The Missing Painting

Detective Sarah works in a busy city police station. One rainy evening, she receives a call about a stolen painting from the city’s art museum. The painting was famous—a colorful portrait of a woman with a mysterious smile. The museum director is worried and asks Sarah to find the painting quickly. Sarah visits the museum. The security guard tells her, “The alarm did not go off. This was a clever thief.” Sarah looks closely at the broken window and finds a small piece of fabric. She puts it in a bag for evidence. She talks to the museum staff. One person saw a man in a black coat near the painting earlier that day. Sarah writes down the description and starts searching nearby areas. The next day, Sarah visits a market where stolen goods sometimes appear. She asks vendors if they have seen the painting. Most say no, but a young seller gives a clue. “I saw a man with a black coat, and he talked about selling something valuable,” the seller says. Sarah follows the lead to an old warehouse. Inside, she finds the stolen painting hidden behind some boxes. Suddenly, a man steps out of the shadows. It is the thief! The man tries to run, but Sarah catches him quickly. Back at the police station, Sarah interviews the thief. He admits he took the painting to pay a debt. The painting is safe and returned to the museum. The director thanks Sarah and says, “You saved our city’s treasure.” Sarah feels proud. She knows crime is never simple, but good work and careful investigation help keep the city safe.