Chapter 243

"I know," Raymond said. "But I want you to tell me what these parts are for."

"I'm not a mechanic."

Raymond looked at her. "Then tell me — are they connected to the artifacts?"

Vivian examined the fittings and threading on the pieces. "They're made to hold something. Part of a larger assembly."

Raymond didn't push further.

He walked over and rewrapped the three pieces in plastic film, placed them back in the package. His movements were practiced.

Vivian watched him without saying another word.

Back at the hotel, she took out her phone and sent Arthur a message: [I saw something today. Not artifacts.]

Arthur's reply came up on the screen: [What kind of something?]

[Metal components. Threaded fittings. Looks like part of a set.]

Arthur called her directly. "Did you photograph them?"

"No. Photos weren't allowed."

"Describe them. As much detail as you can."

Vivian closed her eyes and went through the shapes of the components in her mind, then started talking.

Arthur was quiet for a few seconds after she finished. "Stay away from Raymond for now."

"I still have a batch of items I haven't finished reviewing."

"Leave them."

Vivian held the phone. "You recognize those components?"

Arthur didn't answer. He said, "I'm coming to you," and hung up.

He arrived fast.

When he came in, his eyes swept over her first, then he walked to the table and glanced at the prehistoric European jade axe, then at her open notebook.

"You haven't touched those components again?"

"No. They went back in the package and haven't moved since."

Arthur sat down at the table and looked at the notes she'd written describing the components. "Those parts are from a firearm. Not a complete weapon — disassembled for transport. The threaded fittings and slots are for assembly. The grooves are mounting points for other components. That coating you mentioned is standard in arms smuggling — corrosion protection and basic metal detector evasion."

Vivian stood at the table and listened.

"Had Raymond ever brought up arms with you before?"

"A few times. I didn't engage." Arthur closed the notebook. "The fact that he mixed those components in with the artifacts and let you see them means one of two things — either he was testing you somehow, or he's already started shipping mixed loads."

"If he's already mixing loads, whatever goes out with that batch of silver drinking vessels will have other things packed in with it."

Arthur looked at her. "You said there's still a batch you haven't reviewed?"

"One more. Raymond said he'd set another time. I didn't see any packages matching those components in that room — they're probably kept somewhere else."

Arthur stood and walked to the window, quiet for a moment. "Don't go tomorrow. Wait until I've seen Gideon."

"Gideon can find out when that shipment is scheduled to leave?"

"He can find what I need."

Vivian rewrapped the jade axe in soft cloth and put it back in her bag. "Are you leaving tonight?"

Arthur stood at the window. The streetlight caught one side of his face. "No."

---

The next morning Arthur met with Gideon.

They met in a warehouse office near the port — corrugated iron roof, drafty on all sides. Gideon came in holding a manila envelope, set it on the table, and slid it toward Arthur.

"Raymond has a shipment going out soon. The timing is set — three days from now, early morning. A route that doesn't get checked much." Gideon kept his voice low. "But this isn't the full picture. He's splitting it into two runs. The first is what you mentioned. The second — we don't know what's in it. My people can't get to it."

Arthur opened the envelope, flipped through a few pages, then looked up. "Can't get to it, or nobody knows what's in it?"

"The manifest for the second run isn't in any document currently in circulation. It's also handled differently. The first batch is in a regular warehouse. The second is in a separate locked room. Raymond's the only one with the key."

Arthur put the papers back in the envelope. As he stood, Gideon added, "That appraiser — is she yours? If she is, keep her away from Raymond's place for now."

"Why?"

"Someone's noticed Raymond getting close to the arms side of things. Closer than he's ever been. If she keeps showing up there, people are going to start connecting her to the shipment."

Arthur said, "Understood," pushed the door open, and left.

---

When he got back, Vivian was sitting at the table writing.

She had reorganized her notes on the prehistoric European jade axe and the silver drinking vessels. Her handwriting was neater than before. She looked up when Arthur came in, her eyes passing over the manila envelope in his hand.

"The export date is set?"

"Three days, early morning." Arthur set the envelope on the table. "First run is the silver vessels. Second run — contents unknown. And Gideon says you should stop going."

Vivian looked at him. "That locked room — Raymond's the only one with a key?"

"Yes."

Vivian set down her pen and leaned back in her chair. The room was quiet for a moment. "Someone put that prehistoric jade axe in with the silver vessels on purpose. If the second shipment's contents are known only to Raymond, then the axe turning up in the first batch is a marker."

Arthur looked at her. "A marker for what?"

"Someone is using that jade axe to signal something. Not to Raymond — to whoever could read it. That person knew Raymond would bring in an appraiser. Knew the appraiser would look at the axe. They put it in with the silver vessels so whoever saw it would know the shipment was compromised."

Arthur glanced at the jade axe wrapped in soft cloth on the table. "Any idea who put it there?"

"No." Vivian said. "But whoever did knows where Raymond's goods come from, and knows whose hands this shipment passes through. If someone could find out what's in that locked room, maybe we'd know what they're actually trying to do."

Arthur stood and walked to the window, his back to Vivian. After a long moment: "I'll go look at that room tonight."

Vivian stood up. "By yourself?"