The Case of the French China: Chapters 3 and 4
3
“What happened here?!” The landlord screamed at Michael Prescott the next morning, “I’m getting reports of a ruckus occurring on this floor last night at 11:13 PM, so I come up here to investigate, and what do I find? Bullet holes next to the door to the stairwell, more bullet holes in your door, and even more bullet holes in the wall right where an urn was, an urn that’s now in pieces! Dang it Prescott, what in the world happened?’’
“I heard a noise.” Prescott answered, unabashed, “I went out to investigate, and I got shot at, so I returned fire.”
“Darn it, Prescott, what am I going to do?” The landlord asked, shaking his head, “You’re costing me a fortune, darn it.”
As the landlord left, Prescott shut the door, he went to call Commissioner Thompson about Alejandro Baraclough. When he dialed the number, however, it went to his secretary instead. “New York Police Department, how may I help you?” the voice answered pleasantly.
“May I talk to Commissioner Thompson, please?” Michael asked.
“I’m afraid he is unavailable right now. Can you give your name and phone number and I can try to connect you with him later.” the voice answered.
“Never mind, I’ll call again later.” Michael told the person on the other end, and then hung up.
Once he had made sure that the phone had hung up, he grabbed his fedora, suit and trench coat, put them on, and then he grabbed two packs of cigarettes, three loaded magazines of ammunition, and put those in his pockets. Finally, he grabbed his Colt and put that in his shoulder holster. Michael Prescott knew something was up, and that it involved Commissioner Jack Thompson. Other than that, he knew nothing, but he knew that he would solve it. Two mysteries in two days, Michael Prescott thought to himself as he ran out the door of his office, I’m on a roll.
Michael Prescott decided to get breakfast at his favorite diner, the Carnegie Diner and Cafe at 205 W 57th Street, before going to the precinct. While he was there, he realized that the commissioner had talked to him the day before. That means that the Commissioner went missing between then and this morning, Michael thought, I might be onto something. He then downed his coffee, tipped the waiter, and headed out the door. He decided to take the subway, as the police station was right outside a stop. But by the time he got there, the station was abuzz with news about the commissioner being missing. “He went into his office, and then BAM! he disappeared!” one officer told Michael.
“I never even saw him,” another officer, who was seated at his desk right by the door, told him, “And I’ve been sitting here all day!”
So he didn’t leave through the door, Michael thought, and the only exit would be the window, and it’s a five-foot drop, and no one heard a noise, but the room is soundproof.
“May I enter his office?” he asked the secretary.
“Go ahead.” she responded in a bored, I-don’t-care tone as she put lipstick on.
As Michael entered, he immediately noticed something. The door to the coat closet hung ajar, as if something or someone had burst through it, Or hastily shoved something, or someone, in, Michael thought. When he went to investigate, he found Commissioner Thompson lying on the floor, bound and gagged. He went to work untying the commissioner at once. Once he did, he helped the commissioner sit down in a chair.
“This man burst in through the window, tied me up, and threw me in the closet, and then he just left, the same way that he came: through the window.” The commissioner told Michael Prescott as he sipped a shot of whiskey that Michael had poured for him, as to help calm the nerves.
“ He also left a message,” Prescott told Commissioner Thompson, “One that said Take heed, for I know your secrets. Best regards, The Narbengesicht.”
“What does that mean?” the commissioner asked, sounding confused.
“It means our thief is German.” Prescott told him, “First, the China set was stolen, and a note with the German word for revenge, Rache, was left. Next, I found out that a mystery person with a European accent, then you get tied up and have a note with the German word for scarface, Narbengesicht, is found.”
“Hmm.” Commissioner Thompson replied. “Do you think you know who the thief is?”
“Maybe. I need to talk to Alejandro Baraclough first.” Prescott informed him, “Do you have his address?”
“It’s right here.” Thomspon told him as he flipped through his book of contacts, “Here we go! It’s right next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”
As he told Prescott the address, Prescott asked for the address of the Fuerstenberg’s.
“Why do you need their address?” Thompson inquired.
“A hunch.” Prescott said.
“Well then, who am I to contradict you?” Thompson told him, “The Fuerstenberg’s live in Queens, at the Steinway Mansion on 41st street.”
“Thanks. I should have closed this case by this time next week.” Michael Prescott told Commissioner Thompson as walked out the door, tipping his hat.
4
Before he went to the Baraclough’s, Michael Prescott decided to head back to his place to update his evidence board, and then he went to the Birdhouse Jazz Club to update Dorothy on the investigation, plus, he wanted something to eat.
“Hey, is Dorothy in?” Michael asked the waitress.
“Yep. Would you like to sit in her area?” the waitress responded.
“Actually, I need to talk to her.” Michael told her, “Is that possible?”
“Maybe.” she answered, “But we’re pretty busy, so I’ll need to talk to her about it. Can I get a name?”
“Prescott.” Michael told her, “And can I get a seat at the bar?”
Sure. Go ahead and sit down, and I’ll go talk to Dorothy.” The waitress told him.
“Great.” Michael told her, and went to sit down.
Once he got to the bar, he ordered a beer, a plate of baby-back ribs, and a side of fries. As he waited for Dorothy, he watched the band that was playing on stage. It was the same band that had been playing yesterday, so Michael spent the time studying each person. He suddenly realized why he thought he recognized the pianist. It was Anne Richie, who had helped him out with a past case. Maybe she can help me with this case, Michael thought, then I have more people helping out, making it easier to solve this case.
“Michael!” a voice called out.
Michael turned around to see who it was, and when he saw that it was Dorothy, he responded. “How’ve you been?”
“Fine. But I think I have a clue. The mystery man had a German accent, not an Italian one.” Dorothy told him.
“That just confirmed my suspicions.” Michael replied.
“Did you find something else out?” Dorothy asked him.
“Yes. I think our mystery man, the thief, and the person who tried to abduct Commissioner Thompson are the same person. A German, no less.” Michael explained to Dorothy.
“Well, then, what do you need?” Dorothy asked, wanting to help.
“I need to talk to Anne Richie, the pianist in that band.” Michael told her, “Can you both meet me at my office tonight?”
“I can try.” Dorothy replied, “But I can’t guarantee anything.”
“That’s fine. I just need to talk to both of you.” Michael told her as he got up to leave.
Michael Prescott, after exiting the club, decided to take the subway to Queens to meet the Fuerstenberg’s at their house. He had met Mr. Fuerstenberg once, when he was investigating the disappearance of a prominent politician (he later found out that the politician had taken a vacation to Europe without telling anyone). As he got on, he realized that he had forgotten an exceptionally vital element of his investigation. I forgot to ask Mr. Baraclough how much the stolen French China is worth, Michael thought to himself. Once the subway arrived at his stop, he got off the train and walked to the Steinway Mansion. As soon as he knocked on the door, a maid answered the door. “May I help you?” the maid asked meekly.
“Is Mr. Fuerstenberg home?” Michael asked politely.
“He is, but is unfortunately not available right now.” the maid told him, “But if you tell me your name I can see if he can meet up with you.”
“Ok. Michael Prescott.” he told her.
As he said his name, the maid twitched uncomfortably, but quickly took control of herself. “Ok. I’ll tell him you called.” she responded kindly, then shut the door.
“Hmph. Not available right now?” Michael muttered to himself. “Guess I came out here for nothing.”
Due to this, he decided to head back to his place before going to the Baracloughs. As he got on the subway, he decided to write down his clues. Once he finished, he reviewed the clues:
Clues:
The China set was supposed to be in a bulletproof case.
Three bullet casings from a Smith & Wesson .38 revolver were found.
The bullets were shot at a clock, stopping it at 12:30 AM sharp.
My taxi went by the museum at 12:15 AM
Thief is fluent in German
Baraclough has a European accent
As Michael finished reviewing his notes, the subway reached his stop. As he got off, he hurried up the steps, hailed a taxi, told the cab driver to head to his place, pronto. Michael had a bad feeling about something, and it was only getting worse.
Once Michael Prescott arrived at his place, he opened the door with his loaded Colt in his hand, ready for someone to ambush him. Sure enough, the second he stepped inside, someone tackled him from the side. “What in the world?” he cried out.
“Michael!” his attacker exclaimed.
“Anne?” he asked, confused, “How did you-”
“Get in?” she finished, “Dorothy has a key.”
“Dorothy? She’s here too?” he inquired.
“Yes.” Dorothy answered as she turned on the lights, “Sorry we came in without you. We didn’t feel safe out there.”
“It’s fine.” Michael assured her. “I wouldn’t feel safe out there too. Did you see the bullet holes?”
“That’s the reason we came in.” Anne told him.
Once Michael had sat down at his desk, Anne asked him a question. “Why did you want to talk to me? Is it about the last time we worked together?”
“No. Have you heard about French China theft?” Michael asked.
“Of course. The New York Times is having a field day about it.” Anne answered back.
“Good. Have both of you looked at my evidence board over there?” Michael told them as he gestured towards it while putting a cigarette in his mouth.
Anne and Dorothy nodded simultaneously, as Michael lit the cigarette with his lighter.
“Good. I need to finish updating it, but it has the general information needed.” Michael explained. “The Mysterious Stranger is the thief, and he is German.”
“Are you sure the thief is a he?” Dorothy asked him.
“Yes.” Michael confirmed, “All the evidence points to it. The handwriting was hard and forceful, as a man would write. The fingerprints taken from the gun are large and well-rounded.”
“Do you know what time the theft occurred?” Anne raised a question.
“Around 12:30 AM.”
After Michael said this, a thought occurred to him. “What if the thief broke in, smashed the display case, stole the China, and then a second person came in and shot the clock?” he reasoned aloud.
“That would mean–” Anne began.
“That the French China was stolen earlier than everyone thinks.” Dorothy finished, grinning.
“I need you two to help me.” Michael to the two, and then laid out his plan.
After Dorothy and Anne had left, Michael called Mr. Baraclough, using the phone number that Commissioner Thompson had given him earlier that day. Better to call and set up a meeting than just walk up and ask to meet, like I did at Mr Fuerstenberg’s house, he thought.
“Baraclough Residence.” a sweet, pleasant voice answered after the third ring.
“This is Michael Prescott. I talked to Mr. Alejandro Baraclough yesterday, and I have some questions about the missing French China. Is it possible for me to come over to your place tomorrow?”
“Ah! Mr. Prescott, Mr. Baraclough is very excited to meet you. He has said many good things about you. He would be delighted to have you over here tomorrow. Would lunchtime work?’’
“Could we meet at his place at say, 2:30 tomorrow afternoon?” Michael answered.
“That would work.” the voice told him, and then he hung up, smiling to himself, convinced that he would be able to solve the mystery if he was able to get the answers he needed from Alejandro Baraclough himself. Later, to make sure that he could ask Mr. Baraclough the questions without hesitation, Michael made a list of questions for the meeting.
Questions:
How much was the stolen China worth?
Was the stolen China insured?
Have you ever upset any prominent businessmen?
Do you have any family members in Europe?
After rereading the questions, he decided to update his evidence board by putting up his photo of Anne and labeled it Informant, and added the same label to Dorothy. He then stepped back, satisfied, and then went to bed.
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