It was noon when I returned to my apartment. I was all smiles and practically skipping all morning. Vanessa was sitting in the armchair and grinned when I entered.
"Look who is wearing the same clothes as yesterday," she said and wiggled her eyebrows.
I blushed a little.
"Shut up, "I mumbled.
"What is that I am hearing? My brother doing the walk of shame?" I heard a voice behind me say.
I turned and in front of the kitchen was standing my sister. My eyes widened in surprise.
"Margo!" I hugged her right away, "What are you doing here?"
"Visiting," she took a sit on the couch.
"Why didn't you call?"
"I wanted to surprise you. How are you? I would ask how are you and Matthew, but by the looks of that dancing you just did, I will guess very good."
I blushed again. One thing I really didn't want to do was talk to my sister about my sex life.
"Can we talk after I change and shower?"
"It's your apartment Ar."
It was only then that I realized that Vanessa has already left the room. I went into the bathroom. I was happy about seeing Margo again. She is the one that runs all the business so she is almost never in New York. Her real name is Morgana, but she thinks it's too long and hates all other nicknames. Morg sounds like 'Morgue' which is depressing and Morgi is just stupid. This is her exact quote. We tried Anna for her middle name Annabelle, but it didn't stick.
So, Margo, it was. We get along quite well, I mean sure we bicker and fight but when it comes down to it we are always there for each other. As cheesy as it sounds. After our parents died we grew even closer. She saved me. As an older sibling (by a year) it was my responsibility and duty to inherit and run the company. We produce yachts, ships, and luxury cruises. My father wanted to mould a perfect heir, businessman and a competent leader out of me. Let's just say he failed, but that doesn't mean he didn't try.
All of his attention was on me which led to him completely missing the fact that Margo was actually interested in economy and... stuff like that. Her, on the other hand, was completely suffocated by our mothers' attention. And like me, she didn't appreciate it. She was constantly reminded of how to be a 'lady' and how she is going to get married someday. She always wore dresses and skirts, even in winter. I don't even think that she ever wore pants in my mothers' presence. Both of our parents were old-fashioned. Mom a lot more than dad. Mothers' name was Lara and was a Slovenian but lived in England and was a part of high society her whole life. She taught us her language, which proved to be useful. She died in a car accident when I was 15 and Margo 14.
To be honest I didn't really hit me that hard since I hardly spent time with her. But for my sister, I actually don't know. Neither of us cried, but she was always so good at hiding her feeling, she could've been devastated and I wouldn't know. She did come to her funeral in a pantsuit so take out of that what you will. I personally think it's the biggest ˝fuck you˝ she could've given her.
Father became stricter after her death and when it was time for us to go to university, he enrolled me in all the business classes I really didn't want to take. I took a gap year because Margo had a plan, which saved my ass. She signed up for classes I wanted and then we made a switch. It was a good plan, but it didn't last long. When father found out he was furious. Upon seeing her results though, he figured out that he was spending his time on the wrong child. He died of a brain aneurysm when we were 20 and 19. Him we did mourn. Quite furiously. He was strict and distant, but still a great father.
I came out of my room and sat beside her. She instantly turned to me: "So tell me, how's work? Still fighting with that partner of yours?"
"He couldn't have changed that much since the last time we spoke."
"So I am taking that as a yes."
"Mhm. How was Morocco?"
"Exhausting! You know the heat is not my thing."
I nodded. We were quiet for a moment until she spoke again: " I went to our house and they said you haven't been there all year."
"So? I don't even know why you need to go."
By house, she means our England estate and it's more of a mansion than a house.
"Because then I don't feel like it's useless that I pay for cleaning and maintenance."
"Then don't."
"And also, because it's our home."
"Our 'home' was a bunch of interchangeable hotels and apartments."
She frowned: "You know what I mean. A real home. Where we spent most of our childhood. You promised you would go at least once a year."
I scratched the back of my head. I did promise that.
"Fine. I was actually thinking of taking Matthew there for Christmas."
Her face brightened and she squealed: "That is so sweet and sappy, but so CUTE!!"
She was usually so...all business that even I sometimes forget how she is actually like. I and she are, personality-wise, very different. She usually doesn't show her feelings unlike me. She is more put together and serious (in public at least). Neither of us is naive, but she is more of a realist while I was more of an optimist. On the other hand, she is a lot more bubbly and socially awkward.
"Yeah, we have an anniversary in about two weeks. I am going to ask him then."
She smacked my arm and smiled widely: "I am so proud of you."
I smiled back when my phone buzzed. It was a message from Lukas.
"The boyfriends' name is David Crane, his best friend had an accident so he went to the hospital with him. He didn't do it. She usually comes to him by bike. But I think I found something. Come to the office."
X
When I entered the office, he was already pacing. He stopped abruptly to acknowledge that I came in: "Good you are here. Sit."
I was kind of weirded out. He looked like a bunny on heroin. Super hyperactive and twitchy. I didn't move, just watched him. He was dressed in a suit. HOW?! It's a fucking Saturday. Does he think it's illegal to step into this building without one? Because the last time I checked it wasn't a workday. I mean, I am wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt and nobody is arresting me. He noticed my staring.
"Sit, sit, sit," he commanded.
"Um, Lukas?"
His head snapped to me: "Yeah?"
"What, uh, are you ok?"
"Mhm, Red Bull is doing it for me."
I sat down on my chair very slowly, with my eyes still glued on him: " How many have you had?"
"Oh, who is count-Six."
My eyebrows shot up in surprise: "Six?!"
"Maybe eight."
"Eight?!"
"Yup. Been up all night."
"What?! Why?"
"Didn't want to call you unless I had something."
"Ok. What do you have?"
He slammed two pictures in front of me. I jumped a little. One was a picture of the store ( of the rooms to be more precise) before the fire and the other after.
"Notice something missing?"
"Everything is ruined, so yeah, a lot of things are missing."
He pointed to a vase.
"Look."
"Just get to the point."
Then he pointed on the same spot on the after picture. The vase wasn't in a glass box anymore.
"So? Everything here is either burned or broken."
"Where are the shards than? They are not on the floor. And the glass looks like it was broken on purpose."
"That stand was obviously burned and it did collapse, so it's not so hard to assume the box broke like that when it fell to the floor. There are a lot of shards on the floor, the vase could be mixed in."
"Look who lives inside the box now!"
"If I suggested that, you would have just looked at me disapprovingly and then completely shut me down."
"No. I only do that when you suggest something idiotic. Which is almost always, but not when it makes sense."
I scanned his face. Bright green eyes wide and he was biting hard on his bottom lip. His hands were shaking, due to Red Bull probably. The interesting thing was that he really wanted me to listen to him.
"Ok," I said slowly.
He breathed out, relieved.
"This is Chinese pottery. I have no idea what dynasty it is, but it looks old and expensive. Someone could have broken in, stolen it then created the fire to cover the tracks. They could even had a universal key. If the arson was so well executed and they left nothing behind, they could have been professionals. "
I went over this new information in my head when I remembered something: "When I was reading through the family emails there was a whole fight around some Chinese vase. If I'm not mistaken, the oldest son wanted to sell it. It was supposed to be worth a fortune. He said he already found a buyer."
His eyebrows furrowed: "But he couldn't have stolen it. He was out of the country. His alibi is solid. And the phone records don't show any..."
"I'm just saying if it was that valuable, maybe the buyers chose to take it themselves."
"If we can prove that someone stole the vase and therefore burned the store, that will show that the family didn't do it. But we have to find it."
I pulled out my phone: "Already on it."
I called a number and put the phone on speaker.
"Hey, Aron! Long time no hear."
"Yo, Richie!"
We've never actually met in person, but he has been my go-to man when I needed something since I was 15 and couldn't find some super rare Yugioh card. He worked for my father before, but now it's me and Margo that use his services.
"How are you, man?"
"Good, thanks. Listen, I need something."
"Tell."
"It's a vase. Chinese origin. Old. Might have been put on the market about a month ago."
He was quiet for a moment.
"Uh, I think I heard something. Give me a minute."
There was an awkward silence between me and Lukas, who looked extremely focused. Richies' voice filled the room once more.
"Yeah, I knew I heard something. Extremely valuable and hugely sought out. Ping dynasty. Beautiful piece. The only thing is that it is held in one of those exclusive closed off auctions."
"Can you get me in?"
"No chance. It's a miracle that I could give you that much information as it is. I can give you a number, but I know this group. No way they let you in if they don't know you."
How do they get new members then?
"I think they will. Send me the number. I'll do the rest."
"Ok. Good luck."
"You'll get the check in the mail."
"Forget it. That one is on me."
I chuckled: "Ok. Thank you. Bye."
"Bye."
I ended the call. Moments later I received a message. A phone number and the name of the auction.
When I called, the person on the other line picked up almost immediately: " Hello, how may I help you?"
"Yes hello. I'm interested in an upcoming auction. Asian artefacts."
"Are you a member?"
"No, but..."
"Than I am sorry sir, but can't give you any information."
"Oh, I am sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Aron Spencer."
"Oh."
"Will you be so kind and direct me to whoever is in charge."
"Of-of course sir. I am putting you through."
I smirked. Lukas looked at me surprised: "How much pull do you have?"
I chuckled: " You have no idea."
"Hello? Mr Spencer?" said woman's voice on the other line.
"Yes, thank you for agreeing to talk to me."
"My pleasure," she sounded eager: "Is there any piece you are particularly interested in?"
"Yes, a Chineses vase. Ping dynasty. I want to know who brought it and when. I want to send some of my people to look it over. I don't want to doubt the legitimacy that you actually have it."
Lukas started biting his bottom lip again.
"The sender was anonymous. It was sent to us on the 28th of October at 2.03 am and delivered the next day."
"Ok thank you."
"Are you interested in becoming a member?"
"We will keep in touch, thank you."
When I finished the call I glanced at Lukas. He was on his feet again.
"That was three hours after the fire started."
He nodded: "That means that whoever stole the vase and was now selling it had to also start the fire. Since none of the family members had enough time to pull that off in less than three hours since they were all pretty far away from the house. That means the insurance agency is in the wrong and our work is done."
He flashed me his winning smirk.
"What? We don't know who did it."
He shrugged: "That's not our job. We had to prove that the family didn't start the fire, which we did. Let the policemen run after the criminal. I will tell Vicky and we can write the report on Monday."
"But..."
"Look, you can go and play a detective, but I am done and going to bed."
Red Bull must be wearing off. Only now I could see how tired he really was. I watched him as he opened the door, but stopped. He turned to me. His eyes found mine.
"Good job Spencer."
I smiled and wanted to say "you too", but he was already out the door.