his late 20âs, about five foot seven and could be armed.â
âYouâre not pulling my leg are you?â
âThis is serious detective!â
âOkay, Iâm on my way. Donât engage him yourself and donât spook him.â
âRight. And bring Tanya, sheâll be of some help.â
Detective Reinhart agreed and hung up.
Ezra slipped his phone into his back pocket and started toward the Japanese Sword Exhibit. As he turned he saw something that made him double take. Addie rounded the corner, smiled, and waved jovially. She walked up to Ezra and put her gloved hands on her hips, scolding him like a worried mother.
âIâve been looking everywhere for you!â
âWhat are you doing here Addie?â Ezra asked, shocked at her presence but somehow, secretly, glad she was there.
âI heard you guys talking at the bus stop and again in Mr. Caseyâs class. I came to see what the big deal with this place was.â
Addie flipped her wavy blonde hair and waited for Ezra to offer an explanation.
âLook, I donât know what you heard, but, the police are about to show up and it might get dangerous here.â
âPlease,â she said mockingly, âI was born for this kind of thing.â
Ezra thought for a moment and nodded reluctantly. If she followed him all the way to the museum there wasnât much point in stopping her now.
âStay behind me. Iâm going to the exhibit and talking to a man named Kenji. Just, please donât say anything to spook him. Weâre only going to occupy him until the police get here.â
âGot it.â
Ezra had a bad feeling, but he shook it off, thinking it was only nerves. They entered the Exhibit and saw Madison and Mason checking out a display and conversing with Kenji. Ezra approached them slowly, eyes always focused on Kenji, watching to make sure he didnât make a sudden move. From Ezraâs angle Kenji seemed like his normal, happy self. But, Ezra knew now that it was only a disguise.
The air was thick with the scent of danger. Addie must have felt it too because she grabbed Ezraâs arm and held on tight. Her hands were cold on his arm and he felt even more anxiety creep up his spine; if his knees werenât locked in place they would have collapsed in a pile of jelly. He broke his gaze with Kenji and looked into Addieâs eyes. She was clearly frightened. He interlocked his hand with hers and held on tight.
âWait here. Itâll be okay, I promise.â
11
Ezra walked up behind Kenji as quietly as he could. Madison and Mason saw him coming but focused their attention on Kenji, who was telling them the story of Masamune.
âYou wouldnât want to tell them that story, Kenji.â
Kenji jumped slightly and turned to face Ezra.
âYou. Enjoying the exhibit one last time?â Kenji said and smiled.
âI suppose youâve heard by now that Tanya has been taken into custody.â
âThe curator told me only minutes ago. That really is most unfortunate.â
âIâm just glad they caught the thief,â Ezra said. âFor a while I was worried they would get away with one of Japanâs National Treasures.â
âIt truly is a beauty and Iâm thrilled that when it is found it will be returned safely,â Kenji said as earnestly as he could.
Kenjiâs mouth curled upward into a smile, as if to taunt Ezra.
âDo you know how the thief did it?â Ezra asked.
âI can only assume she had a key to the display and knew the security system well. Maybe she used some hairspray to see the exhibitâs lasers, but not being there I wouldnât know for sure.â
âRemember when we first met? You told me a story about your grandfather and the Masamune swords.â
âI have a lot of stories, refresh my memory.â
âYour grandfather, Hatake Okazaki, taught you everything he knew about Masamune the