Eridanus ~ A Collection Of Short Stories

A Step Ahead

(Prompt contest for the "Mystery Crime Scene" hosted by crime and mystery .
Word count – 1406 words)

To the average person, the eyes are merely providers of vision, through which we see the world around us as it is. To a convict who has been imprisoned for a year, the eyes are tools to help gauge just how much life in the outside world they have missed.

As Vera Cortez was shoved into a police car after being led out of the Central Prison, her eyes took in all that they saw, evaluating the changes that had taken place in her year's absence. When a person, a famed convict at that, was summoned to the Chief Inspector's office, anything could be expected. That's just what Vera was contemplating as the car sped on towards the Central Police Headquarters.

*****

Vaguely aware of the cold steel that bound her wrists, Vera glanced sideways at the two armed guards escorting her into the Inspector's office. She smiled in amusement. Even after a year, the police force was taking no chances with the woman. You couldn't blame them.

Vera had concluded that bringing a criminal of her status all the way across town to meet the Chief Inspector, with the chances of encountering several security hazards, spelt something serious.

A wooden door with a glossy nameplate was opened for the lady, and Vera was ushered in by her chaperones.

Chief Inspector Kyllian had acquired a few strands of silver on his head since the time he had arrested Vera a year ago. His impassive face gave way to a trace of annoyance when he glimpsed Cortez enter his office. Before Vera could greet him with a smug remark, the inspector gestured for her to have a seat. The armed guards remained at a dutiful distance after unlocking the criminal's handcuffs.

"Miss Cortez," Inspector Kyllian began with a curt nod. "This is Detective James." A young man beside the window turned his attention to Vera with a polite smile.

"Detective James is the reason you've been summoned here," the Inspector continued briskly. "Detective, you may brief the convict about the case."

Detective James nodded and picked up a file from the mahogany desk, swiftly opening the page he required.

"Right." He paused and glanced up from the document. "A week ago, a series of thefts began at the city's major museums. The first theft was committed at the Museum of World Culture, the second at the Sandstone Gallery, and the third at the Ancient Art Museum.  One artefact was stolen from each place, but none of the items have been recovered yet."

Detective James paused to see if the woman had any remarks. Vera simply raised her eyebrows with an indifferent air about her.

"None have been recovered?" she enquired innocently. "Goodness, the police service seems to be losing its touch."

Inspector Kyllian noted that Cortez hadn't lost her infuriating disposition after all these months.

"Miss Cortez, you were a master criminal," the detective continued. "Among other crimes, you were convicted on three accounts of high profile house burglary. Two accounts of theft from national art galleries. You stole Picasso paintings in broad daylight, evading the police for six months."

A satisfied smirk marked Vera's face as the detective declared her accomplishments. A smirk that was met by the inspector rolling his eyes.

Detective James cleared his throat. "As a master thief, your experience would come in handy for this particular case, Miss Cortez."