The morning after the sun gleamed through the antique shop window. A young girl who'd been working in the shop for 2 years, since she left a four year antique course at collage opened the wooden shop door. Her long blond hair's highlights flickered in the bright sunlight streaming from the gleaming light coming through the windows. The young, blond girl searched around the room, her deep sea green iris's with a hint of sky blue flickering. Her eyes took in everything in the room. The browned with age wallpaper stood firmly fastened to the wall. Crystal glass cabinets were placed firmly in a square shape around the room. A creak startled the blond girl which made her spin around.
"Good morning Amber!" The casually dressed crooked man from last night said, as he shuffled in the room.
"Grand farther you startled me."
"I'm sorry Amber, but I have good news!" Amber's bright green and blue eyes went wide with anticipation. "I have something in my possession that is going to save our business." The crooked man pulled out a middle sized brown cardboard sealed box. He slowly broke the seal on the box and revealed the antique shops savior.
The old antique shop had been struggling to survive for three years, Amber's grand father was starting to become in to debt and if he didn't get one million pounds he'd have to sell the antique shop, that had been in his family for 250 years, To a new antique business that had started a chain of antique shops. One of which was just down the street from Amber's grand father shop.
Amber's grand farther showed Amber what was contained in the pale brown box, A tall transparent crystal glass vase lay on it's side sparkling in the sun light that was still streaming through the window.
"Where did you get that much money?" Amber asked surprised.
"I borrowed it, I owe the bank two million pounds and once I sell this we'll have enough to pay the bank and keep the shop going." A small smile graced Amber's face. At last things were going to be okay. Amber thought to her self.
An hour later the crystal vase was placed on top of a white stand, draped over the stand was a long shinny purple velvet cloth. The shinny crystal vase lit up the window and the different colors reflected on the window pain like it was a glistening rainbow. Amber's grand father put posters up all around town advertising the crystal vase, He set it up so in two weeks he would auction the vase and pay back the bank.
Late at night, five days before the auction, the sound of shattering glass could be heard in the putrid stenching gloomy alleyway. The outline of a dark figure cloaked in black could just be seen entering the old antique shops door way. The mystery masked figure left the shop five minutes later with an item in his rucksack.
The next day all that could be heard was the sound of rusty loud sirens, flashing red and blue along the street where the antique shop is situated. A small crowd of people were gathering outside the shop. Amber pushed her way through the crowd, she was shocked to see a broken window pain and a police car. Amber slowly walked into the shop, "What's going on?" Amber asked, slightly bewildered. Amber's grand father sat in a brown wooden rocking chair. While the police searched the shop for finger prints.
"The vase has been stolen Amber!" Her grand father said obviously trying to sort out all the events in his head. Amber's eyes were wide with shock.
"Don't worry grand dad, I'll find the vase." Amber said kneeling beside him.
Half an hour later after the police had left the phone rang. It was a man in New York who wanted to by some antique jewellery. The man couldn't come over to great Britain and wanted Amber's grand father to go to New York and take some pictures of the jewellery with him. Amber's grand father agreed to go, He needed all the money he could get and this deal could be worth at least eight thousand pounds.
Four, O'clock that evening Amber had packed her grand father's things and was putting him into a jet black taxi.
"Now Amber are you sure you'll be all right on your own?"
"I'll be fine and don't worry I'm sure that the vase will show up soon!"
"Just call my hotel if there's any problems."
"I will." Amber's grand father got into the taxi and headed for the air port.
Five O'clock that evening there was only four days until the auction and there was still no sign of the vase. The rain fell down heavy outside, loud crashes of thunder could be heard for miles, The sharp, bright flashes of lightening shot down from the sky faster than a speeding rocket. Long thick brown tree branches rapped on the window. Green, brown and orange leaves could be heard rustling with the whistling wind blowing the tree tops from side to side.
Just after Amber locked the door the pale orange phone rang.
"Hello"
"The vase you're looking for is in London on Mill Road, ask for James Walker, the voice was muffled so Amber could only just make out what it was saying. The phone went dead. Amber wrote down what the person had said and ran up stairs.
The next morning Amber packed her suitcase and set off for London. It was nearly three hours before Amber arrived in London. When she got off the train Amber booked herself into a hotel on Mill Road. The room was painted with a white ceiling, around the top of the room was a boarder of gold painted wood. In the room the wallpaper was white with red and pink flowers on it. Across the room the bed spread and pillow cases matched the wallpaper. Amber unpacked her clothes and personal accessories in the wooden wardrobe. Then she went to look for James Walker.
The streets were packed with people rushing to work or school. Amber walked down the long, gray pavement and into nearly every antique shop along the way. No one had heard of a James Walker. Finally, Amber found a new ish antique shop. The walls were brown inside with glass cupboards encased valuable antiques. All around the shop fastened to the walls were paintings and antiques. Amber walked over to a long, un chipped brown counter. A woman in her early thirties stood behind it.
"Good morning Miss, how may I help you?" The women said in a polite soft voice.
"Hi, I'm looking for a James Walker do you know him?"
"Yes he owns antique shops this is one of many in his collection."
"Do you know where I can find him?"
"Yes he's at his apartment, I'll ring him and find out if he can see you. What did you say your name was?" The women asked still maintaining her welcoming voice.
"Amber Taylor." The women behind the counter smiled and went into the back room. Five minuets later the woman returned.
"Miss. Taylor, Mr. Walker says he can see you, he lives down the street at 32 Rolstone Avenue."
"Thank you for your help." Amber left the shop.
Five minutes later Amber stood outside the apartment door. The apartment was in the richer part of London. Amber knocked on the door, A smartly dressed man in a black and white suit with black and slightly gray hair answered the door.
"You must be Miss Taylor, I'm James Walker please come in." The man walked along a long white painted corridor which led into a living room. Inside the apartment the living room was Hugh. It was decorated with cream wallpaper which had small red roses on it. A gold border went around the top of the walls. A red sofa sat in the middle of the room, it was long and made for three people. There were two arm chairs that were angled towards the sofa and television.
"Please have a seat Miss. Taylor." Amber sat on the sofa, while Mr. Walker sat on the right arm chair. Amber studied James Walker. Slight highlights of gray could be seen In his jet black hair, His face was very pale and looked very thoughtful, his black and white suit fit him perfectly and made him look very smart.
"So what can I do for you Miss. Taylor?"
"I'm here because I heard that you might know where my grand father's crystal vase is." Amber passed James Walker a photograph the vase.
"Yes Miss. Taylor I do recognise the vase. A man was trying to sell it to me a few months ago but I didn't need the vase, I heard that Mr. Fielding owns the vase at the moment."
"Do you know where he lives?"
"Yes he lives at 24 Millands Road."
"Thank you for your help Mr. Walker." Amber said shaking his hand and leaving the apartment.
It was getting late so Amber decided she'd go and see Mr. Fielding in the morning.
Amber realized, the next morning that there was only two days till the auction. She hired a taxi and went to Millands Road. Walking down the long pebbly street she could feel the 1st rays of sun on her back. Millands Road was a relatively upper class area. There was hardly anyone around.
It took Amber just over half an hour to find Mr. Fielding's home. Amber stood in front of a tall white door, she slowly rapped on the door. A tall man around twenty three, with dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes opened the door. Amber recognized him but wasn't sure where from.
"Hello, what can I do for you?"
"Hi, I'm Miss. Taylor, I'm looking for Mr. Fielding."
"You've found him, So how can I help you?"
"I'm looking for my grand father's vase."
"You better come in." Amber followed Mr. Fielding into the house. There was a staircase as you entered the house. It wound up the walls leading to a landing with a balcony above the foyer. The hall had dark blue wallpaper with a cream carpet. As you leave the hall you walk straight into the lounge. There was a roaring fire going, the television was switched off and there was a soft slow song coming on from the CD player in the corner of the room. A three seater sofa stood in the center of the room. Next to the sofa, on each side was a matching chair.
"Please take a seat." Amber sat on the sofa Mr. Fielding sat next to her.
"The vase was stolen from my grand father's antique shop. With out the vase we'll have to sell the shop. There was a tear forming in Amber's eye at the thought. Amber's eyes slowly fixed on Mr. Fielding's light blue eyes.
"Doesn't the shops insurance cover theft?"
"They would only my grand farther hadn't had time to get the vase insured."
"Would you like a drink Miss. Taylor?"
"Yes please, call me Amber."
"Amber Taylor?" Mr. Fielding said his eyes went wide.
"Is there a problem Mr. Fielding?"
"You can call me Bray." Amber stared straight at him she new exactly where she new him from. Bray was her friend for a year. When she was fifteen. Bray had to leave a few weeks after they'd got in a relation ship. Amber walked slowly towards Bray. She couldn't believe she didn't recognise him.
"I don't believe it after all this time."
"Seven years." Amber said standing in front of Bray. It was like they were drawn together in a powerful attraction as they embraced in a passionate kiss. They finally managed to pull each other away. Amber sat down, Bray sat next to her still holding hands.
"I've missed you Bray."
"I've missed you two Amber, but I have something to tell you."
"Go on!" Amber said curious.
"It was me who stole the vase from your grand father's shop." Bray said standing up.
"Why?" Amber asked trying to make sense of what Bray had just told her.
"The vase has been in our family for years it was stolen three years ago and sold on. My mother was on her death bed and wanted the vase to be buried with her, we have money but not enough to buy the vase back. I managed to locate it at your grand father's shop. I didn't know that he was your grand father I guessed he must have had it insured so I stole it. Then I buried it with my mum.
"What am I going to do, Bray? That vase was our last hope."
"Maybe it wasn't."
"What do you mean?" Amber inquired, with some new found hope.
"Wait and see."
"It's late I should get going. I'll see you tomorrow." Amber kissed Bray and left.
When Amber woke up the next morning she was worried. There was only one day till the auction and with no vase it would all be over for her grand father. Amber got out of bed and went to get dressed in a pair of black leather jeans and a red top, Amber grabbed a small blue bag and went round to Bray's house.
Amber slowly knocked on the door.
"Hi Amber." Bray said as he opened the door. As soon as Amber walked in Bray shouted "I've got it!" He took her hand and led her into the living room. Amber couldn't believe her eyes on the table was a crystal vase.
"How did you get it?"
"I got a friend to make an exact copy of the vase." Amber lifted it up. There was no way of telling that the vase was a fake.
"This is fantastic , Bray." Amber hugged him. "I've got to go back to the antique shop, I want you to come with me Bray.
"What? You mean now?"
"In the two hours."
"You mean for good?"
"Yeah, I love you Bray."
"I love you too Amber."
"So is that a yes?"
"Yes." Bray hugged Amber
Two hours later Amber and Bray arrived at her grand father's shop. It was late so Amber placed the fake vase in the window. After they had finished they headed off to bed.
When Amber came downstairs in the morning, It was nearly time for the auction. Amber's grand father had arrived back at the shop an hour before. He was happy to see that the vase was back in the window.
The vase was sold for 5 million pounds to a Mr. Jack Devy.
Amber's grand father paid back the bank and kept the shop open. And as for Amber she found what she was looking for but was it really the vase or Bray?
