Free The Sword Maker's Seal by Trevor Schmidt

listened to their guides after the scene. The whole incident had only lasted a matter of minutes, but Ezra was still pumping with adrenaline. They had done nothing while Tanya was accused and taken away. Ezra knew in the pit of his stomach that the case was not yet complete. Something else didn’t make sense.
    â€œDid you hear what Tanya said just before she was taken away?” Ezra asked.
    â€œI don’t remember. What was it?”
    â€œShe said she wouldn’t trust Kenji Okazaki,” Ezra repeated.
    â€œSo? We know she never liked him. She was probably trying to find a way to pin it on him the entire time.”
    Madison chimed in, “You saw her. She was trying any story to get out of being arrested.”
    â€œWhen I had detention yesterday I saw a picture in the display case. The caption said that Hatake Okazaki, the descendant of Masamune Okazaki, presented a Masamune Sword to President Truman at the end of World War II.”
    â€œWhat does that have to do with anything?” Mason asked.
    â€œShut up and maybe he’ll tell you,” Madison said quickly.
    â€œWhen I first talked to Kenji he said he learned everything he knew about swords from his grandfather, Hatake Okazaki. So, Kenji is a direct descendant of Masamune!”
    Madison groaned and said, “I think I need to sit down.”
    â€œThe next time I talked to him he said he just found out the sword was real. It was Tanya who discovered Masamune’s hidden seal and alerted everyone to it the day before. Once Kenji found out it was real, he would have motive to steal it.”
    â€œWhat do we do? They already took Tanya away! I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to confront a thief whom we know has probably the best sword ever made.”
    â€œDon’t be a baby, Mason.”
    Ezra stepped between Madison and Mason.
    â€œThere’s no time for this guys.”
    At the word “guys” Madison opened her mouth to object but decided against it once she realized Ezra was in ‘serious mode.’
    â€œWe need to alert the police but keep Kenji here and keep him from running,” Ezra said.
    â€œHe’s never seen us,” Madison said. “We could pretend we’re interested in the swords and keep him talking.”
    â€œI can call the police department’s direct line and get Detective Reinhart; he’s the one who helped with the last case, the only one that would believe a tip from a fourteen year old.”
    â€œWhat about the museum security? Should we tell them?” Mason asked.
    â€œAre you kidding? Jackson Roy can hardly tie his own shoes, let alone arrest a thief!” Madison said incensed.
    â€œAlright,” Mason said hitting fist to palm. “Let’s go.”
    â€œCareful you two, we don’t know what he’s capable of,” Ezra warned.
    The twins nodded and took off down the hall to find Kenji. Ezra was left alone at the fork, looking down the hall after them. He took out his cell phone and dialed the police department’s direct line, which he made himself memorize after last year’s fiasco. The call went directly to Detective Reinhart’s desk.
    â€œDetective Reinhart.”
    â€œDetective, it’s Ezra Thorne.”
    â€œEzra! I had hoped I would never have to hear that name again. Trouble always seems to follow you.”
    â€œThe way I see it, you made detective because of last year’s debacle.”
    â€œLook, it’s not that I don’t appreciate that, it’s just I’m busy down at the station and I don’t have time to chat. We just got a suspect in questioning and I need to get going.”
    â€œWait. Tanya Brand wasn’t behind the museum heist and I can prove it.”
    â€œTanya Brand? How did you—?”
    â€œJust trust me. Get down to the museum as fast as you can, we’re stalling him now. The real thief is Kenji Okazaki. He’s a Japanese man in