Ace of Spade chapter 2
Ace of Spade
Four boys went to school
And studied all to be learned
Four boys travel out to the world
But only one returned
One's heart was broken
One to ashes, was burned
One to battle and was shot
Only one returned
There was only one who returned?
Near had given up dominos sometime ago because they were rather difficult to carry around place from place. Though he had he kept with the habit of stacking as he found it an excellent form of concentration switching from dominos to cards which were light and very easily to pack and available almost everywhere. He usual used tarot card but of late he had switch to playing cards
At the moment he was involved in a rather difficult case that resulted in a rather breathtaking large castle of cards. This always occurred in difficult cases, for Near found that with each placement of a card on top of another, a new thought would emerge in his head.
For a card was very much like observance or idea of something. When laying flat could only have two sides, but lay on its tip with another card and it has four sides. Lay one on top and there are seven sides. It could continue on and on as long as the party concerned is willing.
Most minds look at thing two ways at the most, but a trained mind like his must look at things in ways that other never knew existed.
Near had reached the top of his latest castle consisting of twenty-three decks of playing cards. He had only one card left to figure out this case. He slowly turned over the last card; it was an Ace of Spade. When using ordinary playing cards to see prophecies of the future the ace of spade means forthcoming death.
A small smile played across Near's lips as he placed the last card on the top of the deck. It was always only a matter of time, one had to only to look long enough and think hard enough and the answer would come.
Near turned on the laptop computer that was on the table to the left of him and flipped open the cover. The screen flash on to show a large empty room with a solitary figure surrounded by several discarded cups of coffee.
Near pressed the button on his computer to activate the speaker that connected to the computer placed in this room purely for the purpose of communication between him and this location.
"Anthony, I need you to gather everyone back into the room. I've solved the case," Near said calmly into the mouth piece attached to his computer.
"Right," Anthony replied and left the room, returning with a crowd of people that completely fill the table where the computer was set. This group of people had once been the Special Provision for Kira and the few members of the police force who knew Near's physical appearance. They had become his voice to the world, as well as a well formed team against world-wide crime.
" I have come to the conclusion that Paban Noyes hid the money inside the Count Ladrón de Guevanafamily crypt," said Near.
"But we looked in there," said Halle.
"We didn't look inside the coffin, in the decayed bodies to be exact," said Near.
"In the bodies?" asked Ide, unable to conceal his amazement.
"When we found Paban's body, among his things was a tire jack. And since he was traveling by foot it puzzled me. A man does not carry such a thing for no reason. I examined the tire jack and found a fine white dust covering it that could only be made by stone, an aged stone obviously crumbling.
So where is the only place where he could hide a bag of precious diamonds worth 10 million dollars, diamonds who he had already killed 22 people for? The answer is in a place where most locals fear was haunted by strange and vengeful ghosts, in the crypt of Count Ladrón de Guevana, in his family to be more precise.
But the stone covering the coffin was too heavy for one man to lift, so he got a tire jack and lifted the stone lid up. Then he placed the diamonds in several bag and divide them amongst the family."
"You mean we're going to have to dig inside a bunch of dead people" groaned Matsuda.
"If you want the diamonds back," said Near.
"We'll get right on it," said Anthony.
Near sighed as the computer screen before him went blank. "Another case had been successful solved," he thought as he stretch his slender frame much the way a cat would. He had long ago left behind his childish baby fat and had sprinted up to be 6 ft tall in the end.
"Would you like some tea, Near," said Stephen, the member of their team who had been chosen to stay behind at the hotel tonight, to see to Near's need and make sure he went to sleep.
"Yes, that would be nice," replied Near, in his bored monotone voice." We'll be moving to another hotel tomorrow."
"Oh, so you solved the case," said Stephen," that was a curious case, with the way he died and all."
"What are you talking about?" said Near." Paban was hit by a car."
"If I had 10 million dollar, I'd look both ways before crossing the street," smirked Stephen.
"Well, then what is your theory, I'd love to know."
"He was curse by the spirit of Count Ladrón de Guevana, of course."
"Are you saying you believe in ghosts?"said Near.
"We'll we both believe in Shinigami, would a ghost be so much of a stretch," said Stephen, sitting down beside Near on the couch.
" I suppose not," said Near," but one would rather hope that once a soul passes into the next life, it remains there."
"Ah, but I have heard story of those who passing was not complete and they were pulled back to this world," said Stephen.
"By what?" said Near.
"It is always emotion that brings a spirit back to this earth."
"Then I know that I shall pass through with no problem at all," said Near, placing his finish cup of tea on the table.
"If we're moving again, "said Stephen," I better let you get some sleep."
"As you say," Near replied, getting up from the couch and noiselessly leaving the room.
Stephen sighed as he refilled his empty cup, sometime Near was rather like a phantom himself.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
This is my first ghost story, though I have always wanted to write one. I
I not completely sure about a tire jack working one a stone coffin lid before as I have never seen it done, it is just a theory. If I'm wrong you can tell or I suggest you write to Mythbusters which is an awesome show.