Greed and Death

The thief was on a 'job'. He was looking for the rare antique he was supposed to lift. He sensed someone behind him and was surprised to see it was his girl and partner he had just dumped.

'What are you doing here?' The thief asked.

'I already got what you're looking for. And for your information, I'm dumping you too,' Beth said with a naughty smile.

'Oh yeah? How about dumping you twelve feet under if you don't give it to me.'

He moved towards Beth. Beth stood her ground. She was prepared for this. Frank grabbed her neck and said, 'Where? Take me to it now.' The hand on her neck tightened. Something stabbed Frank's back. Beth was really fast with her switchblade. Before Frank could make any move other than widen his eyes, there was another stab. Then another. Frank stepped back until he fell into a soft chair, too shocked to do or say anything.

When Mrs. Fortiz entered her house later that afternoon, it was her turn to be surprised to discover a dead man inside.

'My precious antique is missing,' she told the Las Palmas Police officers. 'It's a figurine of a flying swan dated back to 1710. Worth more than .2 million dollars.' A tough old woman, thought Lt. Joe Picasso. Throughout the interview, she was poker-faced and emotionless.

'Antique, did you say ma'am?' asked Detective Victor Bravo.

'Exactly that, young man.'

'Well, we got a lucky clue,' Bravo said to everyone. 'We got a card from the victim's wallet that says "Alameda Antiques." Owned by a certain Elizabeth Marquez. The dead man's name is Frank Halcon.'

'We better have a search warrant before we talk to miss Marquez,' said Picasso. 'Give her no chance to dispossess it if she indeed possess it.' The medical examiner said that the victim was attacked at about 3 PM. The LPPD cops said goodbye to Mrs. Fortiz and the medical group took away the dead thief.

Like most antique shops, " Alameda " is also not big. And it doesn't look first class-just a town shop. It was almost eight pm when four LPPD men arrived there. There were only two customers inside looking at the items. There were cheap and expensive antiques all around. There were also furniture-some of them fake. You can tell by the surface paint-doctored to look aged. The divvie Lovejoy would be happy to snoop on this. Behind the customers was a young lady who looked like twenty-eight.

'Is Miss Marquez around?' asked Bravo.

'I'm Marquez.' The young lady said.

'Were police officers and we need to talk with you.' The customers started to leave.

'Let me put the 'closed' sign first.' Said Marquez then did that. When she faced the officers again, Bravo asked, 'Do you know someone named Frank Halcon?'

'I don't think so. Doesn't ring a bell.' She answered too quickly Joe P noticed.

'Where were you about three this afternoon?' Joe P asked this time.

'I was here with the customers.'

'Do you have someone who could attest to that?'

'I would if I personally know all the customers at three pm... and if they remember what time they were here,' Beth said triumphantly.

'So do you personally know any client about three pm?'

'No... that's the problem. I wouldn't know where to find them.' Of course she couldn't. There was nobody to find.

'We have a warrant to search your shop,' Joe P said. Beth's face suddenly showed alarm. Bravo showed her the warrant then they started the search. Picasso kept an eye on Beth in case she panics and do something stupid. With three men searching, it took only about a minute.

'Got it!' They heard Bravo shouting. He was inside Beth's office. He appeared with the antique swan.

'Where did you get that from?' Joe P asked Beth.

'I bought it. For my own collection.'

'We have to see the receipt...or the person who sold it to you.' Beth can't say anything and just stood like a stoned druggie.

'Why did you kill Frank?' Joe P continued.

'He got greedy! We were partners. I pointed to him the rich prospects which he robbed. He stopped giving me my share and bullied me! I followed him to the Fortiz house just to spite him for fun. He tried to kill me and that was just too much, isn't it? Wasn't that plain self-defense?'

'I admire the fight in you ma'am but the law's the law and law and justice just aren't the same God help us.' Picasso said lazily. .