Log:Night at the Museum: Inspection

Night at the Museum 2021/08/06 	 Carpenter Grimm Magda Evan

4

The foyer to the science museum is brightly lit, and there to greet everyone at the entrance is the large exhibit of a Tyrannosaurus Rex towering over everyone as well as other prehistoric bone exhibits nearby. Light streaming through the skylights in the museum's ceiling, as well as strategically placed spot lighting is used to highlight each exhibit. Most of the exhibits here are meant to catch the eye and draw you further into the museum.

A line has formed next to a round silver ball atop a pedestal as people wait their turn to be charged with static electricity. Further along the curving wall of the foyer a group of tourists stand watching a monitor as it explains a few of the mysteries of the solar system as well as a few things about the alien culture that has been in contact with earth. Cases built into the wall near the monitor hold static displays of the planets and the sun.

A bank of escalators and elevators across from the entrance doors, transport people from the foyer up into the tower where the rest of the museum is displayed. Tucked in back of the bank of escalators is the museums small gift shop, mostly dedicated to postcards with pictures of each exhibit as well as books with further information on the concepts and principals behind some of the elements of science that the exhibits display.

Professor Gutzu asked Gabrielle Grimm and Detective Carpenter to meet her at the museum at 1:45; although it's fifteen minutes earlier than the actual scheduled time for her examination, she is there waiting for the pair. "Gabrielle," the silver-hair-crowned twenty-something-seeming woman greets. "And Detective Carpenter. I'm sure my report would find your desk eventually, but easiest to be here right away, ja?"

Grimm arrives on foot, having taken a ride with Carpenter over here. What? He likes to drive. She doesn't have to gate them around everywhere. She nods to Magda in hello. "Your report?"

Carpenter nods as he approaches, the heels of his dress shoes sounding loud on the marble floors. "Thank you, I appreciate that. So, what do we need to know?"

Magda smiles. "This is formal science, Gabrielle; official, even. If something is done, one must generate a report on the results." She nods at Carpenter. "There are various methodologies for this; x-ray crystalline diffraction and simple examination are the typical ones, though often a sample is taken -- for this, probably a fragment from the butt of the tang -- and destructive examination for the alloy's content is performed. I can do those without, thoufh, so ... it's a bit faster."

Carpenter nods as he listens patiently.

Grimm had briefly explained to Carpenter the night before that Evan McMasters, potential suspect, requested Magda's involvement in the case. Which is a little suspect. "Okay. I'm not sure I know what any of that means."

Magda turns to lead the way in. As the three walk across the lobby, a suited man crosses from the reception/information desk to meet them. "Professor Gutzu, thank you for taking the time. Might I also thank you for your generous --"

Magda lifts a hand to interrupt him. "Just the science today, Mr. Hahn."

The man looks a little nonplussed -- rich people tend to love getting their egos stroked, and as an Assistant Director of the museum, that is his job -- but nods and leads on.

"That's okay," Magda smiles, "It matters mainly that /I/ do."

"What exactly is your connection with Evan McMasters, Magda?" Grimm asks as they walk along.

"He was at my open house at the beginning of last school year," Magda states. "He attends Bayside Academy, one of the secondary schools where I gave my high school level course in ethics; and he was in Past Times coffee shop yesterday and overheard my mentioning today to an acquaintance. To my knowledge, that is the entirety of our interactions."

Carpenter nods. "Ah. That makes sense." He looks around quietly as the group walks to the location in question.

Magda grins. "Ah, but that is what I am /for/, Detective -- information interface."

The three walk down into the private areas of the museum, with the assistant director taking the opportunity to give something of an abbreviated tour, even if the Museum's benefactress has no interest in it; many, if not most, of his comments are therefore directed at Carpenter and Grimm.

When the four arrive in what is obviously a work room, the display curator and her assistant are there waiting, clad in white lab coats. "Dr. Gutzu," the curator (Dr. Fleik) greets her with a handshake, then introduces her to her assistant, Lily Tomsend. They give Magda three things, in order: a lab coat, a holographic copy of the original metallurgy lab report for the item, and a pair of examination gloves.

Once she's put on the lab coat, Magda seems to barely even scan the report as she puts on the cotton-over-latex gloves. "All right," she says, "let's take a look."

After that, with a recording taking place Science happens. Magda narrates (place, date, time, identities of those present, description of item, etc.) as she goes.

Grimm isn't that big into science unless it's involving criminology. She does pay attention to see if anything pings her magical senses. She didn't expect the tour and secretly shoots Carpenter apologetic looks, or 'save me' looks as a student would during a long lecture. But once it comes to the actual studying of the object, she takes out her phone and writes down any notes that could be important.

Carpenter gives Grimm a smile, clearly knowing she's going to have to learn a little patience if she's going to go into detective work. Some things...just aren't that quick.

After about fifteen minutes of such narration, and events like floating the spear-tip/bayonet and telekinetically taking it apart, removing a fleck from the base, then putting it back together before disintegrating the fleck in midair, after finishing the science part of her narration, Magda concludes, "Based on the data provided, I conclude that although the item -is- a spear-tip and plug bayonet produced in the Hessen region between 1710 and 1730, and is virtually identical in every regard, the specific microcrystalline structure and slight differences in the patterns of wear indicate this is not the one donated to the museum twenty years ago." She looks over at Carpenter. "Virtually identical, probably made by the same weaponsmith at the same forge at the same time, but not the same item." She pauses for a moment, thinking. "I /believe/ there is a museum in Fulda that has a similar weapon; you could check to see if they've had a break-in recently."

Grimm's brow furrows at the explanation. "Okay, but...what's so important about this thing that'd be worth stealing? Especially for someone with access to magical items?"

Carpenter rubs hsi temple. "And what's so important about it to replace it with one that's practically, for nearly all intents and purposes, identical?"

Carpenter says, "I'm not seeing a motive. We know the 'what', but not the 'how' or more importantly....the 'why'"

——

Evan rings the doorbell at Gutzu Domus at 2:24 after checking the pocket watch he tucks back into his, well, pocket if not waistcoat pocket. Evan is dressed as no one has seen him before: in a suit for an interview. It's actually a tailored black jacket over a nice crisp pair of tailored khaki pants with a fresh-pressed button down white shirt and brightly-buffed black dress shoes. He's even wearing a tie that has a definite but subdued complex tartan on it. He still, however, carries his messenger bag.

The teen waits patiently, being careful not to touch his recently trimmed hair. He looks like he might be here to try to interest you in a subscription of some sort.

The handful of protestors that walk back and forth on the other side of a red line on the sidewalk by the Domus door boo at Evan as he waits; they bear signs saying 'No Mutants' and 'Keep Humanity Pure' and the like. When the door is answered, it's a solid black man whose first glance checks Evan for weapons, and whose next glance checks the location of the protestors. "You Evan?" he asks. A positive answer has him holding the door for the youth. "Follow me," he says as he closes and secures the door behind Evan.

Boston (that's the man's name) leads Evan back to the garage, and opens the door of a car for him to get in. "Boss is stupid sometimes," he says if -- when -- Evan questions it. "Likes her games." He does, however, drive Evan to the museum, where he valet parks and leads the youth in. "Dr. Gutzu, metallurgy, please," he asks at the kiosk.

This is apparently pre-arranged, and Boston and Evan are escorted down to metallurgy, where Grimm, Carpenter, Gutzu, and the museum's Dr. Fleik and her assistant curator Lily Tomsend wait. Magda, Fleik, and the assistant are all in lab coats.

"Mr. McMasters," Magda says, and gestures the metallurgical report from when the item (on the table) arrived at the museum back onto the holographic display. "Please, a second opinion would be good." The assistant offers Evan a lab coat as well, and has a pair of latex-lined cotton examination gloves at the ready.

Carpenter raises a brow as he sees Evan. But he does offer a wave.

Evan's examination of the bayonet is much less flashy than Magda's examination. He quickly scans the report, pointing out nearly the same points from it that she did. He then puts on the gloves and does a detailed examination of the bayonet. He points out maker's marks, signs of wear and use, repairs made over time. He starts to suggest doing a destructive sampling, but Magda points out she's already done so and gives him the results. He does ask for and get a x-ray crystalline diffraction which he hmms over but doesn't comment on. He diffidently suggests a cross sectional analysis which would involve cutting apart the tang of the bayonet, but Magda points out that it's unnecessary given the x-ray diffraction.

He fingally sets down the baynet and sets aside the gloves and the microscopic goggles he was wearing. "I would hazard that the bayonet was produced in the Hesse region by the manufactory of 'Kleinschmidt und Sohns' somewhere between 1710 and 1731, based on the maker marks. It seems to be identical in casual appearance to the one that was on display here. But patterns of wear and repair as well as the x-ray crystalline examination reveal that it is /not/ the one that was donated to this museum. It is either the best forgery I've every seen or was made at nearly the same time as the original."

He glances around to make certain no one is present and also says, "And no, shall we say, magickal techniques were used in the making of /this/ item."

He looks at Magda. "Are there any other photos of the original? Better ones?"

Evan hmms then adds. "Or a provenance on it? Where it came from supposedly, etc.?"

The curator looks interested; her assistant looks impressed. While there are no other images (the ones provided being everything the museum has on the item), there /are/ a good forty or so, including up-close. A provenance is provided; acquired in 1808 from someone who claimed to have acquired it as battlefield spoils in 1779 during the War of American Independence, kept in-family until twenty years ago, when it was donated to the museum.

Carpenter shakes his head. The same questions remain. Why. Who. How. But at least they know that something was swapped for some reason.

Evan pours over the pictures then shakes his head. "Nothing. Hmm, well, it's not like we can go over the records of Kleinschmidt and Sohns. Don't think they exist any longer." He looks over at the detective and Ms. Grimm. "I think that sivler mite might be the best bet. Sorry, I couldn't be more helpful."

"Only thing that seems even slightly odd about the original to me is that it's seen regular use over time. Including multiple combat uses," he adds at the end.

So," Magda points out, "has this one. But the extraordinarily high degree of similarity of the carbon in the steel indicates to me that they were in the same fire at the same time. You might," she suggests, "talk to a collector. As for the item in your possession, Dr. Fleik," she addresses the curator, "while your official provenance is no longer accurate, I will absolutely sign my name to this one's authenticity."

Dr. Fleik thanks Magda, who then leads the rest out and towards the public areas of the museum.

Evan has a disgruntled look on his face. "It would seem the luck-zone is not with us," he mutters. "It's likely not a reliquary, the original, that I can tell, not holding something else. But there has to be something special about it. I mean, the expense and time that went into this heist makes no sense. Although could be a rabid collector who wants the bayonet because it was used to kill General So-and-so at the Battle of Whatnot. They're nuts, some collectors."

Grimm folds her arms over her chest. "So...we still haven't really learned anything new that's relevant to the case?"

Carpenter shrugs, "We did learn that it was a...same period replacement. So..there's something special about the original. But we don't know what. It might be sentimental to some immortal or something."

Carpenter shakes his head, "Here's the thing: I'm not sure the department is likely to pursue this hard, if the museum doesn't feel strongly."

Evan looks around to ascertain that no one not among this party might overhear. When it's dafe he says, "Does that mean you could, um, check out the mite so I could get a physical look at it? Can you check out evidence? I mean, happens in the trids all the time."

Carpenter shrugs, "Not sure. I'll have to check. Maybe. I'll have to speak to my superiors about it. If the case is going to get dropped...maybe. If it's just going to go into the unsolved bin...I'm not sure."

Walking along with the others, Magda opines, "With the replacement being a truly all-but-exact duplicate, I doubt the museum will press for an investigation." She pauses, then says, "Actually, you do have something. This was a twin, or maybe a triplet. Your perpetrator is someone who knew that such a set even existed. A very, very serious military history buff, or ..."

Carpenter nods. "Or someone who lived it. Sure. That's what I'm leaning toward. It's part of hte reason I'm leaning toward 'sentimental value' for whoever the person is."

Carpenter says, "But it still makes little sense. If the person was a collector, and wanted to swap, they could have negotiated with the museum, perhaps."

Carpenter furrows his brow, "Maybe...they did." He goes to look for the curator.

The Assistant Director would be the better fellow to talk to; he is easy to find, and knowing that Carpenter is 'some sort of associate of Professor Gutzu' makes him attentive at least. "Hmmm, yes, I believe so," he murmurs, typing at his computer to bring up reference documents. "Two or three years ago -- ah, yes, three years. German gentleman, according to the note. But the Delacourte family was a long-time patron of the museum, so of course we declined." He sounds mournful that he is going to have to remove the 'donated by' card from the display.

Evan waits impatiently for Carpenter to get the German gentleman's name.

Carpenter nods. "Can you give me the name of the person who inquired about it? And any contact information you have for them?"

The assistant director hesitates, but then realizes that the 'Carpenter' he is talking to is also the 'Carpenter' that is on his contact information with the police in regards to the case, and becomes helpful again. "Casper Weinstein," he states, and flicks the command gestures to put the man's face into Carpenter's PDA. "Unfortunately, the identity was a fake. Sophisticated, but fake. He returned to Stuttgart before we found out." The man is older, fifties or sixties, caucasian, blonde/blue, very German.

Carpenter takes a look at the photo to see if it looks familiar at all. "Hmm. Thank you for your help, sir. I'll have to see if we get any matches with facial recognition."

"Of course," the ass't director agrees. "As I recall, the man spoke very poor English indeed, and plain enough clothing. Why he might have wanted a simple swap, I have no idea."

The redheaded teen waits until you all are alone again before he murmurs, "OK. So, we have a false ID and probably a false face." He then goes still for a long second. "I wonder...I mean this will sound like something from a Brother's Grimm, or really more Russian or darker fairy tale, but what if this guy is an immortal. But the way he keeps himself alive is through, hmm, drawing out the life force of those who died at the hands of the weapons he forges? Though, hmm, doesn't fit with the silver mite if it's Fae or dwarven. Hmm..."

Carpenter shrugs, "No idea on that count. But it does seem like this is an accomplice. The person is real. Just a fake name. I'll see if we can get a hit in the database. I'm not optimistic, though.

"I'm probably completely wrong though. It's really too fantastic an idea...I probably should've eaten lunch," he adds after Carpenter speaks.

Evan then turns to Magda, "So, you have questions to ask me, right?" He glances over at Ms Grimm and Detective Carpenter. "I'm probably fine with you askng in front of them. They know I'm not quite a normal pup."

Magda looks amused. "Yes," she says, "but what if I'm not fine with their knowing? Besides, they are more in the nature of how you do what you do."

Carpenter raises a brow, and starts to get the feeling that his presence is becoming a burden. "That's fine. I have things to do now, like try to track this face. You two can talk amongst yourselves. As long as Evan stays out of trouble, I'm not hugely worried about what he's able to do."