Page 9 of One Last Step

She adds that last part pointedly, and I take a breath to calm myself before responding.“Call the police.Report the theft.If you hold your visitors here, you risk damaging your museum’s reputation.”

That stops her.Her lip trembles, and she sighs heavily.“Scheisse.Fine.But so help me God, if I discover the identity of the thief, I will make it my mission in life to ruin them!Oh God, if they damage that watch…”

She leaves unsaid what will happen if they damage the watch, but I imagine it’s a terrifying fate.Hans and I share a grim look when she pulls her cell phone out and dials the police.The guests have gathered at the noise, looking through the archways, eager to get a hint of what’s going on.

“Hello?”Elena says.“Yes, this is Dr.Elena Rousseau of the Chronomasters Museum.I need to report a stolen piece, a pocket watch commissioned by President Jonas Furrer.”She reddens a shade.“Yes, I know that she’s thecurrentPresident.I’m referring to the former President Furrer, the first President of the Swiss Confederation.”She reddens another shade.“It’s worth six million francs!It’s an antique, a part of our history.Damn it, send someone here now!”

A gasp ripples through the guests.Hans and I share another grim look.Then Hans suggests, “Perhaps you should have this conversation in your office.”

“What, so the thief can take more of my priceless artifacts?”she says curtly.“I’ll stay right here, thank you very much.”

The guests have started to break off and leave the museum.The police are coming now, and the more intelligent among them realize that if they’re still here when the police arrive, they might remain here long into the night.

As for Elena, she is still shouting with the dispatch officer on her phone.“I don’t appreciate how flippantly you’re treating this, Detective.”She rolls her eyes.“Fine.Officer.I just want you to take this seriously.Our history might not matter to you, but it matters a great deal to me.”There’s a brief pause, then she says, “Fine.As soon as you can.”

She hangs up and shoves the cell phone into her pocket.Her lips are so thin they’re almost invisible.She crosses her arms and taps her toes, staring past me at the wall.Behind her, the last of the guests quietly leaves the museum.The foyer door makes a soft click when it closes, and Elena stiffens at the sound.She fixes a deadly gaze on me and says, “You’re sure you don’t know where it is?”

I only just manage to keep my cool.“Ma’am, what possible reason would I have to steal a pocket watch?”

Her eyes narrow.“Yes.Thatisthe question, isn’t it?”

“I would love to hear your answer,” I say drily.

She regards me for a moment.“Have you been snooping through the clocks’ compartments?”

I do not expect to be caught off guard any more than I already am, but that question catches me off guard.“Excuse me?The compartments?”

“Yes.The automata clocks have many compartments that store the automata.Have you been snooping through them?”

“What?No.Why would I do that?”

She looks at me for a long moment.Then she shakes her head.“No reason.”

She leaves without another word, and Hans and I exchange a confused look.

I wonder why she asked about the compartments in the clocks?Could it be that the watch had a compartment too?Maybe it’s not the loss of the watch that Elena is concerned with.Maybe something else was stolen, and the watch is only the shell that hides the true mystery.

***

Ten minutes later, Inspector Jacques Moreau with the Cantonal Police introduces himself to the two of us.He is a tall, handsome man of around sixty with silvery hair and a thick handlebar mustache.Elena practically crows with relief when she sees him.“Jacques!Thank God you’re here!The pocket watch is gone!”

“So I hear,” Jacques replies drily.“You didn’t see who took it?”

“Of course I didn’t see,” Elena whines.“If I’d seen it, I wouldn’t have needed to call you.”

Jacques chuckles.“That’s a good point, I suppose.There, there, calm, Elena.We’ll find it.”

He squeezes her shoulder, then kisses her forehead.She takes a deep breath and relaxes.“Please hurry, Jacques.I’m afraid.”

“I’ll do my best.”

The change in Elena is drastic.She goes from being a polite and well-mannered academic to an emotional wreck to a vulnerable damsel in distress.My first impression of her was quite good.I’m sorry to say that my second impression of her is rather poor.

I know it’s not fair of me to say that.After all, she is missing a very valuable artifact from her museum that clearly means a lot to her.I suppose I am a little offended at her intimation that I might have stolen it.

Jacques approaches Hans and me, wearing a dark frown that I’m sure he means to be intimidating.It only makes him look ridiculous.More annoying is Elena’s triumphant smile.Does shereallythink she’s about to find the thief?

“Dr.Weber, I know you,” Jacques says, “but I haven’t yet made your acquaintance.”

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