had the most peculiar woman I have EVER seen. "Um, excuse me do you know where The Cat on the Mat painting. I mean, I know it's missing, mistress but I'd like to know the location of when it got missing." I explained. The plump and mysterious lady raised one eyebrow and frowned. There was a dark and mysterious glint in her eye that gave me this feeling that something was WRONG. Completely and utterly wrong. I had this feeling that maybe this old and plump lady might be the thief of The Cat on The Mat Painting. Unfortunately, somehow I got a weird feeling that THIS plump old lady could be the person who had stolen The Cat on the Mat Painting. But, the news had said that it was a young lady that was really attractive and could get a chance to bewitch a night museum keeper. That's when I knew it. Maybe we were all wrong. Maybe this scheme was just to trick people into getting into this thing. Maybe that was all it! I decided to protest to my cousin. "Look, Annabelle I think this whole thing is a complete waste of time. Look, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings or something but Annabelle, cousinkins I think this whole thing is fake. Maybe this whole thing never even happened! Maybe this whole thing was made up by silly news reporters that just want to get a story! Journalists! You know…" I started to blubber. Annabelle shot me a confused looked but once she got onto she, looked really upset. And for my disability, Annabelle has thrown one of her tantrums she had thrown when she was little. At the thought of it, I knew it was all over.
