Page 8 of One Last Step

He tilts his head.“Wilcox.”His eyes widen.“Ah.You are Sophie’s new governess.”

I nod.“I arrived here yesterday evening.”

"Wonderful.I am happy to meet you, Mary.I am Dr Hans Weber, Associate Professor of History for the University of Geneva.As you may have guessed, Swiss Horology is a specialty of mine."

“A wonderful subject.I find time fascinating.”

“Time iseverything,” he agrees.His eyes light up with the passion all academics show when discussing their favorite subjects.“It is what allows us to truly understand everything.We can put events in their place and thus determine the nature of our world, the nature of ourselves, and the nature of growth.Everyone understands this, but not everyone can articulate it.”

Before I can reply, Elena stalks into the exhibit.I turn to greet her, but the greeting dies on my lips when I see her face.She is red-faced and tense, her breath coming in huffing gasps, her eyes on the verge of tears.“Ah.Hans.I didn’t realize you were here.”

“I just arrived, Elena.Is something the matter?”

She sighs and runs her hands through her hair.“The pocket watch.It’s gone.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Hans frowns.“What pocket watch?”

“Thepocket watch,” Elena snaps.“The Presidential pocket watch.”

His eyes widen."Ah.Well, that's serious."

“Of course it’s serious,” she replies.“That watch was commissioned by President Jonas Furrer in 1648.It’s one of Georges Rousseau’s finest works, and it’s missing.”

“When did you see it last?”I ask, trying to keep my voice soothing.Elena’s nearly shouting, and guests are starting to notice.

"I saw it in its display earlier this morning when I opened the museum," she replies."Right where it belongs.Somehow, within the past six hours, it's gone missing.Where is it?"

I blink.I’m not sure if she’s asking rhetorically or if she actually expects me to give her an answer.She clears that up a moment later by asking, “Do you know where it is?”

I remind myself to remain calm.“I don’t.I don’t recall ever seeing that particular piece.”

“It’s in the Georges Rousseau exhibit.I showed you last night.”

“Oh.You mean the grandfather clock exhibit?”

She rolls her eyes.“He also made pocket watches and table clocks.”

“He made a great many clocks,” Hans interrupts.“I’m sure Miss Wilcox is truly unaware of the watch you’re describing.”

I don’t like the fact that Hans feels a need to defend me.It suggests that Elena is actually accusing me, but that makes no sense.Why would she think me a thief?What possible reason would I have to steal a four-hundred-year-old pocket watch?

She runs her hands through her hair.“That watch is priceless, Hans.It was appraised at over six million francs.”

Ah.Well, that’s a good reason.I have an estate left me by my father, so I don’t need the money, but I could see why she might suspect someone of stealing it.“Perhaps we should call the police.”

“Yes,” she agrees.“I’ll call them.In the meantime, I’m closing the museum.No one leaves until they’ve been searched.”

My eyes widen.“Elena, you can’t do that.”

“The hell I can’t!”she snaps.

I take a step back.The pleasant, charming woman I meet last night is gone.In her place is a snarling banshee whose fear has driven her to anger.

“Elena,” I try calmly.“Please listen.You can’t hold people against their will.You have security cameras, yes?”

“I don’t want to catch the thiefafterhe escapes.Or she.”

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