THE NEXT MORNING, THE SPOT where Zack had blocked off the entrance to the museum was now taken up by a police car. In fact, the whole neighborhood was swarming with police cars. Cops in uniform were taking statements from people on the street, and a TV news crew had just pulled up in front of the museum. Everyone was talking about the mysterious disappearance of the Throne of Felipe.
“These thieves were smooth,” a news anchor was saying into a microphone. “Detectives have been searching the premises since early morning, but the robbers split without a trace.”
“I practically handed the throne to them,” Carmen grumbled. “I guess we better see if anyone in the museum knows anything.”
The museum had a complicated security line after the theft yesterday, but eventually they made their way into the museum and back to the long, narrow hallway, now brightly lit and crowded with people gawking at the scene of the crime. The spot where the throne had been was roped off with police tape. Carmen made her way to the front of the crowd while Zack and Ivy fanned out to look for evidence.
The area where the base of the throne had sat was a slightly different color from the rest of the floor and left a perfect outline of where the throne should be. To Carmen, it looked like the last piece of a puzzle, waiting to be added. She sighed sadly. She had been so close to stopping VILE. Now the throne was probably being sold to other criminals, and Countess Cleo was probably shopping for rubies and diamond earrings.
Someone sighed to Carmen’s left, echoing her sadness. Carmen looked up and saw a woman with long black hair. There was a name tag pinned to her blouse. She looked miserable.
“Do you work here”—Carmen stopped to take another look at the woman’s name tag—“Milagros?”
Milagros gave Carmen a small smile. “You can call me Milly,” she said kindly. “And yes, I’m a curator here. I help plan the exhibits. Although right now I don’t really know what I am—I’ve been working on this throne for years. Now it’s gone.” She looked like she might cry.
“You don’t have any idea who could have stolen it?” Carmen asked eagerly.
“None at all. Of course, the throne had been getting attention last week . . .”
Carmen nodded knowingly. She had been following the news since last Tuesday, when it was announced that one of the missing inlays from the base of the throne had been discovered in Sevilla, Spain. The silver castle, the shape meant to be placed just to the left of the arrow, had been found in a secret vault. A researcher had been exploring the Archivo General de Indias, an enormous library of old documents in Sevilla, when she stumbled upon a trapdoor that led down to a maze of tunnels below the city. No one had set foot in the tunnels for centuries, until this researcher found the trapdoor, and the vault with the missing silver castle.
“The throne on its own is valuable,” Milly continued, “because mahogany is expensive wood. And of course silver is costly too. But it’s the two together that are the real prize for criminals, I think. The throne reunited with its silver inlays would fetch an astronomical sum on the black market. Someone must have heard about them on the news last week—and decided to come steal the throne.”
And I know who that someone is, Carmen thought.
Milly stared ahead at the spot where the throne had been. She blinked several times. Hesitantly, Carmen put her hand on Milly’s shoulder. “This throne must have meant a lot to you.”
“Oh, it’s been a fascinating project,” Milly said. “The details on the silver arrow were incredible. Some of the finest artistry I’ve ever seen in silverwork. Even after all these centuries, it’s still perfect. You look at the silver arrow and you can almost imagine that it’s a real feather on the end.”
Carmen felt a rush of affection for Milly. She had thought the exact same thing when she saw the arrow last night. It had been remarkable. There was hardly any time with Paperstar on her tail, but now that it was stolen, she wished she had taken more time to appreciate it.
“The silver castle was supposed to be delivered here from Spain next week,” Milly went on, “so that we could attach it to its spot on the base of the throne. I was so looking forward to seeing it.”
Suddenly Carmen had a thought that filled her with dread. “Milly!” she said sharply. “Has anyone contacted the people in Spain? If the throne was stolen because of the silver arrow, I can’t imagine the same people aren’t after the silver castle.”
Milly’s eyes grew wide. “You don’t think—I thought for sure it was a local thief, just someone from New York—”
And I know for sure it was a band of international criminals, Carmen thought. “This theft was a complicated job,” she said. “I wouldn’t rule it out. You said it yourself, it’s the two together that would be the real prize. Do you know the people who have the castle? Can you get in touch with them and put them on high alert?” Mentally, Carmen was already trying to calculate when the next flight to Spain would be. She couldn’t let the silver castle be stolen along with the throne.
“I could,” Milly said. “It’s on display at the Archivo until next week, when it was supposed to be sent here. I have to go contact them.” Looking frantic, Milly started to walk away, then broke into a run.
Carmen was left standing alone, surrounded by people speculating about the theft.
“Maybe they broke in through a window,” said a woman in high heels.
“Or they disguised themselves as movers,” suggested another.
Carmen shook her head. These theories were getting wilder and wilder. She wondered if the throne had gotten this much interest before it was stolen. She pushed through the crowd and headed toward the door. She needed to touch base with Player and get herself to Spain.
Just as she was reaching the exit, someone tapped on her shoulder. It was Milly. She was out of breath.
“I’m sorry,” Milly said. “I made the call. They’ve put everyone on high alert and are adding additional security. But I meant to ask, I didn’t get your name. You’ve been . . . very kind.”
“It’s Carmen.” She held out her hand, and they shook. “I actually . . . I meant to tell you, I did see the throne before.” Carmen didn’t mention when she had seen it. “It was beautiful. I thought the same thing as you, that the feather at the end of the arrow looked almost real. I’m sorry it was stolen.”
“I am too. But I’m glad you appreciated it for what it was worth. And glad you gave me the idea to contact people in Spain—maybe we can save at least one part of the throne.”
“Or get it back,” Carmen said.
“Dare I hope?” Then Milly asked, “Have you eaten? I’m headed to my lunch break.”
Zack appeared as if out of nowhere. “Did someone say lunch? Because I’m famished!” On cue, his stomach rumbled loudly.
“Knock it off, bro,” Ivy said, coming up behind Zack. “Carmen’s having a conversation here.”
Milly laughed. “Are these your friends?” she asked Carmen. “Well, everyone’s invited. Lunch is on me.”