Mini Mystery
Someone has stolen a priceless diamond ring . . . can Officer King solve the mystery?
Auniformed butler ushered Officer Renee King and her partner, Henry Black, into a marble-tiled foyer.
“Mr. and Mrs. Davies are in the study,” he announced. “Follow me.” Q. What kind of shoes do spies wear? A. Sneakers!
When they entered the study, Gerald Davies rushed to greet them. He was trailed by his wife, Amelia.
“Thank goodness you’re here,” Gerald cried. “Someone stole Mother’s diamond ring!” He pointed to a far wall where a portrait had been pushed to one side revealing an open safe.
Amelia fingered the pearls at her throat. “I asked Gerald to retrieve these, and when he opened the safe, the ring was gone.”
Renee turned her attention to a twentysomething man sitting in one of two chairs flanking a chess board. “You are?”
“Jamie Ward.” He didn’t bother rising.
“My nephew,” Amelia supplied. “He’s a chess master.”
“I’ve been teaching Uncle Gerald to play,” Jamie said. “He’s doing well.”
Renee glanced at the oversized and opulent board. It was set up for a new game. She enjoyed playing and couldn’t help admiring the workmanship of the carved wooden pieces, especially the knight in the corner.
“Why don’t you walk us through your morning?” she said.
Jamie took the lead. “I arrived at ten. I was setting up the board when Uncle Gerald received a call. He went to the library to speak in private.”
“Business doing well?” Renee asked Gerald.
We’ve had recent setbacks,” he admitted, “but I anticipate a full recovery. I’d just hung up when Amelia told me she needed her pearls.” “How long were you on the phone?” Henry asked. Gerald shrugged. “Two, maybe three minutes.” “Were you alone in here during that time?” Renee asked Jamie. Jamie stood and spread his arms. “If you think I took it, feel free to search me.” “Just establishing a timeline,” Henry said. Renee addressed Gerald. “So you finished your phone call and then opened the safe?” He nodded. “I noticed that my mother’s ring was gone. It’s insured for $100,000.”
Henry gave a low whistle. “Must be some ring.”
“It’s hideous and gaudy.” Amelia grimaced. “I refuse to wear it.”
“When was the last time you opened the safe?”
Gerald didn’t have to stop to think. “Right before Jamie arrived. I needed to check on a deed.”
“And the ring was definitely there?”
“I keep it in front, so it’s the first thing I see.” His voice lowered reverently. “It reminds me of Mother.”
“Also hideous and gaudy,” Amelia muttered.
Gerald was aghast. “That’s no way to speak of the dearly departed!”
Renee interrupted the budding argument by asking, “Who has the safe combination?”
Still glaring at Amelia, Gerald replied, “Just me.”
“And anyone who knows your date of birth,” she scoffed, glaring back.
Henry asked. “Has the butler been in here this morning?”
“Sebastian?” Gerald looked truly shocked. “He’s been in service to my family for over forty years. He’d never steal from us.”
“In this case,” Renee announced, “the butler definitely didn’t do it. But the nephew did.”
With Jamie protesting, she donned gloves and picked up the oversized knight sitting in the corner square. A quick examination revealed where it screwed together, and a second later the ring dropped into her waiting palm.