Le Blanc'd

The Statesman today asks its readers, "Can you tell the difference? The photo on the left is the original painting; the photo on the right is a "giclee." Or is it the other way around? The clever thief has asked art experts and Mr. Daley to decide . . . Long time Georgetown resident Preston Daley, owner of the Washington Statesman newspaper, has two pillars in life . . . his newspaper and his art collection. For Mr. Daley, life in the upper crust of society has been good, but now he finds life is about to change. New technology and the Internet have altered all the old rules. His newspaper is in financial trouble. Appearing from nowhere is the dapper Count Le Blanc, a French nobleman. The Count quickly captivates Georgetown society with his abundant social graces and charm. About the same time a major crime wave begins; expensive jewelry disappears, a series of low-level bunco crimes surface, and Mr. Daley's favorite painting is stolen. Now, something most unusual happens! The thief steps forward with an announcement! He will divulge "how he did it" in a series of written articles published in Mr. Daley's paper! How brazen! Who could this thief be? Local detective Jack Beebe is completely baffled; his investigation into these crimes is going nowhere. Will he get his man in the end? The story's conclusion won't disappoint!