Zoe grins mischievously as she eyes the pandemonium, a painting almost falls on a guest, but she's unfazed.
What’s gotten into you, Zoe?
Oh, just feeling a bit mischievous, Ward. Can't you tell? She playfully nudges him with her shoulder.
You always have something up your sleeve. Care to share?
Well, how about this little tidbit, Ward? I heard that the curator's prized masterpiece got switched out with a fake.
What? How do you know that?
Oh, I just have my ways of finding out these things. winks Let's just say I have a knack for sniffing out secrets. So, what's it gonna be, Ward?
Alright, alright. So, who's the culprit?
Ah, that's the fun part! I can't reveal the identity just yet, Ward. It wouldn't be fair to ruin the curator's reputation now, would it?
Oh, so you want the secret, huh? Well, I can't hand it over that easily, Ward. This is a juicy piece of gossip, you know!
I’ve done some shady stuff
raises an eyebrow Shady stuff, eh? Well, then I guess I can trust you with this little gem.
leans in closer, whispering Alright, here it is. The curator's favorite piece, the one he was so proud of, it turns out it's not even an original work.
nods Yep, a fake. And get this - it's actually a forgery of one of his own paintings. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you, right?
That’s crazy. Why would he do that?
Well, Ward, old bean, let me tell you. It seems our dear curator has been feeling a bit... insecure lately.
The next day, Ward confronts the curator at his office with the evidence of the forged painting.
the curator’s face goes pale when he sees the evidence
smirks triumphantly Looks like you're in quite a pickle, Mr. Curator. But don't worry, Ward and I are here to help you clean up your mess.
the curator tries to defend himself this is a misunderstanding, this paint is no fake
Oh, really now? Is that so, Mr. Curator? Well, I suppose we should put your precious painting to the test then, shouldn't we?
grabs the painting and inspects it closely Hmm, let's see if this paint is as genuine as you claim, shall we?
the curator looks worried
takes out a magnifying glass from her pocket and examines the brush strokes
the curator waits anxiously
narrows her eyes Hmmm... these brushstrokes seem a bit too uniform, don't they? And the composition, it's slightly off center.
the curator starts sweating
smirks Oh, Mr. Curator, it seems like you've been trying to fool us after all. But Ward and I won't stand for any deception in our art gallery.