Swordplay

Part 5

 When Moira left the nerl‑U‑railway station near the Gendarmerie, it rained cats and dogs. She arrived at her office with wet shoes despite her protective clothing. Everyone else was dry – another reminder of how untalented she was magic wise. She hadn't even managed a parapluie-spell. Her mood got even worse when she heard Buds rant in the corridor outside. Hurriedly, she filled coffee into the nerlaroma2000. She had already learned that it was usually easy to calm Buds with a good-sized cup.

"Why don't we have it? Can someone please explain how that happened?" He stormed into the office behind Semra and slammed the door so hard, the glass window in the door rattled. "We're havin a first rate suspect and no one thought to take his address? Which idiot interrogated him?"

Semra stopped and turned to him. Her nostrils flared, and her eyes glittered. "Never ever call me an idiot again or you've had a partner for the longest time."

Buds paled. Subdued, he sank onto the chair behind his desk, picked up a file, and pretended to read.

"Anyway, that's easily remedied with a simple call." Semra activated the parlebol and asked for the National Museum.

Secretly, Moira was relieved that Buds wasn't angry with her for once. Wordlessly, she filled his mug with coffee. Then, she waited for Semra to finish talking and filled her mug too. Semra nodded her thanks and turned to Buds. "I've got his addresse, but he isn't home just now. He'S at work."

Buds got up. "What are we waiting for? We've got to arrest a potential burglar."

Semra enjoyed her coffee. "First, he won't run away as long as he's at work. Second, due to the drug department's razzia, there isn't a free interrogation room in the building. And third, Commissaire Marten is still waiting for the report you promised."

Grumbling, Buds sat down again. "Will we leave when I finish writing?"

"Sure." Semra winked at Moira. "Would you be so kind to fetch the report from analytics? They called to let us know they're done."

Moira sped off and returned with the report soon after. She would have loved to read it, but it was in a sealed envelope that she handed to Semra.

"Do you know what it says already?"

"Why do you think Buds got so upset."

"I wasn't upset. I'm always like that." Buds got up and reached for his jacket. "I'm done. We can go."

Semra and Moira followed him and took two more gendarmes along as reinforcements. A quarter of an hour later, they reached the National Museum. Buds whispered the password, the director had given him for the duration of investigation, into the security-nerl's ear who was sitting in a box beside the main entrance, and the nerl opened the doors for him. Buds walked straight to the porter's office where the night-watchmen stayed when they didn't tour the building.

Surprised, Joes van Gro looked up from an Art magazine. "Yes? What can I do for you?"

Buds pulled him up from his chair, turned him around, and snapped handcuffs on his arms. He grinned. "Joes van Gro. You are hereby arrested. All you say or do can and will be used against you in court. Please do not talk until your lawyer arrives. Should you not be able to afford a layer, you can request a dicta-nerl as temporary substitute who will record the interrogation relevant to court."

"But I didn't do anything. Really."

Buds meant to answer but Semra held him back. "Wait for his lawyer or the dicta-nerl or he can claim a formal defect against his arrest."

"You are right." Buds pushed the night-watchman toward the door.

Joes wriggled in his grip. "Please, you will have to inform Director du Mar. There is irreplaceable art at stake in here that may never be without supervision."