The Poppy Flower Forgeries

by Richard D. Hallows

About the Author: Richard Hallows is published in both print and digital magazines and his work has been translated into Japanese, Arabic, and Polish.

Excerpt

“So, did anything happen while I was out?”

I put my bag down on the glass counter, beneath which were displayed items of uncertain value and unreliable provenance. I told everyone it was the nature of the antiques business that the buyer should beware. I even had ‘Caveat Emptor’ engraved above the front door, and a sign as you walked in that said ‘Buyer Beware.’ Not all of our customers spoke Latin.

Jonathan smiled as he carried a mug of coffee.

“We had a painting brought in.”

I groaned inwardly, partly at how pleased he was with a random painting, and partly because he was slopping coffee over an oriental rug, which even though it was a poor quality fake, was unlikely to be enhanced by coffee stains.

“You know I hate art,” I said.

“I know,” said Jonathan. “Too easy to trace; too specific a market.”

Surprisingly he had learned something.

“I also had a very unpleasant experience with a fake Lowry a few years ago. Nearly resulted in me spending time at Her Majesty’s pleasure.”

“You told me,” said Jonathan.

“So, exactly which part of your brain thought it would be a good idea to take it?”

“The woman who brought it in said you would be interested.”

“What woman?”

“She wouldn’t leave a name.”

“But she would leave a painting? That didn’t seem strange to you?”

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