The Serpent’s Eye

The Serpent’s Eye

The fluorescent lights of the interrogation room hummed, casting a sterile glow on the polished metal table. Kyson Hunter, his short dark hair neat against his temples, leaned forward. Across from him sat a nervous man identified as Marcus Garrett. Beside Kyson, a silent, imposing presence, was Sisko, the Black Lab/Shepherd. Her black fur was sleek, muscles subtly rippling beneath the surface. Her dark eyes, intelligent and observant, flickered between Garrett and the doorway.—-

“Mr. Garrett,” Kyson began, his voice level and devoid of inflection. “We’re here to discuss the events of last night at the Sterling Gallery. Specifically, what was taken.”—-

Garrett shifted in his seat, his gaze darting around the room. “I told you, I don’t know anything about a break-in.”—-

Sisko let out a low, soft whine, a barely perceptible sound that nonetheless drew Garrett’s attention. Her powerful nose, honed by countless hours of training, twitched almost imperceptibly. She had already picked up faint traces of something unusual on Thorne’s clothing, something that didn’t belong to the sterile environment of the gallery.—-

“Sisko seems to disagree,” Kyson stated, his eyes fixed on Garrett. “She’s got an exceptional nose for things that are out of place. And right now, she’s picking up a scent that suggests you were at the Sterling Gallery, not as a patron.”—-

Garrett’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “I… I was in the area. Just walking.”—-

“Walking past a secured gallery in the middle of the night?” Kyson’s tone remained even. “That’s quite a coincidence.” He paused, allowing the silence to stretch. “We’re not interested in chasing shadows, Mr. Garrett. We want to know what was left behind. What you took.”—-

The air in the room grew thick. Sisko remained still, a statue of focused attention. Her tail gave a single, slow thump against the linoleum floor, a subtle signal of her continued awareness.—-

“Chief Williams is particularly interested in recovering the artifact,” Kyson continued, gesturing towards the door. “It’s… delicate. And very valuable. And frankly, its disappearance has caused a significant stir.”—-

Officer Davies entered the room, carrying a small, sealed evidence bag. New to the force, Davies possessed a quiet confidence and a knack for detail that had impressed Kyson. He placed the bag on the table, its contents obscured.—-

“This was found near the service entrance,” Davies announced, his voice clear. “Part of a… specialized tool. We’re trying to identify its origin.”—-

Garrett’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly as he glanced at the bag. Sisko’s head cocked slightly. The faint scent she detected on Garrett was now stronger, a subtle but distinct note of metal and oil, not unlike what might be on a tool.—-

“Mr. Garrett,” Kyson said, his gaze unwavering. “That tool… it looks like something that could bypass a specialized lock. Something that would be used to… acquire something delicate. Something like the Serpent’s Eye pendant.”—-

Garrett visibly paled. He looked from the evidence bag to Sisko, then back to Kyson. The weight of the situation seemed to press down on him.—-

“The Serpent’s Eye,” Garrett murmured, almost to himself.—-

“Precisely,” Kyson confirmed. “Now, about what was *left behind*. We know it was taken. We have the tools. Witnesses saw a dark-colored vehicle speeding away from the rear of the gallery. Need to know where it is now.”—-

A long moment passed. The hum of the lights seemed to grow louder. Sisko let out another soft huff, a little more pronounced, a silent insistence.—-

Garrett finally slumped in his chair. “It’s… It’s in my apartment,” he confessed, his voice barely a whisper. “Under the floorboards in the study. I… I panicked.”—-

Kyson nodded slowly, his expression unchanging. He turned to Officer Davies. “Officer, have the uniformed officers secure Mr. Garrett’s residence. And have them look for a loose floorboard in the study.”—-

Davies acknowledged the order with a nod and exited the room.—-

“You’ve made a wise choice, Mr. Garrett,” Kyson said, standing up. Sisko rose with him, her posture relaxed but alert. “The Serpent’s Eye pendant is a significant cultural artifact. Its recovery will be of great importance.”—-

Kyson looked down at Sisko, a subtle nod of acknowledgment passing between them. Her powerful nose had done its job, guiding them directly to the truth, to what had been left behind. The case, with the recovered artifact and the confession, was closed. Chief Williams would be pleased.—-