The Clock struck 12 in London. Daniel checked his watch.
He came to London to find out more about the cursed mirror. He figured the best place to start is always the origin.
He was in London central park waiting for Frankfort, his chief field researcher.
They promised to meet up at around 10 but it was already, way past that.
Daniel was playing games to pass his time when a shadow was cast over him. Daniel looked up to meet eyes with Jon Frankfort's blue eyes.
"You're late."
Frankfort did not reply and quietly took a seat beside Daniel on the park bench.
He was dressed in his usual garb, a padded jacket, dark jeans and a black hoodie.
"He is too obvious." Daniel thought while looking at Frankfort.
"So do you have dress up like a spy every single time we meet?." Daniel asked in annoyance.
Frankfort started looking around, checking to see if anyone had heard Daniel. He kept shaking his legs, another sign of anxiety.
"What do you need?" His voice revealing his nervousness clearly.
Daniel moved his body to face him.
"If you hate going outside so much then why not just tell me where you live."
Frankfort scanned the area nervously again.
"Do you want something or should I leave?"
Daniel shook his head in distress. Stubborn child, he murmured.
"I want to know the whereabouts of this item." Daniel took out a crumbled picture from his pocket and handed it to Frankfort.
Frankfort took the picture with a gloved hand. He looked at the photo intently.
"You want me to find out where it was made?".
Daniel shook his head.
"No,I want to know where it is now."
Frankfort looked at the photo in his hand again.
"It's not in the shop."
"I know."
Daniel looked away from Frankfort and stared into the distance, his voice a ghostly whisper.
"Look it up in your family journal, I'm sure your father recorded its whereabouts."
Frankfort understood what Daniel meant. Though a family of antique shop owners, the Frankfort's were originally a descendant of Ship Marchents and as the times changed; they invested their fortune on recovering drowned ships.
The Family journal that Daniel spoke of was a family heirloom. It detailed all the transaction since the time Rumple Frankfort, Jon's ancestor began sailing the oceans. It was of course not a single journal.
"Do you have any specifications?"
Daniel nodded.
"It was made in the fifteenth century. It came into your great-grandfather, Hans Frankfort's possession in the late Eighteenth Century, when he was recovering a shipwreck in the Caribbean. It was in your store till 1943 when your father sold it off."
Frankfort got lost in thoughts and was leaving when Daniel called out.
"Wouldn't it be more convenient if we did all this through the internet, phone or at least the bloody regular mail."
Frankfort looked at him like he was crazy and replied through gritted teeth.
"I will inform you in a week's time."
Daniel quickly got up from his bench. His face serious.
"My client doesn't have that much time."
"It will cost you more."
Daniel relaxed.
"She's willing to pay."
Frankfort lowered his eyes, nodding in understanding.
"Meet me here in two days."
"Any assumption on how much this all could end up costing?"
Daniel enquired.
"Going back and forth like this is too tiresome."
Frankfort glares Daniel, with a hushed scream he said
"You're the one who set me up here, #$#$#!"
Frankfort cursed something in his native Nordic tongue.
Daniel teased.
"Easy there, if anyone finds out..." He let the sentence hang.
Frankfort's eyes widened. He sent one last glare Daniel's way before disappearing into the moving crowd.
"Being a wanted dead man sure is stressful." Daniel mused as he took out his phone to continue his game.