Free The Sword Maker's Seal by Trevor Schmidt Page A

his late 20’s, about five foot seven and could be armed.”
    â€œYou’re not pulling my leg are you?”
    â€œThis is serious detective!”
    â€œOkay, I’m on my way. Don’t engage him yourself and don’t spook him.”
    â€œRight. And bring Tanya, she’ll be of some help.”
    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.
    â€œI’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
    â€œWhat are you doing here Addie?” Ezra asked, shocked at her presence but somehow, secretly, glad she was there.
    â€œI heard you guys talking at the bus stop and again in Mr. Casey’s class. I came to see what the big deal with this place was.”
    Addie flipped her wavy blonde hair and waited for Ezra to offer an explanation.
    â€œLook, I don’t know what you heard, but, the police are about to show up and it might get dangerous here.”
    â€œPlease,” she said mockingly, “I was born for this kind of thing.”
    Ezra thought for a moment and nodded reluctantly. If she followed him all the way to the museum there wasn’t much point in stopping her now.
    â€œStay behind me. I’m going to the exhibit and talking to a man named Kenji. Just, please don’t say anything to spook him. We’re only going to occupy him until the police get here.”
    â€œGot it.”
    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 didn’t make a sudden move. From Ezra’s 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 Ezra’s 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 weren’t locked in place they would have collapsed in a pile of jelly. He broke his gaze with Kenji and looked into Addie’s eyes. She was clearly frightened. He interlocked his hand with hers and held on tight.
    â€œWait here. It’ll be okay, I promise.”

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.
    â€œYou wouldn’t want to tell them that story, Kenji.”
    Kenji jumped slightly and turned to face Ezra.
    â€œYou. Enjoying the exhibit one last time?” Kenji said and smiled.
    â€œI suppose you’ve heard by now that Tanya has been taken into custody.”
    â€œThe curator told me only minutes ago. That really is most unfortunate.”
    â€œI’m just glad they caught the thief,” Ezra said. “For a while I was worried they would get away with one of Japan’s National Treasures.”
    â€œIt truly is a beauty and I’m thrilled that when it is found it will be returned safely,” Kenji said as earnestly as he could.
    Kenji’s mouth curled upward into a smile, as if to taunt Ezra.
    â€œDo you know how the thief did it?” Ezra asked.
    â€œI can only assume she had a key to the display and knew the security system well. Maybe she used some hairspray to see the exhibit’s lasers, but not being there I wouldn’t know for sure.”
    â€œRemember when we first met? You told me a story about your grandfather and the Masamune swords.”
    â€œI have a lot of stories, refresh my memory.”
    â€œYour grandfather, Hatake Okazaki, taught you everything he knew about Masamune the