#Ulf is a forger and a lockpick

[thelastranger]

Tracking Down Ulf

For Ulf, there's no dramatic place to find him like the bowels of Skandia for Stig and Hal or guy to track down like for Lydia. It's as simple as finding the address Ulf had scribbled on a scrap of paper that Jesper had laying around on his messy desk and knocking on the apartment door hours later.

Someone calls out a lazy "come in" in response and Jesper pushes open the door, noting an elaborate lock and alarm system, one that Ulf could break into in a minute. The apartment is wide and airy, though little sunlight comes through the windows. The white walls and open floor plan only accentuate the massive amount of colorful art pieces that are tossed haphazardly around. There's marble statues, copies of various state declarations, and a piece that Jesper swears is a Pollock. 

Ulf is lazing about on his sofa, in an apartment that is too big for one person, but he gets up when he sees his friend. 

"Jesper!" The two men hug and slap each other on the back. Ulf takes a step back and looks Jesper up and down. "You seem to have been doing quite fine for yourself, huh?"

Jesper can't contain his grin. "Speak for yourself. What type of painting is that? Picasso? Monet?"

Ulf gives a modest shrug that Jesper knows all too well conceals a smug celebration under it. "I earn a decent living."

"I'll say. Where'd you get that piece?" 

"Bought it from an eccentric collector who felt it was worth a fortune." Given that Ulf is a master forger, Jesper highly doubts that this piece is anything but an Ulf original and he's proud of his friend for that.

"What all do you know about the Hallasholm Museum of Natural History?" askes Jesper as he settles into the puffy armchair Ulf waved at. Ulf brightens at the question. 

"There's this brilliant forgery of some ancient king's letters that no one has noticed yet and whoever did it is my hero. Medieval forgers were top level; wish I could've met the guy. They've also got some great lock systems there."

"How do you feel about jewels?" 

"I'm more of an art man myself but I may know someone who could do it," Here Ulf paused, choosing his words carefully and keeping his face deliberately blank. "I assume that's what you're asking."

"Oh it is." 

Ulf glances to the back of the room where there's a door at the side. "Whatever you need, you know you can get it from me." A beat passes and Ulf nods as if to reaffirm his statement. Jesper appreciates the candidness from his old friend and he knows it's time to wrap up this visit so the magic could get started. 

"I'm going to need replicas of these jewels. And your expertise in lock picking of course." A piece of paper was handed to Ulf and he whistled at the sight. 

"It'll take time. That's a lot more than expected."

"You've got three weeks."

Ulf grinned. "Done."