"THE MYSTERIOUS PAINTINGS OF CRANFIELD SOMMERS." [Preview available]

Episode Summary:

"An art exhibition being held in a major London gallery, in Summer 2016 is causing quite a stir in the 'Conspiracy Theory Community' and social media is filled with theories about the pictures of a certain Victorian painter; Cranfield Sommers. Some sharp eyed conspiracy followers have spotted something strange about some of the models; three of the girls shown in the extensive collection are dead ringers for three missing women from 2016 But the paintings are dated 1870 to 1872! Jericho is on the scene because not only the girls are missing; but so are their souls...." 

THIS EPISODE MAY CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING WARNINGS:

SMOKING - ALCOHOL USE - VIOLENCE [INCLUDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE & BDSM] - STRONG LANGUAGE - GRAPHIC HARD SEX REFERENCES INCLUDING PROSTITUTION AND DIVERSE SEXUAL PRACTISES - DRUG REFERENCES – STRONG ANTI-RELIGIOUS SENTIMENTS AND OPINIONS - HUMAN TRAFFICKING – STRONG COMMENTS AND BEHAVIOUR THAT MAY OFFEND SOME PEOPLE BUT WERE CONSIDERED 'NORMAL' IN THE TIME PERIOD – MILD HORROR & SUPERNATURAL, PARANORMAL FEAR.

Author’s notes on this episode:

[1] This episode contains references to Demonic horror and supernatural violence.

[2] The original Title for this episode was: ‘THE POISIONED PAINTINGS.’

[3] A ‘Jericho Tibbs’ original story.

[4] Illustration was created by the author and is Copyright ©2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.

Episode details:

Concept date: 24th July 2019

First published: 9th August 2021

Status: COMPLETED & PUBLISHED.

Location: BOOK SERIES 4 – EPISODE 10.

Revisions: 4 [last revised February 2020]

Version: Final.

Published Episode No. 045

Previous episode: “The troubled spirits of 153^rd North Street Subway Station.”

Next episode: “King Edward VIII and the man in the shabby brown suit.”

Age recommendation: 15+

Average reading time: Approx. 45 Minutes.

Angel-in-charge: Michael 

Team Assigned: Team 74

Human Time: 1870AD-1286AH 

Mission: 6 – 592146 - 8 - 1870

 

Episode Preview: 

1. "LOURDES ART GALLERY" LONDON: Tuesday June 7th 2016.

“I can’t believe this bloody queue; it’s going to take an hour at least to get in.” Owen moaned and sipped his coffee from the ‘Starbucks’ coffee shop on the corner. “At least the coffee is drinkable.” He added and stared at the people in the line before him. Alex gripped her coffee with both hands – gloved – and smiled. “I wish I had worn more clothes, my bloody bum is freezing despite the woollen tights.” Owen just chuckled; “You know that woollen tights have to be the biggest turn off in history for men.”  Alex nodded; “Don’t bleeding care; my butt would be ice without them.” She sipped her coffee; at least moaning Owen was right about the damn coffee and turned to Jericho who seemed impervious to the cold. His long dark frock coat was open and he wore no gloves. He was staring at a page of a newspaper, folded in one hand and holding his coffee with the other.

 “Couldn’t we just have sneaked in during the night or something?” she asked and he smiled; “No, the queue will start moving in a moment and we’ll be in quite quickly. Finish your coffee and tell Owen to stop bleeding moaning; he’s been dead for seven hundred years so I should think he’ll be use to it by now.” That made Alex smile and she turned to Wilson who was reading a copy of the gallery guide book. She tapped his arm and whispered; “Must be full of naked ladies to get your undivided interest.” Wilson just smiled; “There are no pictures of the painting’s that contain the supposed missing girls. So we’ll have to wait until we’re inside to check the images against Human records.” He spoke quietly, close to her ear.

 Jericho stuck his head between the two; “We’ll soon know if we have a mission or not, so an hour’s queuing won’t hurt us. This could be the shortest mission we’ve ever undertaken. I hope it is because we really need to look at that strange happening on that Mar’s mission.” He went back to his paper and Owen tapped it; “What’s so interesting boss?” Jericho shrugged his shoulders and sipped his coffee; “One of the missing girl’s mother’s is demanding a private viewing of the painting ‘Naked Nymphs in Woodlands’ painted in 1870 by Cranfield Sommers. She says’ she will be able to put an end to the nonsense of it being her daughter and police can concentrate on the catching the real abductors.”

 He chuckled; “She call’s time travel utter nonsense!” Jericho looked up and smiled; “Head’s up people; the doors are finally opening and the queues moving at last.”  Alex sighed; “Thank God for that; I think my bum cheeks have turned purple.” She finished her coffee and shivered a little.

 Owen grinned; “Now that’s something I would love to see.”

 “In your bleeding dreams.” Muttered Alex but smiled at him. His alter-ego ‘Jackie’ had seen her naked bum several times. They pushed through the doors and dumped their coffee cups in a nearby recycling bin and Owen moaned again, pulling open his heavy coat. “It’s like a bleeding sauna in here!” Wilson slapped his arm; “I told you, if you keep dressing up as a woman; you’ll start behaving like one and moan all the time.” Owen didn’t reply but followed Jericho as he strode towards the gallery’s painting hall.

 “You have the guide book, where do we find these damn pictures.” Jericho asked Wilson and he indicated down a well lit corridor. “This way Jericho; the ‘Victorian Modern Renaissance’ section is just off this corridor.” They followed Wilson in silence with Alex stripping off her gloves, hat and coat. Owen took her coat and carried it for her. Several men all turned to admire her chic winter outfit. That made Alex moan about being a ‘bloody sex object’. Jericho chuckled; “Well, we’re in a gallery filled with beautiful things, so they’re just admiring one more.” Now that did make her smile a little.

 Wilson gestured to a large crowd standing beneath a painting which also had a security guard next to it. “That’s one of the paintings; ‘The Sheiks Harem’ painted in 1871, again by Cranfield Sommers. We’ll start there. Mirror at the ready Owen?” Owen nodded and accepted Jericho’s newspaper to cover his mirror. They eased through the people and Alex didn’t smile; “Loads of naked young girls and a fat Arab. Did this Cranfield bloke paint anything other than naked girls?” A couple of people nearby chuckled and one woman agreed with her.

 Owen lowered the newspaper and gestured for the other’s to follow him. They gathered about a sculpture of two naked men, entwining with a huge snake. It was painted like an American flag.  Wilson just shook his head and muttered; “People have died for that flag.” He clearly wasn’t impressed by whatever the artist was trying to say. Owen looked around and spoke quietly;”Not an exact match but Human Records gives it an 90% match with Danielle Goldsmith, born in 1997 and is currently missing from the Human Time Line and is also a Missing soul. She’s one of the missing girls.”

 Jericho sighed and folded his arms; “Come on, let’s check out the other two paintings.” The team wandered back down the corridor and found the painting ‘‘Naked Nymphs in Woodlands’ painted in 1870, again by Cranfield Sommers. Owen simply nodded his head and whispered; “Another 90% match and yes, one of the missing girls.” They found the final painting – again surrounded by a crowd – and Owen checked his mirror. He nodded again and mouthed; “90% match again and one of the girls.”

 They gathered at the end of the corridor and Jericho suddenly walked off to a painting that had several people beneath it. “What’s the bloodhound spotted now?” Owen said, pushing his mirror back into his coat pocket. They stood beneath the painting and Jericho read out the plaque; “The Queen of Fairyland’ painted by Granfied Sommers in 1870.” Wilson whistled softly; “If that’s not our Alex, then I’m a monkey’s uncle.” They all agreed – including Alex – that it was her double. The ‘Fairy Queen’ was stark naked apart from some wings and a flower crown, sprawled across a golden sheet laid upon fallen trees. A well equipped donkey stood by, with a smile on his face.

Owen operated his mirror under the newspaper and chuckled; “Exact match of Lady Alexandra Cappanni born 1871, died 1901. File now classified. Permission to view must be Angel authorized…” he looked up and grinned. “Well, that’s our Alex all right, so the mission must be on.”

 Jericho nodded and folded his arms; “Come on, let’s get some lunch and get hold of Supplies. We’re headed back to 1870 and Alex can get her portrait done.” Everyone agreed and they headed for the main doors. Alex had her arm through Owens’s and said quietly; “Why the hell a bloody donkey with his dick hanging down? That’s almost perversion and I thought the Victorians were dead against such things?” Wilson chuckled; “They were the ultimate hypocrites; sexually repressed in their daily lives but a total free for all if it was considered a work of art.”

 They headed for a McDonald’s opposite and Owen had three burgers with all the trimmings. Alex had some fries and Wilson and Jericho almost enjoyed a cheeseburger each. They sipped coffee and Jericho outlined the plan. “What I do know; is that yet again, I have to show my bloody bits off!” Alex moaned and Wilson tapped her arm; “Yes, but you do it with such elegance and grace my dear.” Now that did make Owen and Jericho chuckle. Alex just nibbled on her fries and didn’t smile.

End of preview.

"THE MYSTERIOUS PAINTINGS OF CRANFIELD SOMMERS" CONTINUES IN "TEMPORAL DETECTIVES" BOOK SERIES 4 [EPISODE 10.]

There is an "ALEXANDRA" extended adult version available:

"ALEXANDRA AND THE ARTIST." 

Remember! The "ALEXANDRA" series is rated 18+ Adults ONLY.

                                 

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER

“All incidents and dialogue, and all characters with the exception of some well-known historical figures, are products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Where real-life historical figures appear, the situations, incidents, and dialogues concerning those persons are entirely fictional and are not intended to depict actual events or to change the entirely fictional nature of the work. In all other respects, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.” 

CAUTION:

“SOME OF THESE EPISODES CONTAIN VERY STRONG LANGUAGE, VIOLENCE, HORROR AND SEXUAL REFERENCES. Some are RECOMMENDED suitable for persons aged 15+ years only.”

THE AUTHOR.

Copyright ©2011-2025 Stephen Williams. No reproduction of any part without permission.