Chapter 4 - The Case of the Stolen Artifact

 
The Case of the Stolen Artifact
Detective Mehul and Detective Aalia arrived at the Grand City Museum, where a priceless artifact—a golden statue of a phoenix—had been stolen the previous night. The museum was in chaos, and the security team had no idea how the thief got past the alarms.
“Sir, the statue was in the Ancient Egypt exhibit,” Aalia said, flipping through her notebook. “The security cameras were disabled, and the only clue is a feather left behind.”
Mehul nodded. “Let’s see what we can find.”
 
The Scene of the Crime
The exhibit room was dimly lit, with glass cases displaying ancient artifacts. The pedestal where the phoenix statue once stood was empty. A single golden feather lay on the floor nearby.
Aalia picked up the feather. “Sir, this looks like it’s from the statue. But how did it break off?”
Mehul examined the pedestal. “There are scratch marks here. Someone pried the statue loose.”
The Suspects
The museum director introduced four people who had access to the exhibit the previous night:
  1. Dr. Patel, the head curator. “I was in my office all night, reviewing inventory. I didn’t see anything unusual.”
  2. Mr. Gupta, the security guard. “I was patrolling the halls. The alarms never went off, so I thought everything was fine.”
  3. Ms. Khan, the restoration expert. “I was working on a pottery piece in the lab. I didn’t hear anything.”
  4. Ravi, the janitor. “I was cleaning the lobby. I didn’t go near the exhibit.”
Mehul asked, “Did anyone notice anything strange last night?”
Everyone shook their heads, but Aalia noticed Ravi avoiding eye contact. “Sir, Ravi seems nervous,” she whispered.
Mehul nodded. “Let’s look for more clues.”
detective stories ad - 1
The Puzzle: The Golden Feather
Mehul examined the golden feather. It had a small inscription on the base:
“Follow the light to find the truth.”
Aalia raised an eyebrow. “A riddle? This just got interesting.”
The Clue in the Security Room
In the security room, they found the footage from the cameras. The last frame before the cameras were disabled showed a shadowy figure holding a flashlight. The time stamp read 11:45 PM.
Aalia pointed to the screen. “Sir, look at the flashlight. It’s reflecting something… a logo?”
Mehul zoomed in. The reflection showed a logo that read:
“Gupta Security Services.”
Aalia frowned. “Mr. Gupta’s flashlight? But he’s the security guard.”
The Clue in the Restoration Lab
In the restoration lab, they found a workbench with tools scattered everywhere. Aalia noticed a small piece of paper under a magnifying glass. It read:
“The key is in the light.”
Mehul picked up a nearby flashlight. It had a small key taped to the handle. The key had the number “204” engraved on it.
Aalia grinned. “Sir, this could be a locker key.”
The Clue in the Janitor’s Closet
In the janitor’s closet, they found a locker with the number 204. Inside was a bag containing a pair of gloves and a receipt for a gold polishing kit, dated the previous day. The receipt had the name “Ravi” on it.
Aalia’s eyes widened. “Sir, Ravi bought a gold polishing kit. Why would a janitor need that?”
detective stories ad - 2
The Puzzle: Connecting the Clues
Mehul and Aalia pieced together the clues:
1.The golden feather with the inscription: “Follow the light to find the truth.”
2.The security footage showing a flashlight with the “Gupta Security Services” logo.
3.The key in the restoration lab with the number “204.”
4.The receipt in Ravi’s locker for a gold polishing kit.
Question for the Reader:
  • Who had access to the flashlight with the “Gupta Security Services” logo?
  • Who bought the gold polishing kit?
  • Who could have used the key to locker 204?
Can you connect the clues to find the thief?
 
The Revelation
Mehul and Aalia confronted the suspect. “We found your receipt for a gold polishing kit,” Mehul said. “Why did you need it?”
The suspect broke down. “Okay, I took the statue. I needed money, and I thought no one would notice.”
The Solution
The clues pointed to Ravi, the janitor:
  1. The flashlight with the “Gupta Security Services” logo was used by Mr. Gupta, but Ravi had access to it as part of his cleaning duties.
  2. The receipt for the gold polishing kit in Ravi’s locker showed he was preparing to handle gold.
  3. The key to locker 204 was found in the restoration lab, suggesting Ravi had access to restricted areas.
    Answer: Ravi, the janitor, stole the golden phoenix statue. The feather, flashlight, key, and receipt were the key clues.
As they left the museum, Aalia smiled. “Another case solved, sir. You’re really good at this.”
Mehul rolled his eyes. “Just get in the car, Aalia.”
She laughed. “Yes, sir!”
detective stories ad - 3