It looks like this time, it would be best to devote our efforts to keeping it safe. Of course, if Crow carried it off, that would be a different story; but if an exhibit simply vanished from the Royal Museum of Art, that would draw attention.
“How about it? ’Ave a look at it yourself. Is this music box the real thing?”
“It’s real, as I expected,” Octavia said, approaching the display stand.
Ashton’s shoulders slumped. “Is that right,” he muttered. “Well, of course, we wouldn’t expect a fake in the Royal Museum of Art.” Ashton was probably still bothered by the fact that, last time, the object of Crow’s burglary had been swapped for a fake before its theft.
“Are you confident in your security?” asked Octavia.
After a pause, he replied, “Everywhere except wherever that high and mighty prince was mucking around.”
“Did Edward do something?”
“He was doing something all sneaky-like, but I don’t know what. Chances are, it was just something to make life hard for you, though. Even if he hadn’t, the Royal Museum of Art is secured with all sorts of magical gadgets, so it can get a bit confusing.” Ashton went to pull out a fresh cigarette, then stopped. Apparently he had remembered that there was no smoking allowed in the museum. “Right. Thanks to them, I can’t even ’ave a smoke. I heard that smoke would set off one of those security devices.”
Octavia said, “Only five minutes until the time specified in the announcement, huh?” She glanced at Raven out of the corner of her eye.
He grinned back at her. “Why, that’s right, isn’t it?”
“Where do you think the Phantom Thief will enter from?”
“Beats me! I haven’t a clue. The Phantom seems to be able to appear and disappear at will.”
“From the ceiling, I bet,” Ashton said. “Doesn’t he always? We can at least depend on him to arrive on time, but I bet he’ll talk some rubbish about liking high places.” Ashton’s haphazard speculation was enough to cause Raven’s smile to harden, which in turn caused Octavia to burst out laughing in spite of herself.
Hat guffawed atop her head. “Very good, then! Come at us from the ceiling! Even if you don’t, we’ll still have a good laugh—”
Crack, came a sudden noise, then darkness suffused the museum, blinding them.
“What?! Don’t tell me it’s Crow!” cried Octavia.
“It’s not yet time,” answered Raven, of all people.
Something unexpected was happening. Octavia heard the crash of broken glass and braced herself. Something was on the move. However faint, she also sensed the presence of magic.
“Raven, you’re still there, right?!” she cried. “Stay close to me!”
“Eh? Whaa—” At Octavia’s warning, Raven let out a cry of confusion.
Octavia reached out toward him through the darkness, but she only brushed against his fingertips, missing his hand.
“Raven?!” Surely he wasn’t about to commit his burglary! But the next noise she heard was a thump, as if he’d just fallen on his backside.
At the same time, the music box started to chime. Hat cried, “Oh, no! The music box will be activated, Octavia!”
Ashton issued a command to turn on the emergency lights, and the room flashed into brightness again. Octavia hurriedly looked over her shoulder to see Raven sprawled on his backside, stunned. In one hand, he held the music box. It was playing a lullaby.
“Raven, are you all right? What happened?”
“Something...flew at me through the darkness, all at once. It was probably the music box. After that, I felt something like a cord pulling on my legs, and I fell over...”
“Is the music box intact?!” shouted Ashton, running over.
Raven’s stunned expression hardened for a moment, but it was soon replaced by his usual smile. He closed the lid of the music box. The lullaby stopped.
And that was all. There seemed to be no more suspicious activity from the music box.
“It doesn’t appear to be broken in any place. But I couldn’t tell you what just happened. By the way, what was the time in the Phantom Thief’s letter, again?”
“How unsightly, Raven L. Osvard!”
Just as they heard a loud voice echo through the exhibition hall, they also began to hear a bell ringing from outside. It was the bell in the park that announced the time. They knew then that it was time for Crow, the Phantom Thief, to appear.
“To think you would feign an accident, just because your attempt at theft failed.” In his neat black suit, Edward closed the distance between them with long strides. In one smooth motion he drew the rapier at his waist and thrust the point of the blade just under Raven’s throat.
Octavia, in shock, asked, “What are you talking about, Edward?”
It seemed that Octavia wasn’t the only one who was slow to take his meaning. Raven, with the point of Edward’s sword at his throat and the music box still in his hand, stared back blankly. Ashton too looked perplexed.
After taking a look at their faces, Edward snorted with laughter. “Can’t you tell? This scoundrel just tried to steal the music box. That failed, so he’s trying to fool you by playing it off as an accident.”
“Huh?”
“That music box was equipped with a magical booby trap. A trap that winds a rope of magical energy around the ankles of anyone who tries to take it, preventing them from running away.” So that was why Raven had fallen flat on his backside.
Ashton’s voice became harsh. “Oi, I’ve heard nothing about that! What are you doing putting booby traps on a property I’m in charge of securing without telling me?”
“I received permission from His Highness, the queen’s brother. We couldn’t simply entrust its protection to the police, who have been so thoroughly hoodwinked by Crow, the Phantom Thief, up until now. Really, you should be thanking me. This did prevent its theft, after all,” said Edward. “Well, now, we’ve caught him in the act, so arrest him at once.”
The sheriffs who had been waiting behind Edward moved swiftly, taking the music box away from Raven, who was still sitting on the floor, and grabbing him by his arms.
Ashton’s face reddened. “Don’t tell me you plan to arrest this mug as the Phantom Thief?! Who’d believe such an idiotic story? No matter how you look at what just happened, there must have been an accident or something!”
“Idiotic? Indeed, it was idiotic. This man was a complete fool. To think he would just reach out and grab the music box, not knowing it was booby trapped.”
“The glass case the music box was in shattered from the inside,” said Raven quietly, as the sheriffs forced him to his feet. He gazed at the display stand. It was true—there were shards of glass scattered on the floor around the base of the stand. “The music box came flying at me by itself. And now, all this commotion.... Your Highness, Prince Edward. What contrivance did you actually place on the music box?”