Page 69 of Gem Warfare

“I guess all we do now is register our claim with the police and wait and see,” said Pete.

“You can do that,” I said. “I’m sure Lieutenant Graves can advise you further.”

“I’ll walk you out,” said Carrie after they both shook my hand. “I can’t tell you how grateful we are to get some answers.”

“I’m glad I could help,” I said, then I left, pleased that at least someone had some answers.But what about me?I wondered as I got into my car. I was no longer officially on the case but howcould I let it rest when I still had so many questions? Before I started the engine, I called Garrett. “I just spoke to the Dugans,” I told him.

“Yeah? How’d that go?”

“They’re pleased to know they aren’t suspects and it sounds like they’ll put a claim in for the jewels.”

Garrett snorted.

“You don’t think they’ll get them?” I asked, thinking about the Queen’s Ruby. If it really was that jewel, who had the bigger claim? The finders now, or the real owners?

“Not these kind of jewels. If it were a ring or a bracelet or something like that, sure, they’d have a claim but the Treasure Valuation Committee will want to take a closer look first. They won’t give up millions.”

“The Dugans won’t be happy. I think they think they have a legitimate claim.”

“Are they still your clients?”

“No. We’re both happy to part ways. I need to write up my report and send it, then we’re officially done. I’m going to sit on it for a few days in case any new developments arise that I should add.”

“But you’re still going to help me out as my consultant, right?” asked Garrett.

I could hardly contain myself. Garrett wanted me to stick around! “Of course,” I said as calmly as I could. “I wouldn’t leave you in the lurch. I’m happy to help.”

“Good because I want to run some ideas with you about gaining publicity for this case. It’s about time we drew out the interested parties we don’t know about yet.”

“I had the same thought. And we need to lure out Gideon Black,” I said. “Plus, I have an interesting lead about the jewels that I think you should know about.”

“I’m about to head out. Come by in the morning and we’lltalk. Can it wait until then?”

“It can. I want to do some more research before I say anything more. See you then.”

~

I was outside the police station at eight AM. Garrett had sent me a text saying he was running late because his son, Sam, had tied all his shoelaces together so I was lingering in my car near a news kiosk across from the police station until he called me again. After spending the evening researching the Rachenstein jewels, I was more and more convinced Ruby had unwittingly provided a brilliant clue and I was excited to tell my brother as soon as I could.

My phone buzzed with a call. “Kinda early, Maddox,” I said.

“Some of us have been up for hours,” he replied jovially. “Working cases, chasing leads, finding jewel thieves.”

“Aha!” I pounced on that. “This isn’t a friendly call. You want to pump me for information.”

“Sure. I’ll settle for information,” he snorted. “Any leads on your jewel find yet?”

I rolled my eyes. “Plenty of leads but I hit a dead end on all of them except one.”

“Are you going to smoke potential suspects out of the woodwork?”

“We are.”

“I thought you’d see the wisdom of that although it could bring more than you expect. Could you do me the courtesy of keeping me informed?”

Maddox was never this polite. Whatever he wanted, he wanted it badly enough not to tease me. “Why?” I asked, my curiosity clutching me.

“I mentioned I’m working a case with a thief? She’s responsible for probably a dozen jewel heists. She’s a menace.”

---