Smith and Westen Mysteries

A Picasso disappears en route from Chicago to New Hampshire. While the truck is moving. The multi-million dollar painting is there, then it’s not. It’s gone, but it can’t be.

A priceless Egyptian vase disappears in front of six witnesses. And, of course, the thief.... It's there, then poof, it's gone. The ink is barely dry on snake-lover Phoebe Smith and Susie Homemaker Westen Hughes’ licenses. Their bank accounts are bursting from their previous windfall, yet they’re anxious to get back to work. Then the call comes. During the unveiling of a local college’s exhibit, the vase worth $1.75 million disappears in front of seven people. Smith and Westen dodge threats and physical attacks by the suspects.

Take $2 million in bank securities and a bank manager who moonlights as a magician. Blend well, then add: a nagging shrew of a wife, a high-maintenance daughter in debt up to her ears, a talk show host who foots too many of the family bills, a theater producer who's never around when people need him, and it's clear Gabe Heinz has two million reasons to disappear. He is in the middle of his vanishing act on stage when he does just that - vanish before a sell-out crowd, along with $2 million in securities from the bank where he's vice president.