Chapter 5
A Shadowy Pursuit
Anya's investigation leads her to a known fence for stolen antiquities, a potential link to the shadowy organization. Clara, using her astronomical expertise, identifies a rare celestial alignment mentioned in the notes.
The fluorescent hum of the precinct was a jarring contrast to the quiet, starlit nights Clara Vance usually inhabited. Detective Anya Sharma, however, seemed to thrive in its sterile glow. She tapped a pen against a manila folder, her brow furrowed as she stared at a grainy photograph of a celestial globe, its intricate brasswork glinting under the harsh light.
“Another one,” Anya murmured, her voice a low rumble that cut through the ambient noise. “The ‘Orrery of Aethelred.’ Supposedly dates back to the 11th century. Vanished from a private collection in Greenwich two nights ago.”
Clara, perched on the edge of a chair that felt far too small and uncomfortable, nodded slowly. The Orrery of Aethelred. It was one of the artifacts mentioned in Dr. Reed’s notes, a cryptic entry scribbled in the margins beside a sketch of a comet. “Dr. Reed believed it held… a key,” Clara offered, her voice hesitant. She still felt like an intruder in this world of flashing lights and gruff voices.
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