The Cure

IX

It's quiet, and of course that makes sense, but at the moment it's actually making me quite jittery and jumpy. 

"Okay, so what are we looking for again?" I ask. I can't remember all of the sudden if Griffin told me or not.

"We're looking for anything out of the ordinary."

I let my shoulders sag. "We'll that's helpful, Mr. Everything-will-be-alright! I haven't been in here for years. I won't be able to tell if anything's out of the ordinary or not."

"Yes, you will. Because I mean not if something has moved. I mean if something's where it shouldn't be, or broken or missing."

I stare at him.

"Well," Griffin sighs, "Just follow me and look for big things. I'll look for small things."

"Deal."

We start by heading over to the furniture and it all looks pretty normal to me. I mean, the stuff is old, but that's not out of the ordinary. Mr. Potter's warehouse is full of old things made new. That's the entire point of the store, after all.

"All of this stuff, " I say. "It seems so odd. Otherworldly almost. Where does he get it all?"

Griffin shrugs as he wipes his hand across the arm of a wooden chair. "I don't know. It's sent out to him, obviously. There's nowhere around here to get such stuff."

"I think it looks kinda cheesy, know what I mean? I wouldn't buy this stuff. Look," I grab one of the faded price tags. "Fifty smith for this chair."

"I'd buy it," Griffin says. I look at his face to see if he's joking but I can't tell, as usual. "I think it's unique. I wish there were more places like this. What would you call all this stuff, anyway? It should have a name."

"Hmmm..." I am getting tired and feeling distracted so I don't have an answer. That is to say, I'm not putting much thought into it, anyway.

"Hey, I think I'll go look on the other side of the store, save us some time, k?"

I don't wait for Griffin to answer but swerve my way in and out of isle until I come to a section with china and jewelry.

None of the jewelry seems to be stolen, nor even some of the more expensive looking china.

I gaze at the numerous accessories and wonder if there is actually anyone in Ash who can afford to buy this stuff.

Although I can't see the price tags, I figure they aren't as much as they look.

After all, they definitely aren't real rubies, emeralds or even diamonds. 

"Hey Griffin!" I yell across the room, "It seems to me that they haven't stolen anything valuable. Did Mr. Potter report anything missing?"

"No," I hear Griffin call back. He's moved on to the far end of the warehouse now. "He just said they broke in and vandalized the place."

I feel my forehead crease. "But everything looks fine. Are you sure Mr. Potter hasn't come in already and cleaned things up?"

"He hasn't been in since the break in, though."

"How do you know?"

Silence.

"Oh, I see." I continue to make my way down the isle until I come to what I now realize is the vandalism Griffin was talking about.

"Uh...I think I found something."

"You sure?"

"Just come here!!" I stare at the mess and suddenly Griffin is next to me, and I mean right next to me; his breath on my neck makes me shiver.