Jade Monkey

My mouth was dry. I’d never checked the copy that Hannah had given me for stamp on the bottom. She’d said it was a fake, but I’d never checked. Scary Anthony had never had the Jade, Mr Charles had hidden in Hannah’s car. He hadn’t been hiding out at her house, he’d been waiting for her to come home so he could claim his prize.

‘The museum, it never left the museum.’ I said wonderingly, before it occurred to me that those words probably weren’t going to do much to enhance my life expectancy.

Miss Mills looked at me quizzically. ‘I thought I was going to have to make some rather exotic threats before you told me anything. Are you prepared to be sensible?’

‘I’ve never been sensible. But I can be reasonable. Take me to the museum. I’ll show you where the Jade is hidden, then when you’ve got it, let me go.’

‘Agreed.’ She pressed a button on the desk and Simon appeared at the office door. ‘He’s seen sense.’ Miss Mills said. ‘Untie him and take him down to the car.’

At first I couldn’t stand on my own. My mind might have clawed its way back to something resembling normal operation, but my body was having none of it. I’d hoped that I’d be able to make a break for it, or to somehow ditch them at the museum, but I’d get all of five yards. Still, I knew who killed the mayor, if anyone would actually believe me if I told them and I had the Jade which was progress at least.

I had one final shock remaining, though I should have perhaps realised it earlier. In the sub-basement where the car was waiting Simon handed me off to a goon standing next to the car door. He smiled at me, or at least drew his lips back to display his teeth. In the car his compatriot sat in the far seat, and I was bundled into the middle. Miss Michelle’s hired goons had been bought by the highest bidder, unfortunately that wasn’t her.

Out of habit I checked the cars rear view mirror as we crossed town. It didn’t surprise me to see a familiar face at the wheel of the car behind us. Miss Mills was probably going to keep her word and let me go. But if I was going to walk into my ex-partner directly afterwards the idea didn’t really appeal.

The bulk of the museum reared in the dawns early light and the car behind us roared past as we pulled up at a side entrance. She was going to take her time. We waited silently as Simon produced a key and went inside to disable the alarm. I put the time at somewhere near six in the morning, too early for anyone else to be at the museum yet. I could stand on my own now, and haltingly walk, running was out of the question. The morning was bright and cold, beneath a cerulean blue sky.  My breath hung like smoke in the air. My last morning was shaping up to be a pleasant day. I cursed softly and put my brain back to work trying to figure a way out.

‘Where are we going?’ Miss Mills asked abruptly turning to me.

‘A room you’re quite familiar with. The Curators.’

‘That’s not possible.’ She said firmly. ‘The police searched every inch of that room.’

It was my turn to quirk an eyebrow and smile.

Simon beckoned us into the building and we emerged in the middle ages. Suits of armour looked down at us from horseback and swords were festooned across the wall. We trudged briefly through prehistory before crossing at the main hall and tramping down the now familiar corridor. We turned and I found myself at the scene of the mayors murder once again. After all that had happened I somehow expected it to be different. But the bloodstain was still on the carpet barely contained by the white masking tape outline of the mayor.

‘Where is it?’ Miss Mills demanded.

I walked as best I could to the large mahogany desk, reached into my pocket and put what I’d thought for the last couple of days was a copy of the Jade monkey down on the edge.

‘You had it on you?’ The anger in her voice was barely contained. ‘Then why bring us back here?’

The goons had drawn their automatics, and anger had drawn their expressions into thin lines. Simon stood silently beside the door that we’d entered by, saying nothing, betraying no emotion which was considerably more intimidating.

I snarled back at her as best I could ‘Because I could. Because it gave me that much longer to live.’ Small clicks told me that the safety’s on the automatics had been released. ‘I knew you weren’t going to let me live when I saw Shan following us.’

That didn’t get the response I was expecting. Miss Mills expression became uncertain, and she was almost as surprised as I was when the door at the far end of the room was flung open and a volley of shots were launched in our general direction. I grabbed the Jade and heroically crumpled to the floor as my legs gave way. Miss Mills drew a  small pistol, that seemed a masterwork of compact evil, and took aim. A .45 thundered from the other end of the room, and I realised that whoever else was there, the cavalry had arrived. Simon grabbed Miss Mills’ wrist before she could return fire and pulled her into the corridor. The two goons, sent a few shots at the doorway before they realised they’d been deserted and beat a hasty retreat. As endings go it was unsatisfactory, but I’ll take any one that doesn’t mean I need to take an interest in current trends in coffins. I propped myself up against the desk, the Jade still in my hand.

Hannah walked in, with the .45 swinging to cover the door where the others had left. Stiles and Peter followed behind with their own weapons in hand. Looking closely at Pete, he seemed to be carrying enough guns in holsters pockets and pouches to equip a small revolutionary army. Andy followed afterwards , looking dishevelled and lacking sleep. I’d expected one more, but she wasn’t there.