Solve-it-yourself mystery
Detective Karen Valentine dragged her partner, Richard Cole, to the gala jewelry show— and dragged was the right word.
“But it’s jewelry! ” Cole squirmed. “I don’t know anything about jewelry.”
Valentine smiled sweetly. “But you do know jewel thieves. The mayor wanted this event to go well, and it still can…if we make an arrest.”
The mayor’s wife had planned the gala’s fund-raiser and had even arranged to display the famous Halsten diamond necklace.
She’d planned for everything, except the professional jewel thief.
“It looks like a Sadie Smith job,” Valentine told Cole as they drove to the site. “And we may well have her in custody.”
Cole was suddenly a lot more interested in jewelry. Sadie Smith had been mocking the police for years. She was listed as “Smith” because the police had no idea of her real last name. They weren’t even sure Sadie was her first name, but they were more than willing to find out, if they could nab her long enough for questions.
“It’s her M.O., all right,” Valentine said. “Lights out at 10:15, exactly; back on three minutes later with the necklace suddenly gone.”
“Didn’t they safeguard it?” “They tried,” Valentine said. “Guards were instructed to lock the doors if the lights went out, so everyone is still there. They even got the necklace back— a kid hauling out trash told them a ‘Mrs. Murray’ offered him twenty dollars to help her play a prank on a friend. All he had to do was gather the trash at a spot near the display at 10:18 and haul it out the back. Of course, there is no ‘Mrs. Murray.’”
“That’s her method. No partners, use some bystander.”
Cole thought a moment. “How many suspects do we have?”
“Three, we hope. Everyone else can be accounted for. It was invitation only, though some didn’t show. But they had name tags for everyone. The officers figure Sadie arrived late, grabbed an unused name tag, and waltzed right in. There were only three late arrivals.”
When they reached the gala, officers passed them through to the room where the suspects were being held.
“It’s about time,” a large, gruff man grumbled. “I’ve already called my attorney. You can’t hold us like this!”
Valentine glanced at the notes provided. “Mr. Preston? It should only be a few minutes while your wife assists us with some inquiries.”
Ruth Preston scoffed. “How can I possibly assist? One minute, I’m looking at some necklace and the next it’s lights out and I’m dragged in here. Believe me, the mayor’s wife will hear about this.”
“Of course,” Valentine said. “We certainly won’t inconvenience you any longer than necessary. You three ladies were near the necklace when the lights went out. Did you notice anything, Mrs. Preston?” “Don’t be absurd, young woman. How could I see anything? It was pitch black!”
“How about you, Mrs. Durst? You’re alone tonight?”
“My husband is home with the flu. Is this going on much longer? I promised him I’d be home at 11.” She glanced at Cole. “I’m not wearing a watch, what time is it now?”
The third suspect, Tilly Holland, looked down at her watch, gave her the time and said, “It’s been forty-five minutes. Will it be much longer?”
“It shouldn’t be,” Valentine said, feeling suddenly confident. “Mrs. Holland, if you could answer just one question…”
She posed the question, one only the real Mrs. Holland would know the answer to. Suddenly, the intruder’s face was red with anger.
“And don’t worry about the time…sadie.” Valentine gestured to the woman’s watch. “I can tell it for you—it’s time for us to make an arrest.”
Cole blinked. “Okay, I give up,” he said, as officers led Holland away. “What made you settle on her?”