Councillor Best left the town hall and swiftly went back to his house. He didn't bother going in, instead he ducked around the side and out to the back shed, hoping that his wife didn't spot him. Like a prowler in an art gallery, he looked around in all directions to make sure no one was watching him. Once he was satisfied that the coast was clear, he unlocked the shed and stepped inside. He scanned the shelves and located the box he had hidden at the back. Carefully he lifted it down and placed it on the small workbench under the window.
Best again looked around before he lifted the lid off the box. Inside were a few more items that he had appropriated from the university's antiquities collection, "I don't even know why they would except such rubbish," he muttered as he carefully moved the ones off the top, to get to what he was looking for at the bottom; a small amber glass jug which had a tag on it stating that it was found in Pompeii. "This should fetch a bundle," he smiled as he wrapped it in a clean cloth. Best tucked it under his arm and exited the shed, locking it behind him.
He had looked up in the city directory a pawn shop called "Wright and Wong," and it was located on Queen Street, a slightly sketchier part of Toronto. He'd heard through the grape vine this this particular pawn shop could move merchandise quite easily and with few questions. What they received today would likely be gone by tomorrow, so-to-say.
The Councillor dashed back to the street where he hailed a cab. He quickly clambered into the coach and instructed the driver to take him to take him to the corner of Queen and Church Streets. He'd walk the rest of they way to the pawn shop. After a short ride, the driver pulled the handsome to a stop and set the break. Best opened the door and stepped down, then paid for the ride.
The Councillor then looked around the busy street corner to locate the pawn shop. It was partway along the block on the north side. Best adjusted his hat to hide his face before he began his journey. Once at the door of the shop, he looked through the glass to see if anyone else was in the business; there were two, but Best didn't recognize them so he entered the shop. A small bell above the door announced his arrival.
There was a tall thin man with a grey moustache and silver rimmed glass that were perched on the end of his nose, and another shorter man, clearly of Asian decent behind the counter off to the right side of the shop. The tall man stepped out from behind the counter, "May I help you?" he questioned.
"I'm hoping so," Best said as he placed the wrapped object carefully down on the counter.
"What do you have there?" the tall man asked.
Best cleared his voice and then unwrapped the glass jug. Both the tall man and the Asian man looked at it then at each other. "Where you get?" the Asian man asked.
"Oh, uh, my uncle let this for me in his will," Best stammered.
"Very interesting," the tall man said. By now the other two people in the shop were looking at the jug. The Asian man pick it up and examined it, "Pompeii?" he said looking at the tag.
"Yes," Best nodded. "You see," he started, "my uncle worked on the excavation," he swallowed. "How much is it worth?" he squeezed out.
"We talk," the Asian man said as he turned away with the object in his hands. The tall man joined him and the huddled together to discuss the object. Best tried to listen, but they were too far way and whispering, as they both noticed the strange numbers on the bottom. The Councillor wrung his sweaty hands as he nervously waited to hear what the two men had to say. It looked like they came to an agreement as both men nodded and turned at the same time. "We say fifty dollar," the Asian man spoke.
"Fifty dollars? Is that all?" Best had hoped for more.
"Take or leave," the Asian said. "This firm offer. No more," he added. The older man sharply nodded once in approval.
Best looked at the other two people who were now watching on. "Fine. I'll take it," he huffed and waited for the money. It was enough to pay Raquel but not enough for any more trysts. "Dammit," he said under his breath as the tall man handed him the cash. Best waded up the bills and crammed them down into his trouser pocket; clearly he was disgruntled as he made a face a the two men and then left the pawn shop. His immediate thought was to pay off Raquel and then head home.
It was late in the day, as George prepared to encamp near the Best's residence. "Are you certain this has to happen?" he questioned his bosses.
"Crabtree, we need Best in here to talk. You've already alluded that he's a 'slippery rodent' so Higgins said," the Inspector stated. George frowned.
Higgins entered the bullpen as the conversation was taking place, 'Where's your positive attitude now, George?" he asked his colleague, to which George shot him a glaring look and mouthed 'shut up" to Henry. Higgins rolled his eyes.
Murdoch entered the bullpen, joining the men, "Are you ready?" he asked the two Constables.
"I am," Higgins spoke first. Murdoch acknowledged with a nod.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Crabtree said with less enthusiasm. Murdoch twisted his mouth at the comment, but chose not to comment.
"George, you know as well as I do we need to catch Councillor Best," Murdoch chastised he Constable as he was about to continue when Crabtree, Brackenreid and Higgins all chimed in unison, "The slippery rodent," they looked at the Detective as his right eyebrow arched in a mixture of question and amazement. Unfazed, Murdoch nodded in agreement that the 'slippery rodent' needed to be brought in, "Yes, I suppose you could call him that, but we still need to find him and bring him in for questing for various reasons," he stated.
Crabtree nodded, "I know Sir," he looked disappointed.
"What is it Crabtree? I thought you liked the sense of adventure," Brackenreid questioned.
"Well, Sir," George cast a glance at Murdoch and then looked back at the Inspector, "Seeing how we've been working all day, I was looking forward to an evening swim at the beach," the Constable lamented with a rather moue expression on his face.
Brackenreid rolled his eyes, "What do you think tubs are made for?" he quickly asked.
"Hygiene mostly, but there's nothing quite like the feeling of being surrounded in cool water on a hot summer night," George smiled. Murdoch hid his smirk; he knew what George was talking about.
"Bloody hell, Crabtree!" the Inspector huffed.
Murdoch quickly injected, "If you find Mister Best, soon," he stressed the word 'soon', "you can take the rest of the night off," he looked George in the eyes.
"I'll hunt the 'slippery rodent' down if I have to," Crabtree said as he picked up his helmet. "Come on Henry, we have work to do," he said with a tone of sarcasm. Both the Inspector and the Detective exchanged looks. Brackenreid again rolled his eyes and went back to his office for a nightcap, before going home. Murdoch smiled slightly at the whole incident, "Good night, Sir," he announced as he left the bullpen and headed for his home in the hotel.
