The blue crystal

As Elanor entered the beige office at the central police station, Harry motioned her to join him. He seemed to be excited. Harry motioned her to join him. Elanor rolled over a chair from an empty workstation and sat down.

'Guess what I've found!', Harry said and motioned on the screen, then pressed a button, which started a video. Harry leaned back and crossed his arms, watching Elanor's face.

On the screen appeared Henry Morgenstern's office, which they had searched just a few days ago. Everything was still on its place: the books were sorted in their shelves, interrupted by small figurines, frames pictures and sculptures. The room was filled by warm sunlight coming through the large window, the shadows of the leaves of the maple trees were dancing through the room. Sitting at his desk was the late Henry Morgenstern, grey hair and neatly trimmed moustache. His eyes were shining happily as he told the story of his family business. Most of this had already come up in Harry's research earlier: how his grandfather Dr Andre Morgenstern had found the secret formula for nectar and founded Star Med.

At some point Harry stopped the video and pointed at the screen, which showed a wider perspective of Henry Morgenstern's desk, which was not quite tidy. Several electronic devices and small pieces of decoration were visible.

'Here, do you see that? I searched the list we have of all objects found in the office and this definitely isn't on it. Unless Dr Morgenstern has removed it himself I think this might be what is missing,' he said.

Harry enlarged the image of something shining blue. It looked like a large glass crystal.

'I already gave Robert Morgenstern a call and he says that yes, this definitely was always there and he just didn't think of it when our people asked about it. It is also definitely gone now. The item was his father-in-law's paper weight - or at least used as one - and he had obviously inherited it from his parents or grandparents. An heirloom knick-knack, if you want', Harry reported, 'I also compared the size with the hole we found in the window and it seems to fit quite well.'

Elanor frowned,'Why would anyone go through the trouble of stealing a glass paper weight? I think we can agree that there must be something more behind this. Did you find out what it could be?'

Harry nodded, 'Well, I could not find anything quite like it anywhere, but...' he pressed a few buttons and the picture on the screen changed from Henry Morgenstern's office to a column of text with the symbol of a red circle with two white dots. We have this very old file – 121 years. A request from the police of Katastropolis to let them know if a 'blue crystal of peculiar shape' turns up anywhere. The description of shape and size seems to fit rather well. It was reported as missing, presumably stolen. Seems like the issue has never been resolved, or at least there is no further information.'

Elanor frowned at the screen. 'You think that old request has any relevance for our case?'

Harry shrugged, 'it's all I could find. Who knows? Might be an invaluable gemstone in reality? A collector's item?'

'How long has this been available?' Elanor asked.

'It was published a few months ago,' Harry answered.

'So enough time for someone to see it, and recognize the paperweight – or whatever it is – and make a plan about how to get it.' Elanor concluded.

Tavaron