Much like yesterday, the sun shone upon the windows with its heavy beam awaking everyone's eyes.With a few hours of sleep on Jodi's belt, this is definitely something that did not agree with her: early mornings. She checked the clock on the side table: 8am. Without much as a cup of coffee to set her on her feet, she had a hard time trying to get downstairs to meet with her companions. It was clear that she was not the only one with a despising passion for lack of sleep. Thomas was half-asleep on the couch while Bret was trying to rub open his eyes. Brian and Carrie seemed somewhat immune to this effect, First ones to get six cups of coffee probably.
Silence seemed to befall its spell over everyone once again. No word was spoken or exchanged as they slowly awoke from their sleeping mode, coffee being their fuel. "Where is this Dagnter?" Brian asked out loud, "He said he was to be here by 8am sharp." Even on that outburst, no one spoke only stared. Jodi went over to the window and peered out, "He's here." she announced. His minivan was just parking across the entrance to the hotel, getting out and walking inside. Everyone's energy seemed to be evident at this point, showing they indeed were not corpses.
By the time everyone got into the minivan, the energy was at its boosted level. Jodi was taking out her notebook and pen, making notes while Bret was ready with the camera he brought along. As the minivan closed in on the opera house, Jodi could still see the glittering lyre on top, dazzling as ever. A perfect topping for the cake. The minivan stopped at the entrance to the opera house, "The front entrance is unlocked as well as most of the doors," Dagnter said as he got out and closed the door. Carrie and Jodi looked up at the magnificent façade, admiring its splendor.
"Will most likely go to the place where the robbery was taken place." Jodi said finally, taking her eyes off the site and heading inside, everyone else following her. The interior was definitely much brighter and much more spectacular than the front. Its chandeliers glittered on the marble floor, with the staircase definitely giving off a hint of its grandeur. "If you'll follow me, I will show you the room." Dagnter lead the way through many rooms and doors. Finally he stopped at a mahogany door, taking out a key from his pocket and unlocking it.
The long hallway only showed a few lamps on the walls leading to a room with no door and one window, shining on a coffin lid completely open. No sign of a body or inscription was seen. Bret angled himself and snapped a few pictures on the coffin. "Was there any evidence found near or around the coffin?" Jodi asked Dagnter. "No nothing, not even a crumb, was found. There is no sign of breaking and entering, nothing was broken, nor was anything out of place besides the corpse been gone."
"How did you even know to check the coffin when there was no sign of a robbery?" Jodi asked while writing down a few things that he had told her before. "It is daily procedure that we check everything when we open the Opera house. My assistant was the only one here at the time and went to open the doors. When he came in here and opened the lid, there was nothing there." While all of this was going on, Thomas and Carrie were in the other room, admiring some of the finer things on display. Brian was examining the coffin, careful not to touch anything for federal reasons.
"What about the rest of the opera house?" Bret asked as he reloaded his camera, "Did you check if anything was stolen in the prop room, costumes perhaps?" Dagnter shook his head, "The only way to get into those areas is by unlocking the door by key. The staff, janitors, my assistant and I are the only ones with the key. If anything was stolen from there, I did not notice it or it was done by pure magic." Jodi nodded, "Besides, why would they want a prop or costume? This place is filled with antiques and the stage itself is barely used anymore." Brian looked up, "Like the corpse, money. Since some of those costumes are over 50 years old, it could definitely rank up a price tag if sold to a collector."
"Well if this robber comes clean I shall certainly file charges," Dagnter said seriously, "That corpse is worth a lot more to the opera house than money. Doubt they got too far though. I filed a police report about a couple days ago prior to the robbery. Said there have been some pricey heists going on throughout the area for the passed couple of weeks. I'm just one of the most expensive ones." Jodi looked over at Bret, assuring that he was finished. "Well, thank you Mr. Dagnter." She said with a smile. "Hopefully they find it soon."
Brian stood and sighed, "The only thing I can say is this coffin is indefinitely old but sturdy." Dagnter nodded, "Come, I shall give you a tour throughout the place. Wouldn't be fair to be all work and no play." The group chuckled and rejoined Thomas and Carrie, Brian lacking behind. Dagnter showed them the whole place from Box 5 to the stage and from the stage to the complete backstage area. Jodi was still wondering why Brian kept his pace far back from everybody else, keeping up his own time.
Once they were going to back to the entrance, she went over to Brian and questioned him. "Why are you lagging back? You have been doing it this whole time." Brian whispered to her, "Shh. I will tell once we get there." She looked at him with confusion but waited patiently. As the rest of the group was heading towards the front door, Brian pulled her to the side and rushed her through a doorway out of Dagnter's sight. "Brian! What the hell!!?" He silenced her, "Shh! I didn't want Dagnter to know about it." She shook her head, "About what?"
"Come on!" he took off in a run with Jodi following him. "I did see something, but I did not want Dagnter to get excited. You know how older people are." He led her to the circular room with the coffin, lifting it up and placing it on the floor. "There are marks on this lid." He pointed out the indentations with Jodi looking down closer. "They're musical notes," she said quietly, "Carved into the wood." Brian looked over at her, "It sounds like he was buried alive." Jodi shook her head, "I doubt it. They always made sure they were dead before placing them in a coffin."
"So now you think he lived in here?" Brian asked sarcastically. "No, but I am saying that probably didn't bury him alive." She snapped at him. "Well he looked like a corpse while he was alive so it would have been easy to make that mistake." Jodi sighed, "Then why are they notes instead of real words? Unless he was composing while he was dying." Brian shook his head, "They would be the last thing on someone's mind while they were dying." She placed her hand over her eyes, "Maybe it was a piece he desperately wanted to be complete." "Enough maybes!" he exclaimed in a loud whisper. "Whatever this is, its not normal behavior of dead men."
"What are we suppose to do about it, Brian?" she asked. He looked down at the coffin lid as if the answer was written there. "Let us keep coming back, search for more clues until we have to return to New York. I am anxious to know why there are notes on this coffin." Jodi got up, "I am a reporter, not a detective." She started to head back, but Brian grabbed her wrist gently, "You might never know when you might need an archaeologist." He smiled. Jodi smirked jokingly as they both walked out.
"I doubt those carving have anything to do with the investigation." She said as she took out her wallet. "Would be an interesting thing to learn about nonetheless," he said placing his hands in his pockets, "What are you doing?" Jodi looked up at him, "Going to do some book shopping, maybe Dagnter is right. The book might give us some details." She held up her wallet, "Care to join me?" Brian took out his, "Certainly, madame." They clinked wallets as they headed out the front door.