The Sword Maker's Seal Read online

  “Do you think that’s where the thief copied the key?”

  “I don’t know, but there’s only one way to find out.”

  The three of them hurried down the street to a small store, which was nearly hidden between two restaurants. The sign above the window read Lipschitz Locks, 24/6.

  “24/6?” Mason asked.

  “He must not work on the Sabbath.”

  Mason shrugged and entered the shop. The bell on the door jangled and a curly-haired man appeared behind the counter. Ezra looked around the shop slowly before approaching the counter. Countless keys hung from the walls as well as a plethora of sample locks. The shop was stuffy and old fashioned, and Ezra half felt the need to dust or vacuum—something to make the shop suitable for customers. He winced as he felt Mrs. Thorne’s influence rub off on him.

  Mason slid his hand along one of the dusty locks and almost sneezed when a cloud of particles entered his nostrils.

  Ezra put his hands on the countertop confidently and said, “I’m here to pick up a key.”

  “I’ve never seen you before. You didn’t order a key from me,” Mr. Lipschitz said with a raspy smoker’s voice.

  “Well not me personally, no. I’m here to pick it up for Tanya Brand. She’s my mom.”

  He checked his list of clients and looked up at Ezra with a sneer crossing over his wrinkled face.

  “I haven’t made a key for a Tanya Brand either. Why don’t you just run along now children?”

  Madison leaned over the counter attempting to read the names on his sheet. When Mr. Lipschitz noticed he closed the leather-bound ledger quickly and placed it behind him on a small table.

  “Oh I get it,” Ezra said sarcastically. “He’s scared we’ll find out he’s copying keys designated as do not duplicate.”

  Madison played along, “Right. There can’t be too many key shops around here. If the police were to find out Mr. Lipschitz made an illegal copy of a key…”

  “He could go to jail as an accessory,” Mason finished.

  Mr. Lipschitz looked uneasy. His wrinkles became deeper and darker as he bowed his head.

  “What do you want from me?”

  “Just give us a minute with your ledger and we’ll keep our mouths shut.”

  He reluctantly handed his ledger to Ezra; he opened it to the previous week and looked down the line. There were no names in the ledger that rang any bells with Ezra or the twins.

  Ezra looked up at Mr. Lipschitz angrily and asked, “Who did you make the key for?”

  Mr. Lipschitz waved his hand at Ezra and spoke quietly in his ear. Ezra’s eyes opened wide and his jaw fell slightly.

  A man and woman walked into the shop, the bells on the door jingling wildly.

  Mr. Lipschitz still spoke in a hushed voice, “Now get out of here. Please.”

  Ezra and the twins left the small shop and departed for the museum.

  “Who copied Tanya’s key?” Madison asked.

  When they were outside again, Ezra said urgently, “We have to hurry.”

  Inside the Ancient Artifacts Museum, tour after tour was being led through the exhibits. Since it would only be at the museum another few days, everyone seemed to be coming out of the woodwork to see the Japanese Sword Exhibit.

  Ezra and the twins rushed through security flashing their membership badges. The curator’s blonde dolt of a nephew was working. He waved them through and then returned to his Surfer Magazine. When they came to the fork leading in one direction to administrative offices and in the other to the Japanese Sword Exhibit, a noise made Ezra freeze.

  Ezra turned and looked down toward the offices. He pressed himself against the wall and slinked slowly toward the noise, the twins following his lead. The noise they heard was a heated altercation between Tanya Brand and Mr. Roy.

  “I know what you did,” Mr. Roy said viciously in his fake British accent.

  “Frank, I told you before, my keys were stolen and I was nowhere near here when it happened!”

  “A likely story…” he said sarcastically. “One that hasn’t been confirmed by anyone.”

  Ezra noticed Tanya’s face flushing.

  “I told you! I met with Mr. Dillinger at the Hotel DeLuxe and then showed him around town. We went to the sword exhibit because he was very interested in the Masamune. I dropped him off at his hotel afterward and I went home. When I came in to work the next day I noticed the sword had been switched.”

  Mr. Roy wasn’t satisfied.

  “I led the police to believe you had a solid alibi because I never believed you would be capable of this,” he said with his phony accent fading and his voice becoming darker and booming. “If the police received a warrant to search your house, I wonder what they’d find?”

  “They wouldn’t find a thing. If you’d just listen, I’ve been working out who did it, conducting my own investigation!” Tanya said sleekly.

  As if on cue, two police officers walked past Ezra and the twins and read Tanya Brand her rights, cuffed her, and made to lead her outside.

  “Is this YOUR doing Frank?” She shrieked.

  “I’m afraid it is. You see, I’ve been doing my own research, and you’re the only person I know who could have done this. I can’t wait until they search your house and give Kenji back what rightfully belongs to his museum.”

  “I wouldn’t place so much trust in Kenji Okazaki if I were you! Did you even look into his past?” Tanya shouted while trying to worm her way out of the handcuffs but failing.

  “Take her away!” Mr. Roy commanded, his accent returning in full force.

  Ezra watched as the officers led her away past the hordes of onlookers. The spectators got more than they bargained for when coming to the museum that day. Instead of viewing artifacts of times come and gone, they witnessed history being made in front of them.

  Moments later the officers reached their squad car and loaded Tanya in the back. She looked out from the back seat, a nasty glare in her eyes. The onlookers returned to their respective tours, though few listened to their guides after the scene. The whole incident had only lasted a matter of minutes, but Ezra was still pumping with adrenaline. They had done nothing while Tanya was accused and taken away. Ezra knew in the pit of his stomach that the case was not yet complete. Something else didn’t make sense.

  “Did you hear what Tanya said just before she was taken away?” Ezra asked.

  “I don’t remember. What was it?”

  “She said she wouldn’t trust Kenji Okazaki,” Ezra repeated.

  “So? We know she never liked him. She was probably trying to find a way to pin it on him the entire time.”

  Madison chimed in, “You saw her. She was trying any story to get out of being arrested.”

  “When I had detention yesterday I saw a picture in the display case. The caption said that Hatake Okazaki, the descendant of Masamune Okazaki, presented a Masamune Sword to President Truman at the end of World War II.”

  “What does that have to do with anything?” Mason asked.

  “Shut up and maybe he’ll tell you,” Madison said quickly.

  “When I first talked to Kenji he said he learned everything he knew about swords from his grandfather, Hatake Okazaki. So, Kenji is a direct descendant of Masamune!”

  Madison groaned and said, “I think I need to sit down.”

  “The next time I talked to him he said he just found out the sword was real. It was Tanya who discovered Masamune’s hidden seal and alerted everyone to it the day before. Once Kenji found out it was real, he would have motive to steal it.”

  “What do we do? They already took Tanya away! I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t want to confront a thief whom we know has probably the best sword ever made.”

  “Don’t be a baby, Mason.”

  Ezra stepped between Madison and Mason.

  “There’s no time for this guys.”

  At the word “guys” Madison opened her mouth to object but decided against it once she realized Ezra wa
s in ‘serious mode.’

  “We need to alert the police but keep Kenji here and keep him from running,” Ezra said.

  “He’s never seen us,” Madison said. “We could pretend we’re interested in the swords and keep him talking.”

  “I can call the police department’s direct line and get Detective Reinhart; he’s the one who helped with the last case, the only one that would believe a tip from a fourteen year old.”

  “What about the museum security? Should we tell them?” Mason asked.

  “Are you kidding? Jackson Roy can hardly tie his own shoes, let alone arrest a thief!” Madison said incensed.

  “Alright,” Mason said hitting fist to palm. “Let’s go.”

  “Careful you two, we don’t know what he’s capable of,” Ezra warned.

  The twins nodded and took off down the hall to find Kenji. Ezra was left alone at the fork, looking down the hall after them. He took out his cell phone and dialed the police department’s direct line, which he made himself memorize after last year’s fiasco. The call went directly to Detective Reinhart’s desk.

  “Detective Reinhart.”

  “Detective, it’s Ezra Thorne.”

  “Ezra! I had hoped I would never have to hear that name again. Trouble always seems to follow you.”

  “The way I see it, you made detective because of last year’s debacle.”

  “Look, it’s not that I don’t appreciate that, it’s just I’m busy down at the station and I don’t have time to chat. We just got a suspect in questioning and I need to get going.”

  “Wait. Tanya Brand wasn’t behind the museum heist and I can prove it.”

  “Tanya Brand? How did you—?”

  “Just trust me. Get down to the museum as fast as you can, we’re stalling him now. The real thief is Kenji Okazaki. He’s a Japanese man in his late 20’s, about five foot seven and could be armed.”

  “You’re not pulling my leg are you?”

  “This is serious detective!”

  “Okay, I’m on my way. Don’t engage him yourself and don’t spook him.”

  “Right. And bring Tanya, she’ll be of some help.”

  Detective Reinhart agreed and hung up.

  Ezra slipped his phone into his back pocket and started toward the Japanese Sword Exhibit. As he turned he saw something that made him double take. Addie rounded the corner, smiled, and waved jovially. She walked up to Ezra and put her gloved hands on her hips, scolding him like a worried mother.

  “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

  “What are you doing here Addie?” Ezra asked, shocked at her presence but somehow, secretly, glad she was there.

  “I heard you guys talking at the bus stop and again in Mr. Casey’s class. I came to see what the big deal with this place was.”

  Addie flipped her wavy blonde hair and waited for Ezra to offer an explanation.

  “Look, I don’t know what you heard, but, the police are about to show up and it might get dangerous here.”

  “Please,” she said mockingly, “I was born for this kind of thing.”

  Ezra thought for a moment and nodded reluctantly. If she followed him all the way to the museum there wasn’t much point in stopping her now.

  “Stay behind me. I’m going to the exhibit and talking to a man named Kenji. Just, please don’t say anything to spook him. We’re only going to occupy him until the police get here.”

  “Got it.”

  Ezra had a bad feeling, but he shook it off, thinking it was only nerves. They entered the Exhibit and saw Madison and Mason checking out a display and conversing with Kenji. Ezra approached them slowly, eyes always focused on Kenji, watching to make sure he didn’t make a sudden move. From Ezra’s angle Kenji seemed like his normal, happy self. But, Ezra knew now that it was only a disguise.

  The air was thick with the scent of danger. Addie must have felt it too because she grabbed Ezra’s arm and held on tight. Her hands were cold on his arm and he felt even more anxiety creep up his spine; if his knees weren’t locked in place they would have collapsed in a pile of jelly. He broke his gaze with Kenji and looked into Addie’s eyes. She was clearly frightened. He interlocked his hand with hers and held on tight.

  “Wait here. It’ll be okay, I promise.”

  11

  Ezra walked up behind Kenji as quietly as he could. Madison and Mason saw him coming but focused their attention on Kenji, who was telling them the story of Masamune.

  “You wouldn’t want to tell them that story, Kenji.”

  Kenji jumped slightly and turned to face Ezra.

  “You. Enjoying the exhibit one last time?” Kenji said and smiled.

  “I suppose you’ve heard by now that Tanya has been taken into custody.”

  “The curator told me only minutes ago. That really is most unfortunate.”

  “I’m just glad they caught the thief,” Ezra said. “For a while I was worried they would get away with one of Japan’s National Treasures.”

  “It truly is a beauty and I’m thrilled that when it is found it will be returned safely,” Kenji said as earnestly as he could.

  Kenji’s mouth curled upward into a smile, as if to taunt Ezra.

  “Do you know how the thief did it?” Ezra asked.

  “I can only assume she had a key to the display and knew the security system well. Maybe she used some hairspray to see the exhibit’s lasers, but not being there I wouldn’t know for sure.”

  “Remember when we first met? You told me a story about your grandfather and the Masamune swords.”

  “I have a lot of stories, refresh my memory.”

  “Your grandfather, Hatake Okazaki, taught you everything he knew about Masamune the Sword Maker and his swords. You must know quite a bit, huh?”

  “I know more than anyone else on the subject, yes.”

  “Do you? That sword in the case is a fake Masamune, tell me why.”

  “The seal is a forgery. Tanya told everyone that.”

  “I want you to tell me. After all, you’re the resident sword expert now.”

  Kenji’s smile faded and he was at a loss for words.

  “That sword,” Kenji pointed at the sword that replaced the Masamune, “That sword came as a part of the exhibit, it was probably one of Masamune’s students or imitators that made it. It’s still a very ancient and respectable sword.”

  “But it isn’t a Masamune.”

  Kenji’s face turned red with anger. “No,” he said through his teeth.

  Kenji turned his gaze up and behind Ezra then cursed. Reinhart ran into view with Detective Hayden and Tanya closely behind, still cuffed and looking sour as ever. Detective Reinhart not a tall man, but he made up for his stocky build with a chiseled face that intimidated even his own partner. His short raven hair was accented with a five o’clock shadow; making his face even darker.

  Detective Reinhart’s partner was named Hayden. The man wasn’t extraordinarily tall, nor was he extraordinarily strong. Hayden actually wasn’t a bit extraordinary. He was in the middle of his class at the academy, he had an average IQ, in fact, the only thing that made him above average at all was how ludicrously average he was. Hayden was still a rookie, though he tried not to let it show. Ezra turned his gaze back to Kenji and smiled.

  “Let me tell you how you did it,” Ezra said with his arms folded—all jitters ceasing abruptly and an air of confidence surrounding him.

  Madison and Mason took a few steps back then ran to join Addie.

  “The afternoon before the robbery you joined Mr. Roy and Tanya in the back security station to celebrate Jackson’s birthday. While they were distracted you switched the security tape for the Japanese Sword Exhibit to a prerecorded tape that didn’t show any activity at all. You switched it to play instead of record. Jackson Roy wouldn’t know the difference, he was busy watching TV, only glancing occasionally at the security screens.”

  Kenji interrupted, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

&nb
sp; “Without any cameras watching, you waited for the other guard to do rounds, then used a bottle of hairspray to get past the lasers, used the copy of Tanya’s key you made earlier that day and took the sword.”

  Ezra paused for a deep breath.

  “What I didn’t get for a long time was that you weren’t the one to put a sword back in the case. It happened the next morning, when Tanya came in to work and the Masamune was nowhere to be found. Tanya put a sword in its place, waited until Mr. Roy came in, then told him the sword was a fake and that the real one had been stolen.”

  Kenji clenched his fists.

  “Why would she do that?” Mason asked. “Why not just set off the alarm or call the police?”

  “Let’s ask her,” Ezra said then turned to Tanya. “Tell him why.”

  “I guess there’s no point in hiding it now,” Tanya said. “I took the real sword for safe keeping just hours after the museum closed. I heard that Kenji was the descendant of Masamune and I couldn’t figure out why he would donate a sword to the Tokyo Sword Museum that was worth so much. Then I realized that Kenji never believed or never knew it was real. He must have thought his grandfather was a crock and his stories were all made up. When I saw the sword I knew otherwise. I called the Japanese Embassy and told them the sword was real. They in turn informed the Japanese Government. But, then I thought if Kenji knew what a big mistake he made he would want the sword back.”

  “What he didn’t know was that he was stealing a fake. I wouldn’t let him steal the most valuable sword in the world.”

  Mason stopped her. “So Kenji stole the fake sword, thinking it was real, and tried to frame you for stealing it by planting the hairspray?”

  “Not just that,” Ezra said. “Kenji was the one to make the key. You see Tanya another sword, a third sword, in its place so she wouldn’t be suspected of the theft when she reported it stolen. If she was the only one who knew the difference between the swords, why would she want to bring attention to the theft?”

  “So everyone would think HE did it!” Tanya screamed.

  “We know why Kenji would want the sword back if it was his family’s legacy, but what motivated you Tanya? Just another sword on your wall?” Madison said.