Eric remained by the wall, his eyes darting nervously between the framed pictures and the door. The muffled jazz continued outside, but he knew it couldn't last much longer. His anxiety about being caught drove him to study the frames more carefully, if only to have something to focus on besides his racing heart.
​
Three frames hung on the cave wall in a neat row, each containing a simple image that seemed oddly deliberate in its placement.
​
The first frame displayed an arrangement of six crystals or gems, scattered across the backing like precious confetti. They glinted even in the dim light of the office, clearly valuable, clearly intentional.
The second showed three fish, simple line drawings swimming vertically down the frame, one above the other in a descending pattern.
The third displayed a horseshoe, or perhaps a magnet, sitting alone in the centre of the frame against the plain backing.
Eric's brain was starting to form an idea, pieces clicking together like stones settling into place. The connections were there, just beneath the surface, waiting to be fully assembled.​But before he could voice his half-formed thoughts, the saxophone outside hit a particularly high note, then began to fade.
​
"The music's getting quieter," Eric whispered, his nervousness spiking. "We need to hurry."
​