| He took one last look at the wreck surrounding him, and made a bee-line for the stairs. His steps slowed as he saw the line of debris going up the stairs. "AHA!" He yelled at no one, stabbing his finger in the air victoriously, until he realized that it had been he himself who had made the jumble of dirt and glass on the steps. He squatted down and gingerly picked up the overturned frame, curious to see which of his possessions he had so carelessly broken. It was Lorence DeLary, or Lo D. as he was sometimes called, his old partner. Since academy days, Lorence and Ian had been the best of friends. When they had emerged as graduates a few years later, their friendship was still firm. They interned at the same precinct, rising quickly among the ranks, known as the best team in town. P.R. Taner now sat at the desk Lo used to. Ian shook his head to free himself from the past. In his peripheral vision, he noticed a yellow piece of paper. Delicately wiping off shards of glass, Ian picked it up, and flipped it over to the side with words. Straight, narrow handwriting met his eyes, as his shocked brain realized to whom it belonged. Lo D. Keep close to you, my treasures They mean more than you could know I'm afraid I might've been treacherous One day their value will show "Treasures? What could he mean by that?" Ian mumbles, desperately trying to remember when it was Lorence had given him this picture. It had been a week after he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, from those stupid cigars (the office still reeked of them). So, by treasures, he must mean those items he had willed to me, right? Ian sat on a step, gently tapping the useless frame, ticking off items in his mind. That's the gold pocket watch, old record albums, the two sculptures, and�man; I know there's one more! Oh yes, the china� "China! His voice and body rose at once. The Ghost Cat is looking for something in china. "What did old Lorence know about that I don't know now?" It seems as if Lorence hadn't told Ian everything while they were growing up. And the secret was about to come out. |
| CHAPTER THREE |
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