Artnapping Page 3

  Then Mr Kei noticed the display just near the airport escalators. Large pictures were hung on movable screens. Underneath were the names of the paintings. Mr Kei moved across to look more closely.

  Christopher followed. He liked paintings of people. But these were not originals. They were posters based on some famous paintings from a gallery.

  ‘D’you know anything about these?’ Christopher asked as Mr Kei peered at the small print underneath. Mr Kei gave a strange smile. He explained that these were part of the collection belonging to his client. They had been on show in Australia and were now going to a gallery in Tokyo. ‘Beautiful, aren’t they?’

  Christopher wondered if they were anything to do with the contract in Mr Kei’s silver- linked briefcase.

  Chapter 6

  Grounded

  They’d been sitting in the lounge for ages.

  ‘At least an hour more,’ said William .’They think it’s something to do with fumes from a cleaning spray used in the plane last night. But it’s a worry. This delay is upsetting meeting times for passengers with business deadlines in Tokyo.’

  ‘Like Mr Kei, the courier with the silver chain?’ suggested Amy. ‘And his partner, the chunky man.’

  ‘You noticed him too, did you?’ William was surprised. ‘I’m not sure they’re partners.They don’t even chat.’ Quickly, he changed the subject. ‘You’ll all be given a free meal in the airport restaurant while you’re waiting. I’ll go and get the vouchers for you. Wait here.’

  Mr Kei looked unhappy. He fiddled with the silver chain. He picked up a newspaper and then put it down. He moved around a lot. Perhaps he needed to go to the toilet? Or maybe he was just worried about not meeting his Tokyo contact on time?

  ‘Would you like me to look after your brief case?’ offered Amy.

  If you could babysit an animal, then surely she could brief-case- sit? Amy had lots of experience animal-sitting for Aunty Viv. Looking after Wilhemina the goat was the hardest. She chewed through everything. A brief-case would be easier to look after than Wilhemina. But Amy had a feeling that Mr Kei was not going to let the brief case out of his sight. And she was right.

  ‘No thanks. It has to stay with me at all times.’

  ‘Why don’t your bosses send the material in the post? Email it? Or send it by fax?’asked Amy as she sorted out her coins. She spread them across the lounge seat. Brown ones. Silver ones. Cents. Rupees. Pennies. Shillings.

  She’d been a coin collector since she was five. Because the twins travelled so much, they often had small change left over. When they changed currencies, travellers often wanted to get rid of odd coins. Sometimes they spent them on sweets. Occasionally an airline collected them for a charity. Sometimes passengers offered them to nearby children. Amy scored a few that way. Other times Amy added or swapped the coins.

  ‘Because the material is secret. Sometimes information is priceless, just like artworks,’ said Mr Kei as Tess approached. She’d been restlessly pacing up and down to fill in the waiting time, like the rest of them.

  Tess flipped a coin from her own bum bag. ‘Heads or tails?’ she asked.

  Mr Kei looked up sharply, his eyes following the coin.

  ‘Tails,’ said Christopher quickly. The coin dropped, rolled and landed, with a tail upwards. Clumsily Mr Kei picked it up, looked at it closely and handed it back to Tess. “Look after it.’

  ‘Tails it is,’ said Tess. ‘You won. So I have to tell you a story. Do you want a real one or a made-up story?’

  ‘Real,’ said Christopher quickly. He liked adventure stories with plenty of action that he could picture in his head. Like a movie running in his mind.

  Tess was a good storyteller. Her voice changed on the spooky bits as she told them the story of the Gold Buddha. ‘This story started hundreds of years ago. A beautiful, solid gold Buddha was kept in a temple. There was a revolution in the country. The monks who ran the temple wanted to protect the Buddha . So it disappeared. The Buddha was thought to have been cut up, melted down and sold for bullion . Bullion is like solid gold bars. This was so the soldiers couldn’t get their hands on it.’

  ‘What happened to it?’ Christopher was absorbed by the story and didn’t notice Mr Kei listening in the background.

  ‘Well, ‘Tess paused to create suspense,’ Years later, a young monk was told to clean up the temple.’

  The twins nodded. Aunty Viv was always telling them to clean up their bedrooms. Luckily, their bedrooms were smaller than the temples they’d seen.

  Tess continued.’ When he was cleaning up, the monk dropped some water on a ceramic statue.’

  ‘On purpose?’ asked Amy. She often dropped plates. People didn’t ask you to set the table so often if you were known to be clumsy.

  ‘By accident. And the gold showed through. The Golden Buddha hadn’t been lost, just hidden under another work of art!’

  ‘Wow!’ Tess continued. ‘Apparently the Chief Monk had told an artist to cover it and make a new art piece. Then they didn’t know what to do. Should they break the outside work of art to get to the gold? Or should they just leave it?’

  ‘Did they break it?’ asked Amy.

  “Yes. The King ordered it. And the Golden Buddha was revealed.’

  ‘Ace story,’ said Christopher. If he’d been the young monk, he would have been proud to discover the treasure. Tess looked thoughtful. ‘Hiding something valuable behind or underneath something less valuable, is the way to go. Or carrying it casually instead of locked up, is safer.’ Tess put the coin away in her bum bag, flicking her long beads out of the way.

  Amy wondered if she was talking about more than the Golden Buddha story. Was something valuable hidden underneath one of Tess’s belongings? Or inside her ceramic beads?’

  Mr Kei commented, ‘Clever Chief Monk. Should learn from him.’ Then he drifted away. ‘What d’you think caused the cloud in the plane?’ Amy asked Tess.

  ‘A mist,’ replied Tess. ‘From the cleaning detergent.’

  Amy wondered if someone had been trying to gas the passengers? She shared this with her brother who didn’t think much of THAT idea.

  ‘Why would they want to gas passengers?’

  ‘To rob them? Take their valuables? Perhaps they were Air Bandits?’

  Christopher was scornful. ‘On a plane? Remember what you said about stealing the painting. There’s nowhere to go! Where would they hide afterwards? And who are they? I didn’t see any thieves. Just some unhappy couples with the wrong prints.’

  Amy thought for a bit. Where would they run to? Unless they took over and flew the plane.

  ‘If anyone was gassed, the pilot would be too. Then the plane would go down and whoever started the gas would crash along with everyone else.’

  Christopher didn’t think much of this gas idea of Amy’s . She’d had better ones.

  ‘Easier places to steal a painting, than in a plane,’ said Tess but she didn’t explain further. She threw a used phone card in the bin. Tess had been cleaning the outside pockets of her backpack. ‘Can I have it?’ Amy put out her hand to pick up the card.

  ‘But it’s all used up. There are no blanks left on the card. You can’t get any more calls.’

  ‘Doesn’t matter. I collect them.’ Amy showed her retro-card collection bound by the rubber band. ‘And I haven’t got this pattern.’

  ‘I like the native animal design,’ said Christopher looking closely at

  Amy’s top card. Although he liked drawing, he wasn’t really a collector. That was Amy’s thing. ‘And the dinosaur’s okay too.’

  A passenger had been watching them. He walked across as Amy flipped through her cards. ‘My name’s Samuel. I’m a dealer. Would you like to show me your collection? Valuable cards pop up in the strangest places.

  Samuel shook hands. ‘ Retro- phone card collecting is the fastest growing hobby
worldwide. My son started at your age. Now his business is ... ‘his voice trailed away.’ Mainly young collectors now, like you. ‘ Amy knew that. Lots of kids at her school in Sydney were collecting them.

  But because she and Christopher went through airports often, that’s where Amy got most of hers. Sometimes travellers left their unfinished cards in the airport phone when their plane departure was called.

  Samuel explained,’ ‘There’s a whole world of collectables. Stamps, coins antiques and porcelain. Most are losing their value or just keeping pace. Phone and sports cards are booming. Going up by more than fifty percent each year.’

  Tess was listening closely. ‘Some antiques are increasing in value too.’ she said. ‘Like ancestral Ming vases, even single ones.’

  ‘Know about them too do you?’ Samuel turned to Tess.

  ‘Just a bit,’ replied Tess. ‘I wonder who that print belonged to? The one with the Ming vase.’

  ‘Which photo?’ asked Samuel.’ My prints weren’t ready from FAST-FOTO when our plane left. Mine were reprints of some of my stock for my new catalogue.’

  Amy explained about the photo mix up and pointed where Red Cloak was holding the photos which he said he’d return to the airport FAST-FOTO shop later. Samuel looked across to the game in progress. The R.P.G.s had their luggage stacked in a circle behind them.

  Amy flipped through her cards. She stopped at her favourite, the life saving one. ‘You’ve got that?’ Samuel peered at it. A flush of excitement came over his face. He talked faster. ‘That was one of the first issued. Do you have one of the $6.00 cards?’ Amy shook her head and showed him. ‘Only the $1.50.’

  ‘Is it worth a million?’ Christopher asked jokingly. He didn’t expect it to be worth more than a couple of dollars. Amy was always going on about her collection, but most times he didn’t listen.

  Samuel explained ‘At first, phone-cards were just a gimmick. Now I’ve got a collector who is desperate to get hold of early and special edition cards. The Geelong Trial Issue’ is one he wants.’ Samuel peered closer at Amy’s card.’ It would be worth your while to sell me the lifesaver card.’

  Amy‘d kept it for ages. Aunty Viv had bought the phone card for her. She didn’t want to let it go. It was part of her set, her special one. And she didn’t really like the way Samuel treated her, as if she couldn’t think for herself.

  ‘No. Sorry.’ ‘I guess you’re one of the kids who got in early and have a collection that cost you next to nothing.’ Samuel sounded a bit annoyed as if he liked to get a bargain.

  ‘Mmm.’ Amy didn’t know what her cards were worth.But the weekend T.V. news had said that a dealer in Sydney sold a limited edition $5 World Wide Fund for Nature card for $2,700 . Highest price paid for a phone card in Australia. Unfortunately, Amy DIDN’T have one of them.

  ‘You’re going to Tokyo too aren’t you. Things are quite expensive there. Like to have a bit of extra pocket money?’ Samuel persisted.

  Amy looked up. ‘Yes. But I’m not selling, at the moment.’

  ‘How much ? ‘Christopher asked, but Samuel just said,‘No point in making an offer if she won’t sell. At the rate cards are being stolen, it doesn’t make much difference. Even the special response squad is investigating the latest sports card thefts. Thieves broke into my son’s All Sports Cards store and took sports cards valued at more than $25,000. Insurance will cover it, but...’

  ‘That much!’ said Christopher. He wondered why Samuel was telling them this. Was he just upset? Was he looking for business or had he been involved?

  ‘The most expensive card was a Micheal Jordan 1986-87 ‘rookie’ card worth $2,500. Only five exist locally,’ said Samuel.

  Amy knew some kids collected basketball sports cards.

  Tess interrupted,’ You seem to know a lot about the theft?’

  ‘All Sports Cards’ is run by my son, but I own it. Well organised thieves sell overseas or interstate in the Sunday markets. Keen collectors will pay anything to complete a set.’

  Tess said,’ Collectors have their passions. Just depends how you feel about what you collect. Could be worth millions or worth nothing. I know a collector in Tokyo who’d pay anything for a special piece of art. And he doesn’t mind how it gets it. Other people are happy with a copy, especially if they don’t know the difference.’

  ‘Who’s the collector?’ asked Amy.

  ‘An Asian millionaire, Mr Ng.’

  ‘How d’you know him?’ Samuel looked surprised. ‘Have you met him in person?’

  ‘Not face to face.’ said Tess. ‘But we’ve been in contact.’

  In the background, Mr Kei walked across to the drink machine, changed his mind and walked on.

  Amy started to wonder. Airfares cost a lot. How could Tess afford to fly to Tokyo? How could she afford to live in Tokyo? Did she have a secret way of earning money?

  ‘Work connections. I know a bit about art. My uncle died and left me a very valuable artefact,’ explained Tess. ‘And I’m going to sell it, soon. Mr Ng might be interested in making up a set.’

  ‘If you’ve got it with you, I’ll have a look,’ offered Samuel.’ Mr Ng is a very private man. Not many people have seen him.’

  Tess said quickly. ‘Got a photo of the artefact with me. Easiest way to show something too valuable to carry. ‘

  ‘D’you want to show me or not? I do deal in some artefacts. ‘He started to move away. ‘But coins or cards interest me more. Amy, if you change your mind about the Geelong Trial Issue, give me a call. I’m going to check something in the newsagent.’

  ‘I’ve got a phone call to make. Then you can have the used card Amy. ‘ Tess left hurriedly. She caught up with Samuel and talked earnestly.

  As Amy put away her coins and cards, Christopher sketched the chunky man who had been sitting silently next to Mr Kei on the plane. His hair was long and untidy. BRUT was the name on his luggage tag, but he didn’t use after-shave. His dark whiskers were just sprouting.

  Beads of sweat were growing on his forehead. Even inside, he was wearing wrap around sunglasses.’ POLICE brand shades,’ noticed Christopher. A fear -of-flying passenger? Or was he an undercover cop? Unlikely. A cheap, open neck shirt, crumpled and very baggy pants. Gloria had warned the twins about flared trousers which could conceal drugs or birds strapped to the legs. Either he had very fat, calf muscles or he liked daggy shaped pants. He took a note- stuffed wallet from his back pocket and counted the notes slowly. That was a stupid thing to do while travelling. In between, Brut looked at his gold Rolex to check the time. Maybe he was nervous? Was it a copy watch? If not, it looked too expensive for the rest of him. Christopher checked the shoes. Expensive Nike joggers. They matched the watch but not the clothes.

  Maybe a clue, but to what?

  A tattoo peeped out from under his shirt sleeve.

  Christopher stared at the I LOVE JULIE in a heart with an arrow which quivered on Brut’s arm muscle. ‘What if you change your girlfriend?’

  ‘No problems. Only cost me sixty in Amsterdam last week and they last for ever,’ Brut said proudly. ‘What a bargain. I’ll get another tatt done if I drop her.’

  Would he run out of body space or girlfriends first, wondered Christopher. Brut unzipped the small airline bag beside him. He unwrapped gold chains which still had price tags. A receipt floated onto the floor. Christopher picked it up and took a quick look. $2,345.000 . Looked as if he’d spent money recently. And that expensive watch was out of keeping with the cheap clothes. Suspicious Gloria would mark him for a baggage inspection. At last, Brut noticed him sketching. ‘Hey, who said you could draw me?

  ‘D’you mind?’ asked Christopher, putting down his pen.

  ‘Yeah,’ said Brut. ‘Hop it. No. I’ll have that first.’

  Brut seized the sketch pad, ripped out the page and tore it to bits. He dropped the pieces into the bin, one by one.
‘Wouldn’t like to litter the airport,’ he sneered.

  ‘Christopher would have given it to you, if you’d asked,’ Amy stuck up for her brother. ‘Wouldn’t you? Some people love my brother’s sketches.’

  Christopher didn’t say anything. He was trying to work out why Brut was so upset about being drawn. It wasn’t as if Interpol was making an Identikit sketch for the police. What did Brut have to be guilty about? There was an old newspaper on the seat. Samuel had left it behind. Amy glanced at it idly. She was a bit of a readaholic. She liked the chains of words which gave her ideas. Christopher liked cartoons, pictures or comics better. On the right hand side of the page was an ad. in a black border.

  REWARD $50,000

  A reward of $50,000 will be paid for any information DIRECTLY leading to the recovery of a rare Ming vase stolen from residential premises in X town on June 7th, worth approximately $1 million. Attempts through the authorities to date have been unsuccessful.

  A rare coin was thought to be stolen at the same time.

  Any decision to pay the reward will be strictly at the discretion of Mr Ng. Queries from any party prepared to consider providing assistance are requested to contact Mr Ng on telephone (03) 7865987 or write to P.o. Box 13, X town. Mr Ng.

  That was the name which Tess had mentioned. The art collector. If he lived in Tokyo, why was he advertising in an Australian newspaper?

  If he was that rich, perhaps he had several homes?

  She showed Christopher who became quite excited. He’d just finished another sketch. ‘That’s a lot of money. What about that photo of the Ming vase? D’you think Tess has anything to do with it?’

  Both of them were a little suspicious of Tess. How could a poor art student afford to fly to Tokyo? Amy suspected that she was carrying something wrapped in her hand luggage. She seemed to know about Ming vases. And she talked to Samuel about selling her uncle’s piece of artwork.

  ‘Coins show up on the scanner, don’t they?’ Amy nodded. ‘What about ordinary money on your pocket, or your bum-bag?’Before Christopher answered, Amy had worked it out for herself. They’d been through airport security hundreds of times. Mostly people carried notes or travellers cheques. Few were as stupid as Brut, showing a full wallet in public. Sometimes, loose coins would send off the alarm as they walked through the doorway and were ‘wanded down’ by the security guards.