Case File VI: The Hanged Man (4)

The theft of the ancient bronze statue at the museum further muddied the waters. This was clearly not Lupin's usual modus operandi. The "The Tower" card left behind, with lyrics about destruction and a broken song, indicated a mastermind far more methodical and with complex motives. We knew this was not just a theft, but part of a larger message.

"This thief is using Lupin as a diversion," I told Rose, as we returned to my dimly lit house. "He knows how to exploit chaos for his own gain. The statue... why a statue? Not a painting?"

Rose nodded, examining the photo of the stolen statue. "Perhaps it's not the statue itself that's important, Arez. But something within it, or something it represents. And 'a broken song'... this keeps returning to the theme of sound."

I tried to replay the gallery incident in my mind. The whispers Mr. Samuel, the security guard, heard. The abstract statue screaming in pain next to Weston Emmanuel's body. Everything felt interconnected with sound and melody.

"What if the statue has a cavity or resonance that can produce sound?" I theorized, trying to find an unusual connection. "Or perhaps it's made of a material that's acoustically unique?"

Rose looked at me with sparkling eyes. "That's an interesting idea, Arez. We need to find out more about that bronze statue. Its origin, its material, its history."

We spent the rest of the day researching. Rose used her connections in the art and collector world, while I delved into digital archives, searching for information about the stolen ancient bronze statue and its connection to Weston Emmanuel. I read articles about ancient sculpting techniques, the types of bronze used, and even legends about statues that could "sing." I also looked for information about artists who might have worked with such materials.

I found something intriguing. An old article from the Southampton news archives, published decades ago, about a legendary ancient bronze statue called "Silent Harmony." It was said that the statue was made by a mysterious artist who could embed melodies within it, so that the statue would "sing" under certain conditions. However, the statue disappeared and was considered merely a myth.

"Silent Harmony," I murmured. "A silenced melody. A broken song." It fit perfectly. And Weston Emmanuel's missing ancient painting. Was there a connection?

I was also still trying to find out about the long-haired man in Weston Emmanuel's old photo. Finally, after searching various underground art forums and old, undigitized news archives, I found a name: Adam Christopher. He was a brilliant young artist in his time, very idealistic and known for his works that often carried deep social, even political, meanings. However, his career was ruined by a major scandal decades ago.

"What scandal?" I asked Rose, showing her the information I found.

Rose read quickly. "Adam Christopher was accused of a massive forgery of several ancient paintings. He was imprisoned, but insisted he was innocent. He said he was framed by an influential art collector who stole his ideas."

"Weston Emmanuel," I said, a bad premonition gripping me. "The man in the photo is Adam Christopher. And 'A masterpiece never finished'..."

"...was a painting or work stolen from him," Rose concluded. "And Weston Emmanuel, the reliable art appraiser, was likely involved in Adam's forgery or the destruction of his reputation."

This was it! The motive began to unravel. The price of a lie. A lie that destroyed an artist's life. And now, revenge. This killer was someone connected to Adam Christopher, or perhaps Adam Christopher himself, if he was already free. I predicted that this mastermind was someone deeply motivated by distorted justice.

"And those tarot cards," Rose pointed out. "The Hanged Man: sacrifice, suspension. Adam Christopher was sacrificed, his career suspended. The Tower: destruction, downfall. The destruction of his life and reputation."

The atmosphere in my house felt darker than usual, as if a dark cloud of crime had enveloped us. Every clue we found reinforced the tragic nuance behind this murder.

We decided to look for more information about Adam Christopher and his life after imprisonment. Was he still alive? Where was he now? I also asked Rose to find out about Adam Christopher's family, or anyone who might harbor a grudge on his behalf.

Suddenly, Rose's phone rang. A call from an unknown number. Rose answered, and her expression immediately turned serious.

"What is it?" I asked.

Rose hung up. Her face was tense. "A new message. From the killer."

She handed me her phone. The screen displayed an image: a rough sketch of an old bridge over a river, with a dark shadow passing beneath it. And a typed lyric below it:

————————————————

Under the weathered bridge of time,

A silent melody demands justice.

Two souls meet, one returns to ash.

————————————————

"Old bridge," I mumbled. "This isn't a symbol anymore. This is a location. But which bridge?"

"Two souls meet, one returns to ash," Rose repeated. "This isn't just about Weston. There will be another victim. Or perhaps... the killer plans to end their own story after this."

The atmosphere grew even more chilling. This mastermind wasn't just seeking revenge; they were controlling the narrative. They wanted us to witness the downfall they created, as if it were a performance. I had to create a very efficient plan to stop them before there was another victim. This was a race against time and a distorted mind.

I also realized that we had to be wary of Lupin. Even though they were just a diversion, they could appear at any time and complicate the situation. I had to anticipate every possibility.

We immediately searched for old bridges in Southampton that might match the sketch. There were many old bridges in the city, remnants of the colonial era. I had to use analytical thinking to filter the possibilities, looking for a bridge that might have historical relevance to art, or to the past of Weston Emmanuel and Adam Christopher. I also had to consider the possibility that the sketch was part of another manipulation, not the actual location.

"We have to move fast," Rose said, taking her pistol. "Before this 'symphony' ends with a final, deadly note."