The next night, Larry Daley was pacing the halls, thinking to himself as he checked to make sure the museum was "exhibit proof" since he was early and the sun wouldn't set for another twenty minutes or so. He hadn't slept well that day, bugged by things that normally wouldn't bother him. Too much sun in the room, too much noise in the streets, the mattress being too hard and the room being too hot, things that on normal days wouldn't stop him from sleep. He'd concluded it was because he was worried, which he very much was.
He was worried for Jed's safety, of course, especially since Ahkmenrah's little spell would render him alive 24/7, which meant more of a chance of danger to him and everyone else. Now that people from the outside had the cowboy, they also had the Tablet's secret, not that Jed would ever tell, Larry knew, but that it could still be discovered. And there was also the fear of the museum being closed down, taken, and all the exhibits, all his friends, the people he cared for- all taken and sent to who knows where. The dangers were mounting, and it was impossible to think of anything else but the problem at hand.
Walking past the Hall of Miniatures, the night guard noticed something on the ground, near the Western diorama which he hadn't noticed the night before in the confusion. There, at the base of the exhibit, was a small, rectangular piece of paper, with a rather pretty green lining, with cursive letters written in in a glimmering gold. On it, was a name, of what looked like a company, and underneath a number.
"Hodgkin's Artifacts & Collectables. Hmm…." Larry said, reading the name allowed. He quickly strode down the hall, heading towards his office as he studied the card.
When he got there, he picked up the phone, and began carefully dialing the number on the card. He sat forwards in his chair as he waited for someone to pick up. He let out a small sigh of relief when a voice came from the other end.
"Hello?" Came a man's voice from the other end.
"Uh, hello," Larry said, leaning back slightly in his chair as he settled into conversation. "I'm….um, Mr. Wilkins, and, a friend of mine gave me your number and told me you were the one to call if I wanted to find a quality decoration….."
"Why yes, yes, of course. This is Hodgkin's speaking. And what might I interest you in sir?"
"Um, well, my son's birthday is coming up, and I was wondering if you had anything western up for buy." Larry said, surprised at how easily the story came out.
"Yes, I do, actually. A very wide selection of- ah, excuse me for a moment. Quiet down in there! I'm not letting you out!" Then, in an explaining tone. "Sorry about that. Just got a new puppy. What of those yappy kinds who wants to wander. Anyways, I have a wide selection of western style artifacts. I have various styles of Stetsons, old antique horseshoes, and a few pieces of fine cowboy art. What's your fancy?"
"Um, I'm not sure. I was just wondering and, this is just a question but, all your items were legally obtained, right?"
There was a hurried flurry of words on the other end of the line as the man spoke. "Yes, yes, of course. Everything was given to me or found and is one hundred percent legal. Now, what can I interest you in?"
Larry, lost in thought for a moment, remembered the birthday cover up and spoke. "Uh, a Stetson, please. A brown leather one, would be nice."
"Alright then. I have a few of those in stock. How much you willing to pay?"
"I have a couple hundred stashed away- will that cover it?"
"Ah, sure. I'll have it ready for you by next Tuesday." The man said, he then yelled at something in the background. "I said shut up! Do you want to be fed today!?"
"Um," Larry said, hoping to come up with an excuse that would let him investigate sooner. "His birthday's on Thursday, though. Is there some way I can get it sooner? Say, tonight?"
Hoarse laughter came from the man on the other end, and Larry had to hold the phone away from his ears as he sound was atrocious. "Tonight? Heavens no! It'll take at least a few days for me to fill out the paperwork and ready the old artifact. This business isn't easy, you know. And- excuse for a moment. I've told you one too many times to be quiet!" There was a loud bang and a quiet, almost undetectable cry, which was very much there but faint, which made Larry's heart beat faster. This was the man. "Stupid dog. Anyways, what was I saying?"
"You were telling me when I could pick up the Stetson."
"Ah yes. Let's see, what's today? Monday? I'll have it ready by Wednesday. All you have to do is pick it up. Sound good?"
"Uh, yes, very good. Thank you, sir. Goodnight." Larry said, preparing to hang up the phone.
"Yes, yes, goodnight. I've got that dog to deal with now." And with that, the man hung up.
Larry sat at his desk, a mixture of horror and excitement within him. This was a hint, a clue, a lead. And the only one they had at that. But Wednesday was almost three days away. Could Jed hold up that long? It obviously sounded as if he wasn't being treated gently. Would he still be there by Wednesday, when they came to rescue him? Did they even have a plan?
Realizing it was nearly sunset, Larry rose to his feet and left immediately back for the Hall of Miniatures, since he'd promised to tell Octavius first thing if he'd found anything. He made his way through the quiet halls, quite relieved that McPhee had allowed it to stay closed from the public until the "animatronics" were fixed. Larry had been supposed to call the electrical guys to come out and take a look at the system, which he hadn't, since of course he knew it all already. So really all he'd done was give the museum enough time to at least think of something before the crowd came back.
He made it to the hall mere seconds after sunset, and already the Roman general was on the edge of his display, urgency on his face but hope in his eyes as he spotted the night guard approaching.
"Any sign of Jedediah's captor?" Octavius asked, leaning forwards so far in his urgency he almost lost his footing and tumbled over the edge. Instead he tumbled into Larry's palm, and was carried out of the room as Larry went to track down Ahkmenrah and Teddy and explain the still formulating plan he had in his head.
"Yes." Larry said, glancing down. He saw a mixture of excitement and worry in the Roman's expression, and quickly explained. "I found a business card near Jed's exhibit earlier today, and called the number. What the man said seems to match up with what someone who took something as precious as….well….an artifact or what an outside person would say. I think he's the one who took him."
"And, you are sure of this?" Octavius questioned, refusing to let his hopes rise too high.
Larry nodded. "I heard Jed on the other end."
"You did?" Octavius asked quickly, starting immediately. "Is he alright?"
"Uh, I don't know, Octavius."
"How can you not know if you heard him?"
"Well, I didn't actually talk to him, but, well, I heard him scream." Larry said, knowing what he said was about to cause a rockslide of anxiety for the little Roman.
"What is that man doing to him," Octavius asked in a hushed whisper, to himself more than Larry, his gaze terrified and worried. "What is happening to him, Larry?"
"I don't know. But I think we can save him, if we're lucky."
"How?"
"Lawrence!" Came Teddy's barking voice as he rounded the corner, Ahkmenrah in tow. "There you are, lad! What's the news?"
"Hey, guys. Okay, so I found out some information that might help us." Larry said, stopping as the other two made their way up to him.
"Tell us, then, Larry," Ahkmenrah said urgently, sitting down on a nearby bench. Teddy followed suit, leaving the night guard standing and holding the little Roman, which he had almost forgotten about.
"Okay. So this evening, I came in a little earlier than usual to scope out possible clues, and came across this in the Hall of Miniatures, right in front of Jed's exhibit." As he said this, Larry pulled out the card, and handed it to Teddy, who handed it to Ahkmenrah who held it up for Octavius to see.
"Interesting. Look! A number! Did you call it?" Teddy asked, glancing up at Larry.
"I did, and the phone was answered by a man. I found out he's a buyer and seller of historical artifacts and collectables, and while we were on the phone he kept yelling at something in the background-"
"Larry, he could have been yelling at anything." Ahkmenrah pointed out, his voice quieter than usual. It made sense, considering the Tablet and a good friend of his were in such danger.
"I know it was a person he was yelling at. There was screaming in the background, too. But it was quiet, like, miniature, sounding."
"Lawrence, it could have been anything-"
"Teddy I'm pretty sure we have our lead. I made up a little cover up story about needing a gift for a birthday, and he's expecting us to pick it up on Wednesday."
"Larry," Came Octavius voice, concerned but calm, at least as calm as he could make it. "If we are to free Jedediah on that night, he will have to stay in captivity for three nights' time. What he cannot take it? What if something happens to him before we reach him?"
"We'll just have to wait, and hope he can pull through alone." Teddy said, rising to his feet. "I suggest we try not to dwell on the matter until the time comes. Lawrence, I presume you have a plan of action set aside?"
"Not yet, but I'll have one before Wednesday night."
"Good. Ahkmenrah, I suggest you return to your exhibit and keep a steady watch on the Tablet, in case something changes and the spell you used begins to crumble. I'll help with the rounds, Lawrence."
"Alright. Thanks, Teddy." Larry said, nodding once as the two larger exhibits left to perform their tasks. He sighed, and sat heavily on the bench, hit with one of his usual bouts of exhaustion which always overcame him when he was stressed. Tiredly, he set the little Roman on his knee, and they sat quietly as the other exhibits began milling about at random, trying to push aside the looming threat and enjoy their extended vacation. "You alright?" Larry asked, looking down at the Roman.
"I could be better," Octavius replied, staring miserably at the floor below him. "It is so hard, knowing someone you care about is suffering, but you cannot help at all."
Larry sighed, and then spoke in a hushed, tired voice. "We'll do something, don't worry. We just have wait."
"Waiting wastes such precious time, Larry. What if we are too late?"
"We won't be. If he's fighting it, which I know he is, then he'll make it to Wednesday. You and I both know he won't give up."
With a small sigh, Octavius climbed aboard Larry's hand, and asked in a small voice; "Can you please take me back to Rome? Forgive me, but I am not comforted by your words."
Larry nodded, and slowly walked back to the Hall of Miniatures, wondering what the poor cowboy was facing as they spoke.