You would think that museums are dark at night. The throng of tourists and bustle of the day ended long ago. So, why then would the lights be on?
The answer is easy, security. If there is no light, the security guards wouldn’t be able to see, and most cameras would be useless. During the day, light streamed in from the skylights placed in intervals along the ceiling. As the day passed in the top exhibition hall, the light would reflect off the paintings and change their vibe. Bright sunny days made a somber painting seem downright comedic. Dull rain filled skies could make a beautiful landscape seem dark and gloomy. This late at night, only the sparsely spaced wall sconces offered a respite from the darkened hallways. Paintings were hidden in the shadows and only a pale glow at the top of each painting showed where they were hardwired into the security system.
Two security guards made their way down the wide corridor in a slow shuffle across the slick marble tiles in the gallery. This far up in the building, you could almost forget that New York was on the other side of these walls. Senior Security Officer Zeil Kee pointed his flashlights at the paintings as he went. The top floor had mostly modern art with abstract splashes of color on the canvas. He never could never figure out their value. It was his opinion that they didn’t look that different from his five-year-olds finger paintings. Paying for something he could find in a kindergarten classroom made no sense to him.
PSSSPTTTT...Clinkle clinkle clinkle…PSSPTTTTT…
“Do you hear that?” SSO Kee turned to the older guard next to him. Lieutenant Gray had worked for Tempo before the gallery had changed owners.
“Yeah.” Lt. Gray halted and listened to the sound to see where it was coming from. SSO Kee heard it again and reeled back on the balls of his boots pointing his light in the direction the sound had come from.
“What do you think that was?” Searching the darkened hall with the narrow beam, he couldn’t see anything out of place. Another minute passed by, but silence reigned.
“Could be anything. This building is old and it could be something caught in an air vent.” The lieutenant smiled to himself. ‘Once there was a possum caught in one of the ducts.” Lost in his memory, he chuckled and shook his head. “Somehow hitched a ride with one of them sculptures we got in from Atlanta about twenty years ago. Damned of a time getting it out. Sounded like that anytime someone came close.” Gesturing to the radio he continued. “Better call it in, due diligence and all.” SSO Kee pulled out his radio.
“SSO Kee to Security Tower. Have you seen anything on the cameras?”
“This is Security Tower, nothing unusual on the feed. Do you have something?”
“Not sure, I think I just heard a noise at the top of the Rotunda, but it could have been my imagination or even one of the radiators acting up.”
“Do you want us to send Jeff over to provide back up?”
“No, I’m sure it is nothing. We’ll check it out and let you know.”
Putting his radio away, SSO Kee pulled out his issued baton. Lt. Gray unlatched the taser holster. Guards in Tempo didn’t carry guns, though Kee had worked in some galleries that had, at least on the late-night shift. Anytime he was in a position like this, SSO Kee could feel the heavy absence of his sidearm. Steeling himself, he began easing down the hall, checking any niches along the way for potential threats.
The hall opened into a wide Rotunda. The space was usually reserved for large exhibitions. Often, the gallery could use a winch to lift any large-scale items up to the space. The space had been closed off over the week to set up the exclusive Shell exhibit.
People from all over the world were coming to the museum for the first time to see the paintings when the exhibit had its grand opening. As SSO Kee inched into the space, he looked at the paintings one at a time. Maybe it was the lateness of the night, but he felt an unusual tension in the air as he looked around.
Lt Gray pushed through the space until he was sure that there was no one in the vicinity. He buttoned his holster back up and lumbered over to where SSO Kee stood. Kee still had his baton out and was just finishing his round when he stilled. Lt Gray held back and shined his light past the other guard to the painting on the wall. There, on the bottom, paint dripped down the frame and onto the floor. Lt Gray frowned and pulled his radio out.
“Security Tower, we have a problem.”
“Report.”
“Looks like someone broke into the Shell exhibit. We found some wet paint on one of the paintings. Looks like spray paint.” Red letters marred the painting. SSO Kee was staring at the damage, shocked.
“It looks like the words ‘Fake’ are graffitied on painting 239…” SSO Kee barely had time to register the sound behind him before he spun around to see a man standing behind Lt Gray. Pointing his flashlight at the figure, it glinted off the edge of a metal knife. SSO Kee felt a sting in his shoulder before falling back, light clattering to the ground.
Lt Gray reached for his taser, but it was too late. The intruder jumped on the guard and swiped across his throat. SSO Kee pushed through the pain and began rushing in to help, but the intruder just laughed and pushed on something hidden in his baggy clothes.
Just as quickly as he showed up, he was snatched beyond the guard’s reach. SSO Kee grabbed his radio but paused at the thick red soaking Lt Gray's shirt. He lurched forward lifting his head up and the angle sent a fresh spray of red into the air. This time, it wasn't paint. He put his hand to his neck and swayed. Kee felt nausea in the pit of his stomach but hurried over to his partner. He pushed Lt. Gray to the ground and ripped his shirt off, holding it to the gaping wound. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a man lurking just beyond the pool of light. Wearing a dark paint spattered hoodie, the man disappeared into the night without a sound.
“Security Tower to SSO Kee!” He heard the crackling of the radio as the world began to get dark around him.
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