Trapped!: The 2031 Journal of Otis Fitzmorgan Read Online Free PDF Page A

objects—like the plane and the statue—on Level 2—. Even though I was off duty, I wanted to
     be able to keep an eye on them.
    “Come on,” I told Charlotte, and led her over to the, biplane. Fleas of the original green paint still clung here and there
     to the body of the plant, which was shaped like a sleek bird of prey. Charlotte's reaction was what I had expected. “Incredible!”
     she exclaimed. “This is really fantastic! And you get to be around artwork like this all the time?”
    “When I take a job like this, I do,” I replied, putting one hand carefully on the wing of the plane. “Honestly, though, I'm
     not always surrounded by master works of art. I go to classes, like other art students, and go hiking and camping with my
     friends.” I didn't add that I also spend a lot of time organizing my family's detective journals.
    “So…,” Charlotte said, her gaze still drinking in the aircraft. “Tell me how you work, Otis.”
    I guess that's when I started to show off. “Better yet, I'll show you,” I said, taking out the pocket watch that my dad had
     given me on my fourteenth birthday.
    “Nice watch,” Charlotte said, glancing at me.
    • ART FRAUD NEWSLETTER •
    Fakebuster Tools
    In 1998, an Egyptian papyrus was brought to London for auction. Spectroscopy provided by a Raman microprobe revealed that
     the blue and green ink used on it wasn't available until 1936, meaning ancient Egyptians couldn't have made it. Other tools
     used to detect art fraud include:
    Provenance research Stylistic analyses X-rays
    Ultraviolet fluorescence Infrared micro-spectroscopy
    Microanalysis—analysis of pigments and binding material (both inorganic and organic)
    Fiber identification
    “Thanks. It's been passed down through our family for generations.” I detached the microprobe from my belt loop. I placed
     the thick end of the probe against the watch and proclaimed, “Watch this!”
    There was a soft chime from my probe. “There!” I announced. “See this screen?” I asked, pointing at the color readout. “It
     tells me that this watch is made of steel, glass, a little crystal, and small amounts of white Paint.”
    I could tell from Charlotte's face that she wasn't impressed. Desperate to entertain her, I kept talking. “The probe uses
     a laser. It shines on a sample area, and the scattered radiation, or photons, are analyzed. This tells me what materials were
     used to make the object. Also, I can check out pigments or dyes. Were they around when the piece of art was created? None
     of the tools I use will harm the object itself, which is important”
    Stifling a yawn, Charlotte turned back to the plane. “Can I touch it?” She was already moving her hand toward the tail.
    I should let her, I thought. That'd put a stop to her boredom. But I said, “I wouldn't recommend it.”
    Her hand was still moving. “Why not? You did.”
    “There's a field set up around each item. And it will deliver a jolt of electricity that will knock you off your feet.”
    She lowered her hand. “Well, I guess that's a good reason.”
    “The field has been programmed to allow only people with the correct DNA through,” I said.
    “We use DNA in another way, too,” I continued. “After I've inspected a work of art and determined it's real, I put an invisible
     stamp on it. The stamp is microscopic, and it contains my DNA. It's like adding my signature to the piece. I can use my microprobe
     to check that my DNA signature is in place at any time.”
    DNA TODAY HOLO-ZINE
    DNA Isn't Just for Eye Color!
    In each of the trillions of cells in your body is a blueprint that makes you who you are. It's called DNA. There are billions
     of different DNA combinations that decide things like hair and eye color. Everyone—except identical twins and clones—has his
     or her own DNA combination, and that's what makes you unique.
    DNA is superstrong because it's copied over and over as cells multiply. This stability makes DNA