The clippings book only went off when there was something major going on in the world. The Librarians each had their individual copies to alert them to cases that required their specialized knowledge but the main book only went off when they were all - Flynn included – were needed on deck. But this time the story on its pages didn't make sense.
"A story from the society section of the local newspaper?" Baird frowned, reading the short, gossipy paragraph. "That makes no sense... Why would we need to know about some high society shindig? Looks like it's nothing special – just another so-called charity event."
"Maybe there is a major artifact about to make an appearance?" Cassandra asked. "Or maybe one of the ones that disappeared in the library is going to turn up during the party? Should we go?" The red-head re-read the notice one more time. "We'll need invitations, right?"
"Not a problem." Jones bounced into the Annex, giving the clippings book a quick glance. "I can come up with something."
"Like you did in London?" Baird snorted. "You nearly got Flynn and Stone arrested."
Jones made a face at the teams Guardian. "Come on Baird – that was just a fluke. Not going to happen again."
Baird shook her head in disbelief then carefully closed the still vibrating book. "The party is at a local museum so we probably won't need to worry about an invite. Should be easy to infiltrate the event and see what's going on." She looked around the Annex with a frown. "Where are Stone and Jenkins?"
"Jake is in the stacks somewhere." Cassandra replied tenatively. "I think I saw Jenkins in the back. Do you want me to go get them?"
"No, this should be a simple mission. Just run in, do some quick recon and get out before they notice us. Shouldn't be a problem."
Famous last words.
"Shouldn't be a problem?" Baird groused, trying to keep Cassandra's red hair in view as the guests streamed screaming out of the museum. "I should have known better."
It had started out fine. Baird had been right about being able to simply slide into the Museum through a side entrance and have the guardian and the two young Librarians merge with the other guests. The event was opened to the public – meaning that most of the guests were relatively well-heeled donors to the museum with enough "regular" people to make it look egalitarian. "Just your standard charity get-together, nothing more" Baird thought.
Ezekiel hovered around the edges of the party, looking for anything that would explain why the Clippings Book had sent them here. Baird had warned the young thief to keep his hands to himself but she wasn't naïve enough to believe he would. So much obvious wealth on display would be like catnip to him. She kept as close an eye on the talky Aussie as she could. Hopefully they would be out and gone before he succumbed to the temptation. Cassandra had also hugged the edges of the event, trying to get a look at the items the charity had put on display for donors to bid on at the end of the event, hoping to spot something that might be magical. Nothing stood out though nor had there been off about the venue.
An hour into the event and still nothing had happened – at least nothing unusual enough to justify the Librarians presence. Baird glumly eyed the other guests, trying not to look as out of place as she felt. She was about to call an end to the mission when a movement near one of the displays caught her eye. A couple were standing behind the case, looking as bored as Baird felt. The man stood out in the sea of "pretty boys" and overstuffed seniors. He reminded her more of mercenaries she had met during her NATO tour, rugged with a dangerous aura that his expensive suit couldn't hide. He was tall, well over six feet tall, and his rugged face was tanned with lines at the edges of his eyes as though he had spent time peering out into the sun. The woman at his side different from her companion yet they seemed to fit together. She was almost as tall as her escort, delicate features with dark hair in an elaborate upsweep with elaborate jeweled pins to keep it out of her eyes. Her dark, sleeveless gown was fitted to show off her slender form yet not so tight as to be obscene. They were an odd pair, not quite fitting in to the shallow, noisy crowd around them. Baird wasn't sure what it was about them that had caught her eye except that they seemed as unimpressed by the event as she was.
She gestured to Ezekiel and Cassandra, motioning them towards the exit. "Enough is enough" she sighed, starting to shepherd her young charges towards the door. "If anything was going to happen…"
That was when it all went sideways.