The Meteorite Uncle

"Did you know? The 'meteorite' we're all lining up to see has already been stolen, and the exhibit is apparently a replica."
Some people really come out with the most outrageous things.
"That's news to me. Have you heard the rumor that a challenge letter was sent to the exhibition hall saying, 'I will take the meteorite at 12 o'clock tonight'?" "No, no, it seems there's a possibility that a different meteorite will fall in this area."
What bothered me more than the rumors themselves was that the person in line spreading these tall tales looked exactly like my uncle, a con artist who had vanished. If it were his MO, it would go like this: disperse the crowd with rumors of a meteorite strike, swap the real one with a fake he'd prepared in advance, and finally appear in the guise of a great detective to reveal the mystery by saying, "There was never a meteorite to begin with." Would something like that actually work?
"Did that go well enough?"
The man in line who looked just like my uncle asked in a young voice that didn't match his appearance. When he took off his mask, it was my cousin. Come to think of it, my uncle had retired, taking responsibility for the failure of his last meteorite operation.

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I am participating here. I wish I could have joined the line as well.