Page 18 of Artifacts

The store was far from crowded, with only a middle-aged couple browsing. Elliot had been on his way to attend to them when Darrell had entered.

“Jonas, could you…” Elliot gave a wave toward the old piano and the collection of sheet music on it that had attracted the couple. He received a nod in reply. “In my office?” He led the way to the back of the store. Aldric was used to the place now and it felt familiar to him, but he wondered what Darrell made of it. Would he ever get the chance to ask him?

Elliot was the first through the office door, and once behind his desk, he gestured to them to pull up chairs in the small room.

“Have you caught who did it? Is it known why Aldric was attacked?” Elliot demanded.

“No. No, sorry, I mean there’s no new developments in that area at all.” Darrell took out his notebook.

“Then why are you here?” Aldric almost shouted.

“I’ve just come from the Buckman estate, out at The Dominion,” Darrell pivoted slightly, to include both Aldric and Elliot in his reply.

“I bought several items from there,” Elliot immediately replied. “Is there a problem with one or more of them?”

“You bought items belonging to the late Buck Buckman. From his study?”

Elliot nodded. “I can show you. Several are displayed.”

“There’s been some vandalism up at the property. Broken windows and graffiti.”

“Why are you telling us all this?” Aldric couldn’t keep quiet any longer. “None of the things you’re saying seem connected.”

“Unless the officer is accusing us,” Elliot said to Aldric, his tone one of disbelief.

“No, sir, I am not. Mrs. Buckman believes she shouldn’t have sold certain things of her husband’s that he liked a lot. Little puzzle boxes?”

“Andthat’snot connected to anything else you’ve said, either,” Aldric butted in. The sound of the piano being played out in the store and filtering through to the office seemed fitting—it was just as random as everything else Aldric was hearing.

“Mrs. Buckman’s belief is that her late husband wants those small boxes, made of different-colored woods making mosaic patterns, returned to him, so he can be buried with them. If you’d like to speak to her, she’d be happy to take your call.”

“She wants the stuff from the blind sale back?” Aldric was doing his best to get it straight and still didn’t understand where the house being vandalized or the attack on him fitted in.

“But I bought the items fair and square!” Elliot opened a drawer, perhaps to look for the receipts, but closed it again. “And any shopkeeper buys goods intending to make a profit on them. The Buckman curios are excellent examples of smalls.”

‘“Smalls?”’ Darrell asked.

“Small-sized vintage collectibles ideal for display cabinets and shelves,” Aldric parroted. He’d been studying the store’s reference books and guides every spare minute he got.

“Quite.” Elliot gave him a proud beam. “Trinkets like that make very good walkout items.”

“Let me guess, small things a customer can walk out of a store with?” Darrell asked.

“Aldric, you have a rival!” Elliot patted his desk.

Darrell had a nice smile, Aldric noticed. It made his green eyes lighten a shade and his freckles stand out, somehow.

“But all joking aside, Officer, Jonas, my other employee, has already started researching the curios collection and looking into possible points of resale, such as an upcoming auction in two weeks. He also has knowledge of collectors of similar artifacts whom we are planning to contact, to gauge their interest in buying. Thank you for your visit. Please let us know of developments in Aldric’s case, should there be any. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a store to run.” Elliot stood, his dismissal clear, and Aldric and Darrell got to their feet too.

Darrell motioned Aldric out of the office ahead of him. A thought occurred to Aldric. “You don’t think this Mrs. Buckman will come here and try to take those things, do you?”

Elliot marched past them before Darrell could answer. “Well, let’s make it a little harder for her should she attempt that!” He crossed to the display table where Aldric, under his direction, had laid out the curios. Elliot liked to group goods by theme, so even though the oddities and curiosities were of different origin or date, they were set out together. Elliot picked up the wooden puzzle boxes, folding his arms to his chest to carry them all.

“I’m taking these to Sally,” he called, so Jonas could hear.

“Is that another antiques trade term?” Darrell asked Aldric, who shook his head and beckoned Darrell closer to whisper.

“It’s what Elliot calls the walk-in safe. The secure room with the keypad lock.” He tilted his head to indicate the back of the store, from where they’d just come.

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