Just Like New

Chapter 1
Starting the investigation

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Chapter Description: Frank begins his investigation into the antique shop Just Like New.

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Just Like New

By Tazz

Chapter 1:

On the corner of main street lied a small antiques shop called “Just like new“. Now it didn’t take in much money, in fact it barely had any business at all. Sure it had a few costumers here and there but hardly enough to pay the bills. Some rumors spread that the mafia owned the shop and the only business came from drug deals and whacks. It being an antique shop was just the cover. Now the truth hasn’t be revealed since no one had the coverage to find out... until now.

My name is Frank. Im a private investigator who was recently hired by a few concerned citizens who let a few rumors terrify them to the point they want the shop closed. Now according the town laws, in order for the town committee to close a shop that pays its rent; is if any illegal actions have occurred. Now every citizen wanted to find any but again no one had the guts. Now me, I don’t believe in any of the rumors, I just believe the shop was owned by an old man who manages to make enough money to stay open.

Now the question I need to answer first is how to get the information. Luckily for me I didn’t have to wait long to get the answer I needed. On the second day I started my investigation, I was looking around the old shop trying to figure everything out when something caught my eye.

“Help Wanted: Looking for assistance. No experience needed. Apply within.”

This was perfect. All I had to do was get the job in the shop and then sooner or later I will learn the secret of how the shop remains open for all this time.

The shop on the inside looked look like just any other antique shop. There were tons of old stuff ranging from old furniture to antique toys. The only person there was an old man standing behind the counter. In the back corner of the store was a door that had a sign that of course said “Keep out”. I figured if any strange activity occurs in here, that door might lead to the evidence.

“May I help you?” asked the old man

“Yeah Im here about the job.” I responded

“Uh, well. I sure wasn’t expecting a man of your age, to be interested. You are what? 25.. 26?”

“Actually Im 27 but that’s beside the point. I may be young but I have a vast knowledge is sales and am very found of antiques.”

“I guess that makes you qualified. I guess since you are the first to come in about the job since I put the sign up. You are hired. When would you like to start?”

“Actually I would like to start as early as possible.”

“How does tomorrow sound?”

“Sounds great. Ill see you then.”

I had done it. I had gotten close enough to the owner. Now it was a matter of time before I found out what goes on in that little shop. Now when I got back to my office later that day, I was met by my clients who had hired me.

“Have you found out anything on that old man and that shop of his?” asked Isabelle Mortana who was the woman that had hired.

“Im a step closer today. I gotten myself a job in the shop and Im bound to find out what goes on in there.”

“Well you better be, Im not paying you to do nothing.”

“Hopefully by next week, I will have gathered enough information for whatever you need to close the shop down.”

Later the next day, I began my first day of working for the old man in his shop. Just as I expected nothing went on. There wasn’t a single costumer all day. The only things I did on the job were checking the stock and dusting everything off. Now on the issue of whether or not any illegal incidents occurring. Also nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Ive seen every room of the shop and even checked if there weren’t any hidden rooms. But there wasn’t any. For the next week, this continued. Nothing going on. I was actually beginning to think that everyone was crazy and that there is nothing weird about the old man and his shop. That was until the shop had an interesting visitor.

I had planned on quitting the next day since there was nothing to go on. This job I had to do was pointless. That day a group of old woman had entered the store. Now since I started working there, I was rarely ever told to leave for anything.

“Frank, could you leave for a hour. I have to do some business with this nice lady.” asked the owner

“Why do you need me to leave?” I asked

“Well I have some personal business to take care and besides its around lunch time. Why don’t you just take your lunch break.”

I knew this was my opportunity. But the thing was would an old woman be a part of a mob or even do any illegal activity? I had to figure things out. I said I would, but what he didn’t know was that I would be hiding behind some of the old antiques. I crept behind an old dresser and turned on the tape recorder as I listened to the conversation.

“Do you have the money?” asked the old man

“Yes but it wasn’t easy to get. Why must it cost me more money every time I come?” asked the old woman

“What could they be talking about? Drugs?” I thought to myself as the conversation continued.

“Now you know the routine, all I need is a drop of your blood and the ritual will begin.”

Ok this was getting strange. Ritual? Was that back room a temple for Satan Worshiping or something. I knew so fat that I had gotten good information but it was diffently not enough to the woman who had hired me. I had to get more information but I needed more money. I decided to go and leave for a little back and head back to my office and give the woman a call.

“Look this recording you have of the old man, isn’t good enough information. It could be about anything. Perhaps they were rehearsing a play or something.” said Isabelle

“Not any play Ive ever heard of. Look I need more money to further my investigation into the shop.” I responded

“Alright but you better make progress. That shop isn’t good for our quiet little town.”

“Don’t worry in good time, I will gather the information that you need.”

As soon as she left. I hurried back to the shop just as my lunch break was over. But before I entered the shop, I got a glimpse of a young woman leaving the shop. Now I must have been seeing things because I could have sworn that woman who left, looked like a younger version of the old woman who entered the shop not long before I left. Now she might have been her daughter or something but why were they wearing the same clothes? Things were diffently getting strange around the shop. I came into the shop and didn’t bother asking about the woman who had entered and the woman who left, since I didn’t want him to know I spying. If he knew, then my cover would be blown.

“How was your lunch Frank?” asked the old man

“Oh it was fine. I also had to do a few errands while I was out.”

“Well Im glad you managed to use your time off to do important stuff.”

The small conversation was quickly over and the only thing we talked about was stuff about the show. Of course I didn’t mention the woman who looked like a younger version of the old woman who walked in, since it was dumb.

Later that day when the store closed, I went back to my office and found my secretary Susan still there.

“Hey how is life in the antique business?” joked Susan

“Hey Im not enjoying it. The sooner I get the information Isabelle wants, the sooner I can quit that crumby job.” I responded

“Sure, just make sure you clean off all that dust off of you”

“Is there any new messages since I left earlier?”

“Oh, speaking of that Isabelle, she stopped by around a hour ago and dropped off another check.”

“Thanks, you can leave if you want.”

Susan agreed to leave and did just that. I looked at the check and it was diffently more then enough that I need. I quickly closed my small office and went done to the camera store down the block. I usually get my hidden cameras there and I figured if I managed to get a camera in there, then that old man’s little secret will be revealed. I bought only a small camera wire that could fit under the crack that could pick up sound and images very clearly.

Every day while working, I would keep it on me for whenever Im told to leave when someone enters the shop. Unfortunately there wasn’t anything like that for 2 weeks; I was beginning to give up until an old man entered the shop. Like the last time, I was asked to take my lunch and again I pretended to do so. So again I hid in the same spot and when the door closed I got to work. I made sure I was heard. I took the little camera I had bought and squeezed it under the door. Now I couldn’t see what was going. Sure I heard a few words here and there but I couldn’t make out anything they were saying. But after 15 minutes I did make out what seemed like whatever they were doing was over. I quickly pulled the camera out from under the door and left the store and made it look like I was just getting back.

I put the camera back in my car and as I went back to the shop. I saw someone leave. Now it wasn’t the old man who entered earlier. Instead it was a young looking guy. But like the old and young woman who came a few weeks back. This young man looked like a younger version of the old man. Now I knew I wasn’t going crazy.

“What is going on in that room in the back” I asked myself

I got back to my office after work and plugged the camera into my TV to watch the footage of went on in that room earlier with the shop owner, the old man and possibly the young man who left. I started watching and at first there was just a few hand shakes here and there. But after 3 minutes things started to really get interesting. The last time, I heard something about needing a drop of blood for something. This was no different. The shop owner asked the man for a drop of his blood. Once he did, the owner placed it in what looked like a goblet. Then he started to speak in a language I had never heard which was weird since in the business, Ive heard pretty much every language. Then...

“Oh my god!”

To be continued

 

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