The girl had just entered the shop when a portly man came running from behind the long row.

"You would be officer Andrea if I am not mistaken," he said as he reached her, to which Andrea nodded.

"You called and said that you have a case for me?" Andrea asked.

"Yes, its a very important one you see this is one of the biggest stores in the country, and not only is this a jewelry shop but a bank for jewelleries too where you can deposit your valuable. Our reputation has made the queen herself deposit her valuable gem scepter here"

"Your store must be making good money if the queen herself trust's you with her belongings"

"Yes, but there's a problem that has risen. Her Majesty's scepter that was stored here, its-it's missing" he broke down at the last word.

"Well this really is a serious case, let us meet your staff first," Andrea said.

After some time the staff was standing in front of her and she was looking at them.

There were in all five people three girls who were doing part-time there to support themselves. When she had questioned them she came to know that they all lived together. She ruled them out, for if they lived together it would be risky for anyone of them to steal and hide it in their apartment. There was another thought that she had, they all might be in it together but, this seems unlikely and far fetched so she didn't bother.

Now remained the other two one was the manager and Mr. Gray the owner trusted him the most. That left the last person, the boy.

Mr. Gray suspected him and when she had asked him why he had answered that the boy had joined just a week back and that too he agreed to work for a small sum of money.

Andrea couldn't think of anybody more guilty than him. She went to him and motioned for him to come to the storeroom.

"I would like to interrogate him in private if you don't mind," She said to Mr. Gray when he looked at her.

"Go ahead, I don't mind the least," He said as he motioned his head towards the storeroom.

When they both were in the room, Andrea turned to face the boy.

The boy was propped against a container he had an arrogant smirk "You think that I stole the scepter" He said.

Andrea was surprised to see that they had come straight to the point, but this made it easy for her.

"Listen, kid......."

"You don't need to explain, I know what you are going to say"

"Really," Andrea said raising an eyebrow.

"I know you suspect me, cause I came here a week before and am ready to work at whatever I get, what a cliché"

Andrea snorted "If you know so much then who according to you has stolen the scepter"

"Isn't it obvious, the manager has stolen it"

"How could you be so sure about it,"

"I have proof,"

"What is it, show me," Andrea said now interested.

"Come with me, I will show you" saying this he walked to the door and opening it went outside Andrea followed in his wake.

He walked to Mr. Gray "Officer Andrea wants to see where the scepter was kept"

"Follow me," he said and then they went to the door at the far side.

Entering the room Andrea saw that there were various lockers there which had the most modern security.

"I think this will do sir, you should wait outside," the boy said to the owner.

Without arguing Mr. Gray went outside, the boy waited till he was out and then closed the door.

"What is the meaning of all this? " Andrea asked.

"You were the one who wanted to see the proof"

"What does coming here have to do with that,"

"I will show you what this has to do with the proof"

The boy went to one of the safes, took out the gear and inserted a disc from his silver disc case.

"Wait a minute, from where did you get that device"

"You mean this gear," he said holding up his hand that had the gear "I had it from my birth"

"Oh, what does that machine do," Andrea said feigning interest so as to show that she didn't know it was a future gadget that she knew about.

"I wouldn't act like that, if I were you, after all who knows about it better than you," The boy said amused.

The thing that the boy knew all about the gear troubled her a lot.

"Here see for yourself," the boy said as he activated the gear.

For some time nothing happened then she saw a ghost of the manager coming from the door, the ghost went to the same safe where the boy stood. He opened the safe with the master key and then took out the scepter and then taking it to the last safe deposited it there" after that the ghost vanished.

"So, what do you have to say now," the boy said.

"Well I guess you were saying the truth then boy, well done"

They came out of the room, Mr. Gray was in the room pacing, seeing them coming out he stopped "So, did you find out who stole the scepter" he enquired.

"I have found the scepter and the thief, come with me," Andrea said and went to the room. Mr. Gray and the manager followed him.

Andrea went to the safe where the scepter was kept by the thief "Can the manager please open this safe" she motioned towards the safe.

"I don't get it...." the owner started but Andrea stopped him "Trust me, now will the manager please open the safe"

"How can I open that safe," the manager asked weakly.

"Open it with the master key that you have," Andrea said.

The manager having no choice opened the safe and Mr. Gray looked in eagerly to find the scepter resting there safely.

" As you can see that the scepter is safely hidden here," Andrea said.

"But, how did this landed here?" Mr. Gray asked.

"That question can be answered by your manager" Andrea replied.

The owner turned towards the manager only to see him scuttling towards the door, He was about to run when his path was blocked by the boy, he tackled him.

Andrea went there and cuffed the manager, taking him to the car outside she pushed him at the back.

Returning to the manager she said "I would need the boy to register the complaint"
The owner nodded and the boy followed her.

They took the car to the station and after securing the manger in the cell, they moved to the office.

Andrea took her seat behind the desk and the boy sat on the chair.

"So"

"So what? " the boy asked carefreely.

"How do you know about the gear and about me knowing it?"

"My master told me about the gear"

"Who might your master be," Andrea asked having a feeling that it was somebody from the future.

"The master name is Hïuè, he told me about the gear and to help you that was why I took the job there"

"You mean to say your master knew that this was all going to happen," Andrea asked shocked.

The boy just nodded "He told me to help you, to be your partner"

"I don't know if I want a partner," Andrea said unsure.

"Well I was told by the master so this leaves me no choice but to follow his orders"

"Okay then you will be my partner boy," Andrea said making up her mind.

"Well then Ren, welcome to the team"

"Thanks, alot" Ren said.

"I guess you have to go to Mr. Gray and say that you are quitting there"

"I guess you are right, hmm," Ren said as he went out to inform Mr. Gray about his resignation.

Andrea just watched him as he went contemplating if she took the right choice by making him her partner.