Solve-it-yourself mystery
An unseasonably warm day broke as Detective Bridget Kelly pulled out of the station.
“I spent a lot of money sending my nephew to college to play football,” Officer Dan Ryan said.
“Hmm?” Kelly was concentrating on driving to Mitch Anderson’s house.
“Yep— and all I got was a quarterback!” Dan chuckled.
Kelly rolled her eyes. As it was Super Bowl Sunday, she’d spent the last few hours listening to Dan’s bad football jokes. “Let’s be serious here.” They pulled up to a white house next to the Playball Sport Shop where they were greeted by an angry Mr. Anderson.
“I want Tom Woods arrested now! ” he fumed. “He just broke the restraining order and took boxes of inventory from the shop.” Here he pointed to the building next door. “Our joint inventory, that is. At least until the court case when the judge decides who gets what.”
Ryan grinned. “You and your former business partner fighting over the good toys?”
Anderson scowled and gritted his teeth.
“They aren’t toys! They’re pieces of sports memorabilia, and the restraining order says that Woods isn’t allowed within a hundred yards of it.”
“What proof do you have?” Kelly asked.
“A video on my phone. Look, it’s right here. I took it just before I called you.”
Kelly and Ryan bent over the screen. They could make out a man they knew as Tom Woods straining under the weight of two large cardboard boxes. His breath made tiny circles in the air as his face turned red.
Kelly nodded. “Let me see that restraining order.”
Anderson pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket.
“See? It’s dated last week— the day after Tom punched me in the nose.” Kelly remembered the report she had read the week prior charging Woods with assault.
Anderson continued. “I knew Tom was stealing all along and accused him—that’s why he punched me. He’s probably been selling the stuff on online and cheating me out of my share of the profits.” “We’ll check it out.”
A few minutes later, the officers pulled up to Woods’ apartment. His door proudly displayed the banner of his chosen team, while a television blaring the pre-game show blared behind it.
Woods was dressed in a team T-shirt and jeans.
“Taking inventory? I can assure you, detective, I’ve been here all day watching the show. It’s the biggest game of the year! Anderson just wants me arrested now because he knows I’d miss it— and that,” he added with a glare, “is not about to happen.”
“When was the last time you were at the shop?”
“The day of our fight when Mitch pushed me. That’s why I punched him, in self-defense. I packed up my space heater, coffee mug and my pictures and headed out for good.”
Ryan and Kelly exchanged glances.
“He accused you of stealing?”
“That’s right,” Woods shook his head. “And I accused him. It’s a two-man operation over there, and the missing stuff couldn’t all be shoplifters.” Here, Woods’ eyes went back to the TV for a second. “Now if you’ll excuse me…”
“Sorry, you’ll have to come down to the station for further questioning…even if it means missing the game,” Kelly said firmly.
Woods’ face fell. “Can I at least get my coat?” He reached for his jacket, which was emblazoned with the emblem of his chosen team, and which Kelly thought might be part of the stolen inventory.
Ryan grinned. “No need for that. It’s actually shorts weather today!” Suddenly, Kelly stopped. “No need for that ride after all, Mr. Woods.” She smiled. Then she turned to Ryan with a triumphant smile. “But Mitch Anderson is going downtown. Suspicion of fraud.” —Tracie Rae Griffith and Robin Kristine Ireland
Q: Why does Kelly suspect Anderson?
A: Turn to pg 49