Freddie’s Mom used to be a big wheel at the Field Museum in Chicago where she supervised the entire Middle Eastern collection. But, when Freddie’s Dad was killed at the Pentagon on 9/11, Ms. Dunkleberger took the job at the Exploratorium to be close to Freddie’s grandparents.
When Freddie moved to Granite Falls he was a kid with a Big City Complex. He used to start every other sentence with ‘In Chicago we do things differently.’ However, with patience and some negative reinforcement (a frog in the arm or an Indian burn) we eventually broke Freddie of that annoying habit.
Anyway, after I received the Code Red message, I wrote out a note for Mom and took out for the museum as fast as my feet could peddle. The entire club was assembling when I rode up.
The Exploratorium was built on the site of an old Forest Service training center. In the back are a group of original brown brick building with green tile roofing where museum collections are stored. The site is covered with tall pine trees and there is a beautiful clear creek that bubbles through the center. The creek is dammed into a lush little fish pond that contains giant Japanese goldfish called Koi. The Koi come to the surface begging for food every time someone walks by.
The hub of the museum is a two story building with a fossilized limestone base and great big windows that spiral up to a circular tower on one side. The other side squares into offices and a loading dock. Out back is a well kept barn that houses a petting zoo with a variety of goats, rabbits, cattle and the giraffe that the club donated.
Freddie was standing on the cement walkway when we pulled up out front. He quickly filled us in on why he brought us all together.
“Someone took Amon Re’s death mask. They just grabbed it right out of the display case in the middle of the museum without even removing the padlock. The museum was getting ready for the exhibit that is supposed to open tomorrow. Mom’s worked for over a year to get all the details set. And now, someone’s stolen the center piece of the whole project. We have to get it back for her.”
“We’ve gotta get Amon Re’s death mask back, before the museum opens tomorrow afternoon!”
“Don’t worry Freddie,” Charlie assured him. “We’ll do our best to find out who took it and to get it back safe and sound. We have some top flight scientists and mystery solvers, not to mention the best locator in the world. If that mask is still here, I’m sure we can find it. We just need to apply some scientific investigative techniques.”
“Yeah,” said Shad. “First of all, does this fellow Harmon Ray have any idea who took his mask?”
“It’s not Harmon Ray, doofus,” Freddie replied, clearly upset by his Mom’s predicament. “It’s Amon Re. A-m-o-n space R-e,” he spelled.
“Don’t call me a doofus, doofus,” said Shad. “If some of us had better elocution others of us would not be confused.”
I started to comment that it would take more than elocution to end Shad’s confusion but I knew that would just sidetrack our investigation.
As we walked around to the corner of the museum, Freddie explained that Amon Re was an Egyptian Pharaoh that lived about 5000 years ago. When Amon Re died, the solid gold death mask was placed on his mummified body so that his soul could recognize it in the afterlife. The mask was priceless and the museum had recently upgraded its security systems in order to protect it during the very last public display in the USA. In two months the owner of the mask, Edmond Carpmouth III, was bowing to political pressure and donating the mask to the Egyptian government.
“How did this priceless mask end up in our little town?” Toby questioned.
“It’s kind of odd,” Freddie replied. “Mom has been trying for years to get Mr. Carpmouth to put one of the Amon Re pieces on display at the Field Museum. He has always turned her down flat. He would not even send one of the four Coptic jars that the mummy’s organs are stored in.”
“Now, all of a sudden, he chooses the Granite Falls Exploratorium for this final exhibition. And, he agreed to display the mask, the mummy, all four Coptic jars and Amon Re’s giant stone sarcophagus.”
“He even sent some of his own people over to work on special security upgrades.”
“Mom can’t figure out why he chose us. But, it’s the biggest exhibition she’s handled since she left the Field Museum and she’s really excited about it. If it’s cancelled over the robbery, she’ll be broken hearted.”
“We won’t let that happen,” Charlie assured him. “Let’s get into that exhibit room and get this investigation started.”
“Good Idea,” said Freddie. “Let’s go. We’ve got to work fast. Mr. Carpmouth is with Mom in her office. He has already called a friend at the FBI who is coming to check things out. So, we have to do our clue finding before the Feds get here.”
Freddie took us inside the building by the side door. We came in through the ‘Life Beneath the Waves’ room and followed the donors tiled walkway toward the main exhibit chamber. (My folks donated enough money so that Jenny and I both got to paint a tile that was laid in the floor here. I took special care to stomp on Jenny’s tile while I admired my own work of art in the hallway.)
We turned the corner and walked under a large colorful banner proclaiming ‘The Majesty of Amon Re’. Moving into the main hall, we began carefully studying the exhibit.
We entered the hall walking along a course set up to handle the large crowds that were expected. The first stop on the tour is the giant coffin-like stone sarcophagus that is set up on the right side of the room. Next to the sarcophagus, you see Amon Re’s mummy on top of a table under a glass top. Still wrapped in bandages, he looks like he is just waiting for the next full moon to get up off that table and seek revenge. (Every time I looked at that Mummy, I could not help but glance around for Brendan Frazier!)
Just beyond the mummy, there were four white stone ‘alabaster’ containers called Coptic jars sitting on a large cloth covered shelf. The Coptic jars held all of the mummy’s internal organs. The organs were removed during the mummification process.
Finally, the last stop on the tour was death mask of Amon Re. The mask was displayed in a case that is on top of a large pedestal draped in black cloth. Onlookers are kept back by velvet ropes on poles like at the movie theatre. Surrounding the mask, I could see three closed circuit cameras and several laser stations that were probably motion sensor devices that controlled the alarm.
The display case is like a glass box with hinges on the back and it reminds me of one of those newspaper racks you put coins into. You can lift up the top of the case, insert the mask and then lower the top and lock it back into place. It seemed like a great place to display something really valuable. Only in this instance, it was empty.
We did not waste any time but got right down to investigating.
Shad made a suggestion. “The first thing we have to do spray everything down with Luminol and get us a black light.”
“And, what exactly would that tell us oh great detective?” asked a skeptical Charlie Sinclair.
“Well,” said Shad. “It shows up any blood stains. It even shows the stains where the blood is dried or the killer has gone to a lot of trouble to clean them up.”
Toby pointed out the obvious. “But, no one was killed here. So, technically there should not be any blood stains to find. I don’t think the mask was bleeding and I’m pretty sure that the mummy had all its blood drained about 5000 years ago.”
“Okay, Mr. Wizard,” Shad retorted. “Why don’t you tell us what we should be doing?”
Clearly, Toby had already worked out a plan in his head and he wasted no time sharing it with us.
“Shad and Freddie, you go look for anything that’s out of place. Search the floor and collect any dirt or pieces of trash. Thor, you to exam the display box. Look for a false back or a slide out piece of glass. Anything that would explain how the mask could be removed while the box was locked. Bogdon, get out the video camera and make a record of everything. Get
tape of all the items on display. Get the entrances to the room. Video tape the walls, the floor, the ceiling, the cameras and lasers and anything else you can think of. And Jeep, you come with me and Charlie. We are going to sweep the exhibit hall and then move methodically through the building and the grounds. We are looking for gold. Any gold at all.”
Toby’s plan seemed as good as any. So, we did what we were told.
Toby gave us a few final instructions.
“Now let’s get moving. We don’t know how much time we’ll have before the FBI gets here and throws us all out.”
I immediately took a seat on the main bench in front of the mask display area. Then I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I dialed up my concentration and I just listened.
‘Hummmmmm’
“Quiet,” I demanded. “I need to concentrate.”
“Nobody said anything,” Toby replied.
‘Hummmmmm’
“But, somebody’s humming. Don’t you guys hear that humming sound?”
“Nope,” said Charlie. “I don’t hear anything.”
“Me neither,” added Toby.
I stood up and circled around the room.
“There is a strange humming sound in this room,” I explained.
I cocked my head and focused on the hum. It only took me a second to realize the noise was coming from the upper corners of the room and then converging at the center.
“It’s the laser!” I realized. “They’re humming.”
“You mean the laser generators are making noise?” asked Charlie.
“Not the generators,” I explained. “It’s the laser beams that are humming.”
Toby walked over and looked me in the face.
“Do you mean to say that you can hear the laser light?”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “I have never heard light before. I can’t hear sunlight, or moonlight or indoor lighting. So, why would I hear laser light?”
Toby thought for a minute.
“Laser light is coherent light. It arises from a process which amplifies and stimulates the light. The emitted photons are "in step" and have a definite phase relation to each other.”
“What the heck does that mean?” I asked.
Toby clarified, “well, basically all the light in a beam is on the same wavelength and the protons are bouncing around in the same phase together. You probably can’t hear individual light waves or particles. But, when they are all singing in the same key you apparently can.”
“Boy,” Toby continued. “This would make a wonderful science project.”
Charlie brought us back to the here and now. “Yeah? Well stick pins in Jeep later. Right now, we have to find the mask.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t hear anything in exhibit room. Those lasers are drowning out the location tones.”
“Well,” said Charlie. “Let’s sweep the rest of the museum and check the grounds. Hopefully, there won’t be anything jamming you up outside this room.”
We took off at a trot and were running as we systematically moved through the building. At each room we came to, I stopped and concentrated, listening for the smooth mellow tones of gold.
I found exactly what you might expect to find in a children’s museum. There were some gold flakes and nuggets in the mineral collection and there was a gold double eagle coin on display in the history collection. At least I did not run into any other laser ‘jammers’, and before long we were done inside.
Moving outdoors, we systematically searched the back property of the museum. The old Forest Service buildings and the barn did not produce anything but a half buried earring and an old tie tac.
However, Tony the giraffe was happy to see us. He kept licking his lips with his purple tongue. I just wished I had one of the frozen fruit juice popsicles that he likes so much.
After we said good bye to Tony, I sat down on a wooden bench across from the Koi pond to rest and regroup. As I sat there listening to the water cascading through a three level native rock fountain, I pondered our situation. Without saying a word, Toby and Charlie sat down beside me and we watched the giant Koi come begging to the surface.
The fish were a variety of colors from deep oranges and blacks to lemon yellows and whipped cream whites. Their patterns were all different but they opened their rounded mouths the same as they swam through the Lilly pads and broke the surface. Colorful feelers snaked out from the corners of their mouths like goldfish mustaches.
“It must be close to feeding time,” said Charlie as some Koi pushed themselves above the other fish and out of the water.
“They are worse than pigeons,” Toby added.
“More like packrats,” I said. “That orange and black one that just broke the surface… I’m pretty sure he’s swallowed a diamond engagement ring. Don’t ask me where he got it.”
“I guess that makes him a diamond goldfish,” said Toby. But, none of us laughed. We had too much to worry about. We were at a dead end, surrounded by giant gold fish that will eat anything.
Charlie finally spoke up. “As much as I would like to stay out here and watch the Koi, we better go inside and see if the other guys have turned up any clues.”
When we walked back into the exhibit hall we found Thor, Bogdon, Freddie and Shad. Unfortunately, they were not alone. Freddie’s Mom, Ms. Dunkleberger, was in the hall along with two other people.
Ms. Dunkleberger was standing there, telling Edmond Carpmouth III whatever you tell someone when their priceless death mask is stolen out of your museum. While she spoke, I took the opportunity to examine the newcomers.
Mr. Carpmouth was a small man with short graying hair. He sported a light grey striped Italian suit. But, he was not actually wearing the suit jacket. He just draped it over his shoulders. On his head was a tan fedora hat that made him look like some kind of mobster.
If the hat was not bad enough, he also had a colorful striped silk scarf–tie thing wrapped around his neck and he wore an expensive pair of highly polished maroon ankle boots. Though we were inside and the lights were low in the exhibit room, he also sported a pricy pair of designer sunglasses. Even with a strong cleft jaw, his face still had a feminine quality. With all these accessories, he reminded me of some strange sissy bank robber.
Next to the Mr. Carpmouth was a much taller man wearing a stark black suit with a starched white shirt and thin black tie. He had black wingtip shoes and his hair was cropped short into a razor-edged flat top. His face was nondescript and could have belonged to someone’s dad. But, from his pocket dangled a picture ID that said FBI.
“More children?” huffed Mr. Carpmouth in an annoyed tone that emphasized his slight lisp. “What are all these children doing running around the museum? Did you invite a cub scout troop in to look for my mask?”
Freddie’s Mom replied, “It’s just my son and a few of his friends, Mr. Carpmouth. I’m sure they were just passing through on their way to the science lab. They won’t be an impediment to the investigation.”
“Well they looked like they were snooping to me,” Mr. Carpmouth countered. “They had better not contaminate this crime scene or Agent Sykes may have to arrest the little rug rats for interfering.”
The FBI man took this opportunity to give us all a big smile and interject himself into the conversation. “Don’t fret Mr. Carpmouth. From my preliminary examination of the scene I am sure that nothing has been contaminated.”
He pulled out a badge and handed it over to us.
“I’m agent Alan Sykes of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Do you mind if I ask you fellas a few questions.”
We each scanned the badge and passed it over to the next Ranger. Shad gave it extra long scrutiny before he handed it back.
“What do you want to know?” asked Charlie.
“Well, for starters, have you fellas seen anyone suspicious around the museum?”
“Nope,” we said.
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“Have you seen any unusual new people around town?”
“Nope,” we said.
“Have you noticed anything unusual or noteworthy here in the museum today?”
“Nope,” we said.
Realizing he had hit a dead end, Agent Sykes took a card out of his coat pocket and handed it to Charlie. “Well, if you remember anything or come across anything unusual, please call me at this number.”
“You fellas can go,” he said. “Just don’t wander into the exhibit hall without asking first.”
“Thanks Agent Sykes,” said Freddie. “Good luck with your investigation.”
He turned to his Mom, “We’re going down to the hands-on science lab if you need us.”
Together we exited the room. Behind us I heard Mr. Carpmouth complaining, “I still don’t know what all these children are doing here.”
I wanted to turn around and point out the obvious answer, that we are in a Children’s Museum! But I don’t think that would have made him any happier.
On the way down to the science lab, we stopped by the security kiosk, where we started a conversation with old Mr. Johnson, the Museum’s security guard. But, within a couple of seconds he was summed by Agent Sykes and left for the exhibit hall.
“Quick!” said Toby. “While he’s gone – play the security tape of the main hall.”
Freddie, who can work everything in the museum, stepped into the kiosk and sat down behind the console. With a few flips of some switches he had the correct tape rewinding. In under a minute, the tape was playing on one of the security televisions beside the chair. He hit fast forward button and we watched the scene in front of us hurry by.
The image quality was not great but we could see enough. The show started out with just the mask in the display case all alone. Shortly, Ms. D walked into the area with Mr. Carpmouth. Of course there was no sound, but we watched the silent picture and saw Mr. Carpmouth making various exaggerated gestures that culminated in Ms. D pulling out a key and unlocking the case. Carefully, Mr. Carpmouth lifted up the case and gently removed the mask.
At that point in time, Freddie’s Mom was apparently called away. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Carpmouth walked up to case. His back was blocking the camera so we could not see exactly what he was doing. It did appear like he was pulling out his handkerchief and wiping his eyes. When he stepped away from the case, the lock was back in place and the mask was inside.